Oil Rig Photos

I was on this platform for three and a half years commencing 1983, I was employed By Shell Exploration and Production as a Senior Production Technician, and was on the platform during the accident resulting in the injuries and fatalities.

Added by Stewart Preston on 29 December 2006.

worked on this rig when the water pipe bust and flooded the top decks

Added by John Hagen on 06 October 2007.

I was Project Engineer (with Oceanic) on Cormorant A during Module loadout(Stord-Verft-Norway), tow-out in May 78, and Hookup & Commissioning in North Sea, 1978. Left in Sept 1978, because of safety concerns.

Added by Charlie Hamrick on 25 November 2007.

I worked on this platform from 1980 to 1987 as Maintenance Technician. Strange... but I actually enjoyed it. Good crew and good mates. Only got evacuated once when blow out preventer failed.

Added by Terence Wilson on 26 January 2008.

I have been on this platform since 1978. There has been plenty changes and not all of them for the better. The Cormorant Alpha has always had a friendly crew and this is the main reason I am still here. I was hoping to outlast this oil can, but alas, it looks like it will see me out.

Added by Dennis Burnett on 21 January 2009.

I've just finished my offshore survival training and will going to the Cormorant on the 27th April '09. Strangely, I'm looking forward to going offshore.

Added by Mike Greenwood on 23 March 2009.

Just arrived back from my first stint offshore on the Cormorant Alpha.

Really enjoyed it. Great experience.

Added by Mike Greenwood on 19 May 2009.

The "Alphatraz" a dump of the highest order - good bunch of blokes though.

Added by Bolz on 27 June 2009.

I worked at Ardyne Point, where Cormorant Alpha was built, in 1975/77. Worked for Sea Tank Co. Interestingly I remember it having a 25 year lifespan!

Added by Wilma Fraser on 24 November 2009.

I was 30+ years offshore, rigs all over the world as a crane operator. I was 10 years on the alpha and I was never on a better rig in all that time.

Added by James Monaghan on 28 November 2009.

I worked on Cormorant Alpha during 1977.... I was a young engineer at Ardynne Point. I saw the caisson 'grow' legs, even then there were safety issues!! 30 years later I eventually went offshore on rigs but putting them in position, and steel not concrete.

Added by Graham Brown on 21 December 2009.

I did my 1st ever trip on the Cormorant in 1989 as a young lad for Macnamee services cleaning leg number C4 (the deepest one) after an explosion, ended up being there for 2 years, crack and crew were brilliant, remember it well.

Added by Brian Ritchie (Boss) on 06 March 2010.

I worked for Sedco and they were still setting up the derrick and drillfloor back in 1979. It was the best time of my life.

Added by David Ker on 04 July 2010.

I served my apprenticeship as a joiner at Ardyne Point with Sir Robert Mcalpine when we built this rig along with the Brent Charlie and an Elf gas rig, best job I was ever on with the exception of Sullom Voe :-)

Added by Andy Graham on 13 October 2010.

I was on the CA for 9 years between 1980 and 89, working for Shell Expro as Power (Electrical) Technician.
I was onboard during two of the three explosions, and was not sorry to leave. Lost a couple of close friends during one explosion, and have never forgiven Shell for their attitude to the offshore workforce. Always full of platitudes to the press, but treat the 'lads' with total contempt. Pleased to leave the company in 1992, but not the lads.

Added by Dave Chapman on 12 March 2011.

Worked on "Alphatraz" for 7 months. That was far too long! Good bunch of lads though.

Added by Steve Elliott on 15 March 2011.

Worked on CA as an operations tech from 1990 to 2005 and liked it so much I came back for a wee bit in 2008. Good crack but was really starting to show her age in 2008. Still nice to sit by the fire in the Gordon Lounge after nights watching a movie! Have they fixed the flavia machine yet?

Added by Ian Campbell on 16 June 2011.

I visited the CA in the early 1990's as a National Air Traffic Control Services official with special responsibility for North Sea helicopter services. Very impressed by the thorough safety standards demanded by Shell - in short, a visitor was a danger not to be let out of sight, until he could pass the CA safety exam.

Added by Brian Sidebotham on 25 June 2011.

The Gordon lounge is no more, the non smoking lounge is now half of the old rec room. The Flavias still regularly conk out though.

Added by Gaz on 25 June 2011.

I worked on the CA from 1989 to 1997 as an Ops Tech. I only remember good times before the industry became too serious. We were the pilot for safety glasses everywhere outside....who would have thought that would have caught on like it did? And what about those handrails? Nice to see some familiar names on this page though?

Added by Peter on 19 November 2011.

I worked on this as a scaffolder for McAlpines.
Left and went to Poland for John Laing on a 600ft Chimney

Added by Bill Woodward on 01 December 2011.

Yes I worked on CA when it was being built by McAlpines. I was emploted as a technician at Ardyne from Sept 1974 to Aug 1975. Met many fantastic people; engineers & workers; real characters whose deserve all the glory for what they accomplished in 4 years. Probably the best job I ever worked on

Added by Derek Brodie on 02 December 2011.

I worked at Ardyne point on the concrete slip-pour of Cormorant as a junior Surveyor constantly monitoring the verticality of the caissons ... very scary as I recall !!! and looking back almost medieval regarding the technology used. Great to think it's still in use.

Added by Rob Sinclair on 31 March 2012.

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