Dating to 1983 and produced by British Petroleum (BP), “Location North Sea” shows the transportation and erection of a huge oil platform to service the Forties field in the North Sea. It was directed by John Armstrong and produced by Pelican Films. The Forties oil field is the largest in the North Sea. Located 110 miles east of the Scottish city of Aberdeen, it first produced oil in 1975. In 1965 British Petroleum (BP) had already found natural gas in the region then in 1970 discovered oil. The find contained an estimated 1.8bn barrels.

1:46-2:08: The dock, traditionally used for shipbuilding, is now celebrating the christening of an “island”.

2:08-3:03: The structure, which will stand in 400 feet of water, is described as an island to map makers but as a jacket for oil drilling to oil men. It is massive, heavier than four Eiffel Towers, and must be transported to the sea.

3:03-4:00: The jacket, made of 20,000 tons of steel, is towed out to sea, with the journey dependent on weather conditions.

4:00-5:06: A flotation tank, weighing 10,000 tons, is used to transport and tilt the jacket upright at its destination. The tank’s chambers can be flooded separately, controlled by radio link.

5:06-6:05: The journey to the Forties field, the first oil field found in British waters, is underway with favorable weather conditions.

6:05-7:20: The route crosses historically significant waters, and forecasters predict good weather for the journey.

7:20-8:11: As the tow nears completion, the most critical stage of the operation begins, with support craft gathering at the location.

8:11-9:02: The jacket must be precisely positioned and tilted onto the seabed 8,000 feet below. Final checks are made, and the pre-flooding stage begins.

9:02-10:06: The structure is held over the drilling site by cables, and the pre-flooding process is monitored and controlled.

10:06-11:06: The crash flood stage is prepared, where the flotation tank will tilt the jacket through 45 degrees in less than 60 seconds.

11:06-12:02: The operation proceeds with favorable conditions, and the jacket is successfully tilted.

12:02-13:57: The jacket is secured on the surface, and the final stage of setting it upright on the seabed begins.

13:57-15:08: The jacket is successfully lowered and positioned on the seabed, completing the transformation from a dockyard structure to an island in the North Sea.

15:08-15:36: Three more of these islands will be created over the Forties field, with the goal of bringing oil to Britain from beneath the North Sea.

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