Hi Folks,

Well I'm stuck at work on the oil rig and everything has started getting a bit hairy out here.

In the North Sea and we have a storm coming. We have winds of about 80 knots (93mph, 148kph) at the moment and increasing with waves of 5m (16ft) going up to 7m (22ft) at the moment. The worst thing is it's not meant to peak for another 6 hours.

The rig which weights about 6000tons is actually shaking slightly when the waves hit the legs. All good fun!!

Not wind surfing weather that's for sure. Luckily I have an in door job so won't be going out in it much.

It's that bad that they have cancelled all flights off the rig so all the guys that were meant to be leaving today to go home to their families will have to stay probably until tomorrow.

Just thought I'd give you guys something to think about!!

 

Hi Chippy.

Nice post mate. Always interesting to see what other members are up to.... especially on the other side of the world.

Here? Well its summer.... one day sensationally sunny .... the next day brilliant!

It's Australia ... what more can I say...

 

Sweltering here in Central Otago already, and we still have another eight weeks (and probably about another 10 C) before we get to the height of summer.

Think of me Chippy in the middle of next year while you enjoy your strawberries and cream (during a break in the rain) at the height of your English summer. I will be feeding massive quantities of hard earned firewood into my log burner.

I swear, sometimes I think in this town; I spend six months of the year trying to get warm, and the other six trying to get cool.

Best of luck with the storm, just remember, every man for himself, grab whatever flotation aid you can find, even if you have to rip it off a co-worker.

 

Quick update guys, wind speeds are now 93kts (107mph, 172kph) and still increasing and the waves have got to over 9m (30ft) and it's still increasing.

I wish I was somewhere trying to get cool but then again there is only so much clothing you can take off.

I have my seat booked in our lifeboats, not that they would be very stable in seas like we have. I do love this job though!!

 

9m waves? you don't need a lifeboat, you need a surfboard.

 

Those rigs are built to take a good beating Chippy, as I'm sure you know.

At least you're not on a ship, getting tossed around on those 9m waves!

Stay warm and dry, it'll be over soon enough

 

It would take a brave man to surf in this!!

This isn't the worst we have been through...and being a sick man that I am I love it when it's rough and shaking us about. We even have people being sick on here.

I'm warm and safe guys don't you worry and not going outside no matter what...it would mess up my hair!!
Just a week to go then home for christmas and a few beers.

 

I've just had a look at our standby vessel (it's here to look after us in case we have to leave the rig quickly) and it's one of those, now you see it now you don't.

Glad I'm not on that thing. I'll try and get a pic.

 

Great story Chippy! Stay indoors and safe.

Cheers, SB

 

Thanks SB.

I don't intend to go outside unless it's a matter of life or death...and even then I would think about it twice.