Oil Rig Photos

I was senior Hook up Engineer for CJB ( Construction John Brown ) the main contractor, 1600 men employed at peak of hook up. 3No accommodation workshop vessels used, Borgilla Dolphin;Safe Astoria and Viking Piper.
Maximum module lift in those days was 1, 300 tonnes

Added by Brian Giles on 13 October 2008.

Yep another one i worked on, had some good laughs on this job.

Added by safe astoria on 13 November 2008.

I was there during 1981/82 working for Lofflands as part of the drilling crew on Rig 82. Anyone else out there remember those days?

Added by Graham Stevens on 18 February 2009.

Was there about five years in all, worked for Howard Doris. I worked on the base, domes the central column and the wave breakers (joiner). Good mates and great memories. A couple of mates off my gang no longer with us. Missed but never forgotten.

Added by Paul Cheetham on 05 May 2009.

I worked on her for a couple of tours as a Roustabout with Loffalnd Brother's back in the early eighties.

Added by Graeme Ellis on 16 October 2009.

Was roustabout pusher on rig 82 around 1978 - started just after the bears left. Good years.

Added by Steve Purdie on 07 February 2010.

Worked on Ninian field (86 -88) with the Irish Mafia (Pat McShane and Harry Tone). Great rig once they managed to shed some of the Chevron guys.

Added by Andrew on 09 February 2010.

Anyone remember Sandy (Alex) Morrison from Inverness, storeman. Would love to hear from anyone who knew him as I'm his son.

Added by Willie Morrison on 20 April 2010.

I was roustabout pusher on rig 82 when 1st well was spudded, also worked on rigging up when platform was at Kishorn. I stayed on rig82 until wells finished then went to Saudi for Loffland Bros. I remember the name Steve Purdie.

Added by Barry Holt on 22 August 2010.

I worked on it as an electrician from the start in dry dock, then the continuation in the deep water loch for a company called Lloyd Morris electrical long hours but worth it.

Added by Frank Jenkins on 28 January 2011.

My father, Jim Gless, who was with Chevron worked on the Ninian Central for a number of years (early 80's) before being transferred to the Ventura, California office. He probably knew some of you guys, some of your names sound familiar. I think Chevron putting him into the office is what caused him to retire, He loved the field and hated the office. That was THE rig in its day!

Added by J. Douglas Gless on 27 April 2011.

Was on there for Cape 2009-11, painter, had some right laughs, food hit and miss, money not 2 good but still not a bad rig 2 be on.

Added by Graeme Potts on 06 June 2011.

I can remember Jim Gless. I suppose most Loffland Guys on Ninian Central at around that time will also remember him. Good times.

Added by Barry Holt on 07 June 2011.

Looking for tales and photo's taken at Kishorn during the construction phase.

Added by Simon Russell on 08 June 2011.

I remember Barry Holt and Steve Purdie, was Steve the roustabout pusher with the David Bowie haircut?

Added by Graham Stevens on 12 June 2011.

Great history.

I worked on NCP and als NNP for about eight years.

My first start was on NCP for an eleven day trip on production and hired through Lassale Engineering in Aberdeen.
Pat and Harry were the Irish deck foremans on NCP, both of them real gents and two of the best guys for listening when it come to money and life on board I have ever met.

I was later employed directly by Chevron and screwed later on by them also.

I will never forget Pat and Harry and enjoyed my coffee and buns in the deck foremans office at 09:00 for a chat with either on the 2 and 2 rotation.

I am now still offshore as the Rep for a major oil player but always remember my roots when great guys names are mentioned.

Hope Pat and Harry are having a ball, Shaun does not forget.


Added by Shaun on 27 June 2011.

Hi there guys, Sorry none of the name’s ring a bell, but I am hopeless in remembering name’s, I am glad to say I was fortunate to have worked on the Ninian field as well, first on the South with Loffland’s Bro, It was my first start offshore as a very green Roustabout, there were a couple of us Kiwis out there, the other Kiwi was John if I remember correctly, then I went to Central with APG, back to my trade as a Boilermaker / pipefitter

I was there for some time on and off, from 88 till say 94, Some times the work and conditions were tough to take, but you could always have a laugh, lot of good memory’s shame I can’t remember the names, I’ll put it down to, to many good time on the beach in Aberdeen.

Cheers Lads


Added by Chris Dickeson on 28 June 2011.

Deck crew guys when I was there where: Pat/Harry (Foreman) Alex Shirkey, Mark Toan (Harry's boy), Andy Gill (me)and old Geoff who I cannot remember. Our crane op was a nut job Billy who was a Chevron employee and boy did he like to remind you of that.

Added by Andy Gill on 29 June 2011.

Do any of you guys remember Taffy Lloyd? He would love to hear from you.

Added by Anita on 03 September 2011.

Good to see a lot of familiar names from the past. Have a lot of good memories.

Added by Charlie Kirk on 21 September 2011.

I worked with Taffy Lloyd, Duncan, area 7 and on the platform - he is a good mate and I would love to get in touch with him if anyone could help. I am now living in Fuerteventura, Canaries, I am in the uk for a week starting 19th Oct so we could meet up.

Added by Frank Jenkins on 07 October 2011.

Gary Rider from rig 83 (1980 loffland Brothers), the automated side, 82 was manual.was anyone there with me when they did the military operation for terrorism, anyway, the best hard hat style todate was Loffland Brothers hard hats!!!

Added by Gary Rider on 04 February 2012.

Worked on central for 12 /13 years scaffolding F/Man for SGB many happy days and lots of good times some really good chevriods ! used to chuckle to the paper "not the chevron times"which came out while the third partys project was on big Mal and Pete in the radio room Terry Pittock and Bob "Lavertree" the OIM Don Carmichil hoppy days

Added by Steve Mckenzie on 27 February 2012.

Worked there in the late 70's - roustabout employed by a company called LaSalle - lot of Aussies, Kiwis, Rhodesians (as they still were then) and students

Added by Richard on 31 March 2012.

Worked the Southern & Central Platforms (late 70's) for Loff.Bros.As A Yank/Roustabout/Roughneck (1 of 2) Abroad, at the time.Driller's;Frank Harold & Dick/Rick? Derrick/Men;Mick Cafferty Jon Bellis & Kiwi.Dennis Motorman;Ian & Brian 2.Rhode's;Red, Willie & Kieth Sparky;Graham Roughneck's;Wee, Colyn Big, Collin Shean & Dave Chalmers Anyway Good Times! for A USA North Sea Tiger! Thanks, for the Flash Back! (memory/recall) Some 30yrs.ago Ta!

Added by John Boyd Kearney on 17 April 2012.

Great memories of being a bomber with BIX during the construction of this superstar.on the project for 20 months or so, our head bomber was a Romanian refugee, George Carrian, quite a character.
Seemed strange finishing a night shift and hitting the bears bar at 09.00 to watch the cabaret!(and have a beer or two).

Added by Ian B Wilson on 09 May 2012.

Hey guys, I worked on the "Beast 82/83. She was size. Managed to get myself lost on my first hitch, scrambled over all sorts of pipes and railings to get to B from A. Pulled a stunt like that today, goodnight NRB. Anyone remember the movie "Quest for Fire"? What a hoot. Scaffy's got love the belts. The Chevron staffies, yeah baby, check my hat out. The Wood Gp boys went on strike? Structural coatings? Anyone remember that, John Wood flies out for a chin wag

Added by Greg Johnston on 05 September 2012.

Hi all, so good to see some of these comments and names. Bringing back oh so many memories of good times. I was a Kiwi radio op on Central mainly and also on the Southern in the early days through construction and production. about 2 1/2 years. Ended up marrying an Aberdeen girl from head office. couldn't resist the accent haha. And we are still together here in New Zealand. Great times, good memories and miss them all.



Added by Alan Baxby on 04 October 2012.

My late husband Norman Gregory worked as a crane op on Ninian Central from 1978 until about 1994 when he was made redundant. Norman died 6 years ago, I would love to hear from anyone who remembers him. I still attend a Chevron reunion lunch every year.

Added by Lynda Gregory on 25 October 2012.

Alan, glad you went back to NZ, I got your job! Chevron was great outfit treated me well. Radio op Central and South.

Added by George Anderson on 07 November 2012.

Hello George,
Yes, I agree, great company and I miss it all. Often think back to those days and the job.
How long did you stay there as the radio op ? And what are you doing these days
I often wonder if they still have radio ops on there with all the modern technology these days.


Added by Alan Baxby on 12 November 2012.

I remember Norman very well. There was an area on the Central that required the Crane Op to, once the load was positioned correctly, to boom up and down to introduce motion before rapidly releasing the load. I remember saying to him "can you put a bit of swing into it Norm" to which he replied over the radio' "Da da da it it it it terra rrara". Sch dry humour and a fine man.

Added by Andrew Gill on 13 November 2012.

Worked on Central 84 to 86 roustabout - worked with Bill Wedderburn and rest of the fitters. Happy days. Anyone remember Vaughan the radio op and Steve the medic?

Added by John Marden on 26 January 2013.

Hello Alan, I left for several different reasons but as far as I know they still have radio ops out there, but only on dayshift, the nightshift was lost many years ago. I am now a Subpostmaster in a small village and a Chevron pensioner as well.

Added by George Anderson on 01 February 2013.

I remember Vaughan well, we worked together for a while then were back to back radio ops on different shifts. No idea what happened to him after I left and came back to NZ.


Added by Alan Baxby on 01 February 2013.

Vaughan passed away in 1985 or 86.

Added by John Marden on 24 February 2013.

Vaughan was back to back Radio Op with me, I worked with him for at least six or seven years, then he became a plant op on Central for at least two years, so your date of 85/86 must be wrong. He left NCP after a heart attack and then worked as an orderly or something in the NHS in Harrogate

Added by George Anderson on 27 February 2013.

It's hard to think it's 34 years since I first arrived at Kishorn. The site consisted of 2 caravans as offices and 1 toilet block.The head man was Gordon Tosh and his staff were Eddie Grant, Kirsty Murray and Alister from Applecross. In 18 months the site was employing some 1500 men, and what an achievment the Ninian jacket was.

Added by Ron Fisher (electrical contract manager) Lloyd Morris on 05 April 2013.

Did 2 trips to Central back in 1981 - NDT with BIX doing ultrasonic inspection on TLQ supports.

I remember the farcical lifeboat drills on a Sunday morning in the freezing cold gale! Worked with Julian Pedley on one trip.

Added by Graham Walker on 03 September 2013.

My father worked on this rig in 1978 and was just talking about it today, he is michael kelly and is from coleraine northern ireland

Added by Eamon kelly on 23 September 2013.

I remember Barry Holt.. last time I met him was in AMEC Sunderland yard building pipe racks for BP.

Added by Jim Sherriff on 29 December 2013.

I worked for Loffland Brothers as a draughtsman based in York Way Aberdeen during 1977/78 visiting offshore onto both Ninian Central and Ninian South for two or three days every fortnight during drilling of the wells doing drawings for modifications to the drilling rigs as required. When I first started Jack Marcia was the head man for Loffland Brothers in Aberdeen. Jerry Dietz was a senior engineer for Lofflands based in Aberdeen whose wife Cherokee also worked there.

Added by Graham Sharpe on 08 January 2014.

i was on the ninnin central working down the center shaft. fergas@hays was the scaff. firm I was working for. andy aikin was my forman.

Added by John C on 20 March 2014.

Douglas Gless I worked with your father Jim Gless in Iran in the early 70s' then again on the Ninian Central in 81 ! JM We worked on the Iran Iraq border drilling a well that produced 100'000 bbls a day tested !

Added by on 18 August 2014.

I would like to make contact with any one who knew me and worked on the Ninian Central jacket

Added by Ron Fisher on 25 August 2014.

I worked on her when it was towed out from dock in the seventy's most mates have parted now even the bus driver that I worked with when we left we started work on the stockport motorway, I left when the dombs were fitted, my self and a scots lad were going up in a cradle when the rope snapped and the plug fell out and smashed on the bottom 600 feet down we were 30 foot from the top they had to send ashore for a new cable and plug. it was scary, i don't know if anyone remembers the young lad that got killed climbing the steel ladders on the side of the crane we where on srike for 2 days after that happened, because of safety,

Added by Arthur Cowgill on 23 November 2014.

Jim Gless on the Ninian Central early 80s Chevron Manager I worked with Jim in early 70s' in Iran @ he was a consultant for SedIran on deep high pressure oil wells in Iran !Very smart man 2 run into Jim on Ninian Central 81 !I'm working offshore now at 70 yrs old !Lived in Aberdeen 7.5 yrs John Moses

Added by John Moses on 04 December 2014.

John
Thanks so much for your comments! I was attending high school (TAS) in Iran while Dad was working there, A most enjoyable 3 years, great weather, incredible people. My folks loved Aberdeen. Glad to hear you're still in the industry. I became a geologist, like my Dad, but engineering geologic consultant. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and yours!!!

Added by James D Gless on 12 December 2014.

Thanks John! Always interesting to hear about what my old man did for a living , and to hear from his work chums.

Added by James D Gless on 24 December 2014.

Thanks John! Appreciate the kind words about my Dad. Best of luck, I hope you have a great year.

Added by James D Gless on 06 January 2015.

my memory of the ninian central, getting my allocated phone slot for 2.30pm, was on night shift, had to get out of bed and call home, woman in chevron house would connect you

Added by John Burns on 12 January 2015.

Worked on this until it was towed out to the Ninian field.

Certainly the funniest place fhat I have ever worked. Remember the free night at the bar......straight out of a John Wayne movie.

Added by Ian Martin on 15 January 2015.

Anyone remember Simon Gunn, the resident cartoonist.
Simon was a Chevron Op on the A team, always guessed the flare accurate each day for the report and was also North Sea resident bird club spotter if I am accurate.
He just loved to post His sarcastically cartoons all the place, I was a victim regarding a suit and who payed for it, Grrrrrrrr
Anyway, it was fun.
Chevron doing the dirty again I see, paying off lots, maybe Simon can express His opinions in this.
My Comapnay have decided to keep all, reduce salary, no complaints.
Ah, the good old days eh.
I wish all here who know me as Shaun, Prod Op a great Life.
Have a lot of memory's Chevron dumped me by the way, but I came good, Life after Chevron People........

Added by Shaun Stokes on 02 November 2015.

My father worked in this rig but not sure when. His name was Elmo Reed. Would love to know if anyone remembers him. He passed away in 2012 but never forgot his love for the oilfield! I have his photos of this rig...

Added by Sharon Evans on 23 January 2016.

I was on the Central from Jan 1980 to March 1982 as an Air Traffic Controller for the Ninian Field. I was employed by International Aeradio, on contract to Chevron. A few Chevron names I recall : Les Kemp & Frank McLaughlin - Logistics Controllers I.e. the guys who organised the helicopter loads & in-field routes, assisted by the HLO (the man in charge of the helideck) Tony Myers. Stuart (Alves) & Joe Bishop- radio techs who looked after the theplatform's radios & phones. Roy Patterson was one of the OIM's , can't remember the other.- Al --- mebbe? Innes --- was one of the OIM's clerks. "Budgie" was a crane driver. Alec --- was camp boss. Larry Vodden was the fella who looked after the platform alarms, working for "SAS - Safe & Sound" :-). Good times !

Added by Dave Mobbs on 10 April 2016.

I remember Elmo Reed very well he was pusher on our daylight crew for 1st part of oou tour he lived in Holland if I remember correctly great guy ands well liked sorry to hear about your loss

Added by Barry Holt on 12 April 2016.

I worked on Ninian South from 1983-1985. There was a Chevron guy who took photos with a high spec camera, a Hasselblad or something like that. Anyone remember or know him? I worked for Lofflands as a roustie then roughneck. Remember Chunkie and Mark Bedford amongst others.

Added by Gavin Hunter on 27 May 2016.

The first night I arrived along side of the platform Ninian central a storm blew in and I was on a hotel platform for 2 or 3 days before we could board and go to work! Then a big supprise to run into Jim gless! From working with him in Iran.

Added by John moses on 02 June 2016.

Anybody remember Eddie Daly scaffolds on Indian central oil rig in 1978


Added by Eddie Daly on 15 March 2017.

I worked on Ninian Central and Ninian South in the early 80's. Remember you Gavin Hunter, also Chunkie, Mark Bedford, Robbie McGregor, Willie Ross John Angelo, Shakey, Ray Bell, Mick MacCullum Jim Chamberlain Chris Page Kent Uln..Mark Townsend the Australian Derrikman.. some great characters.

Added by Pat Heagney on 13 August 2017.

Worked on ninian central, south, & north 88 to 93 loffland/nabours started as roustabout roughneck ended up motorman driller was Jim Paterson (prince of darkness). Side kick peter Reilly derrikman Brian Howitt. Roustypusher Benny Thomson roughnecks Brinkman, McIntyre, baker, roustabout S green Miller (diesel Dodd) mechanic Derrick chatter

Added by Stuart Wiggins on 22 September 2017.

My god - the memories this one photo evokes! I worked for CPUK "on the beach" in petroleum engineering in the early 80s. Oran Hebert was the Head of Pet Eng, Espy Price was the Production Manager, and Charlie Lantrip the General Manager of Operations. Platform manager of NCP was the never-to-be-forgotten Billie John Kilpatrick. Frankly, it was great. Ninian House was full of characters, good and bad, and I had a great rapport with my regular contacts offshore, eg Bob Lavan, Jimmy Carter, Hector Cameron, and the "screaming skull" himself. There were 64 production wells and about 40 water injectors. Production c. 300, 000 STBPD. I was a real greenhorn, not long out of university. To say it was a baptism of fire would be an understatement! But now at the age of 60 and retired, I look back with great affection.
Jim Thomson

Added by Jim Thomson on 26 September 2017.

Just to say hello to John Moses, although I think it was Ninian South that we met, Mike Ross was the Driller, Eddie Fuller Rig Supt

Good Times

Added by Alistair Powers on 31 October 2017.

MY MY. I was an AD on the Ninian south 81-84. Old timers has set in but I remember John from the Isle of man (roustabout) Tim ( Derick hand) Frank (roughneck) Kent Ulm Driller and Tool pusher. Best time I do not remember much of was the Aberdeen bar after a two week stint. Hope all are well.

Added by Bradamelton@yahoo.com on 21 January 2018.

Steve Radford of Whiteley Electronics on Central around 1978 for PA and fire evacuation final commission and extensions to accommodation entry system. Whiskey teamed also pre tested at Kishorne.

Added by Steve radford on 21 March 2018.

1976 Pre-stressed concrete engineer. What a time eh? Super comradeship.

Added by J.P on 07 May 2018.

I worked on NCP for 11 years before going to NNP, great memories of NCP and the laughs we used to have, I recognise many of the names from guys who have written in. I left north sea in 2000 and went contracting to middle east, china, burma, yemen, now in Nigeria but llok like finishing work and enjoying life a bit more now. Cheers to all the guys in ninian field from 1978 through to 2000. Bob Gemmell

Added by Robert Gemmell on 20 August 2018.

I remember Elmo reed because I worked with him at reading and Bates and also loffland brothers! Sorry to hear about him ! He was a friend. His wife was Dutch and I think he was ollahoma

Added by on 10 September 2018.

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