|
HOW IT USED TO BE
The
reminiscence of a materials man will doubtless jog a few
memories. The views below are those of the writer and do not
necessarily reflect those of MMASS or its employees. Its
nice to see that David is confident that things have
improved.
Back in
the early days of oil industry when working hours
legislation was not in existence the practices undertaken
were to some extent, in my own opinion unlawful to say the
least. The drilling industry is hard, rough and time is
money. The cost of ship transportation and hire of rigs
changes constantly. Therefore as time meant money one had to
do whatever it took to get the job done. Today I am positive
that all offshore locations have two store men onboard to
ensure that each does not work any longer than his or her 12
hour stint. The law demands and new HSE ensures this is not
abused. Back in the early 1980's the work hours were far
removed from todays. The mere thought of someone having to
work more than a 12-hour shift is unthinkable, but this was
a regular occurrence on a certain rig at that time.
My first
offshore experience was on board the Tartan Alpha, for
Texaco, employed as production roustabout where the norm was
a shift pattern of 12 hours, plus any overtime worked. Then
the decision was taken to stop training up the "Roustie" for
operators, due to some gaining valuable experience and
heading off for greener fields, or should that be blacker
(oil) fields.
Once it
was known that there were a few of us deciding to move along
I found myself employed by Dixylyn as materials man on the
DF 96. It was at the time a good rig, food was great
especially the Aberdeen butteries, the accommodation was
okay (basic) but after a 12 hour day sufficient for one’s
needs. When the rig move came about I was the only materials
man onboard and I was about to experience a shift pattern
that would today, be illegal and immoral to say the least.
Most people working offshore today have no idea of what it
was like back in the early 80's. One had to work when
required or find oneself out of a job and back on the beach
where pay was a lot poorer.
The rig
moved from Aberdeen to the southern North sea to drill a new
well for Hamilton Brothers, there were a few other rigs in
the vicinity at that time and one comes to mind was the
Treasure Seeker.
I
arrived onboard on the Thursday (crew change) worked through
material requisitions. On the Friday morning at 6 am all
hell broke loose. We had arrived at the new location and the
"back, load " of the last job began, containers full of
tools, stabilisers, hole borers, and pack offs etc drill
pipe. Then the boats arrived with the new drill equipment.
The welder’s shack on deck became my home for the next four
(4) days, yes four long 24 hour day without seeing my bed
and having the chance to sit in the galley for a cup of tea
and an Aberdeen buttery. The continual arrival and departure
of boats was constant and the documentation/manifests were
arriving attached to a container. The Welder at the time Gus
helped with hot cups of coffee and kept tally on drill pipe
to allow myself the chance to get a fast hot shower and
change of clothes. From 6 am Friday to 11 pm Monday I never
saw my bed.
Being
the one and only materials man meant being on 24/7 for the
company man to shout on the tanoy" rig store man to company
office". This continual bleating merely went in one ear and
out the other. I was in a constant zombie state. How I
managed to keep awake and to be sure that all containers and
drill pipe and casing arrived onboard without any mistakes
was a miracle indeed.
Oh yes I
made good money on that trip but what a price to pay.
Eventually the boats departed location and things returned
too normal. Oh there was one point when I told the onshore
controller to "shove it where the sun don't shine" Two
vessels arrived and departed that day (Saturday) one was the
Wilma Mermaid and the other the Wilbur Mariner, one heading
for Montrose and the other Peterhead. Now it was my
responsibility to send to the beach a fax of ship end
location and surprise, surprise, I got it wrong, I had sent
a message to the beach saying that one boat was heading
Peterhead and the other Montrose, of course I had,
mistakenly mixed up the names of the ships, but it was
little wonder considering my state of mind at that time.
When the onshore guy came on the then satellite phone at $10
a minute, ranting and raving, I kindly advised that I would
be on the next chopper back to the beach, his attitude
change, and after the OIM Eddie told him of what hours I had
just completed, he very kindly requested a new telex with
the correct boats and locations
Needless
to say his retraction to a few choice words fell on deaf
ears and Eddie the OIM was very undertstanding. Even on the
night of that Monday a boat had arrived and it looked as if
I would be asked to work on through making it a total of 5
days without sleep. But the OIM radioed the boats Captain to
advise him to wait until morning, that sleep was long
overdue and yes back up at 6 am for another day's work. If I
had refused to work during that long, lost weekend I would
have been out of work, the Rig Superintendent known at the
time as “Run em off” had a reputation for running guys off
if he saw them stand about on the deck. One roustabout only
lasted 2 hours, arrived onboard, put on his work gear ,went
on deck, was talking with the welder probably asking about
routine or smoke break and he came on deck, saw the Rousti,
went to the OIM and the guy was on the next chopper.
I have
worked ashore now for almost twenty years, but it was to say
the least an experience, and on ethat after all these years
I will never forget. Once my overtime was paid I considered
not returning for my next trip, but finally gave up offshore
in January 1987.
David Wilkie.
|