Rescue Helicopters sent to North Sea Oil Platform Fire!

[Deeko01]

Found this on the bbc website:

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A North Sea platform with 159 people on board is being evacuated after a "very serious" fire broke out at 0830 GMT on Sunday.
Seven rescue helicopters have been scrambled to the Thistle Alpha platform after smoke and flames were seen.

A spokesman for RAF Kinloss said the incident was being treated "very seriously" but added that there were currently no reports of casualties.

The Thistle Alpha is 120 miles north east of Sumburgh in the Shetlands.

All of the personnel on the platform are expected to be evacuated by helicopters from the RAF, coastguard and other rigs in the area. They will be joined by two Norwegian helicopters.

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Hope all ok

[Senior Pilot]

10:23 update:

'Very serious' blaze on oil rig

A major rescue operation is underway after a "very serious" fire broke out on a North Sea rig with 159 people on board.
Seven helicopters were scrambled to the Thistle Alpha rig after smoke and flames were seen at 0830 GMT on Sunday.

A spokesman for RAF Kinloss said the incident was being treated "very seriously" but added there were currently no reports of casualties.

The Thistle Alpha is 120 miles north east of Sumburgh in Shetland.

The first 44 crew members were evacuated shortly before 1000 GMT. The entire crew is due to be taken from the platform later.

Helicopters from the RAF, coastguard and other rigs in the area were sent to the scene along with two Norwegian helicopters.

The rig is operated by Swedish-based Lundin Petroleum, which is involved in oil exploration and production across the globe.

A coastguard spokesman said: "We are conducting a de-manning of all non-essential personnel due to a fire on board the rig."



BBC News Scotland (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/7111750.stm)

[HeliComparator]

"We are conducting a de-manning of all non-essential personnel due to a fire on board the rig."
Probably not that serious then...
HC

[Senior Pilot]

Bit more info from the Beeb:

A major rescue operation is under way after a "very serious" fire broke out on a North Sea platform with 159 people on board.
Seven helicopters were scrambled to the Thistle Alpha after smoke and flames were seen at 0830 GMT on Sunday.

A spokesman for RAF Kinloss said the incident was being treated "very seriously" but added there were currently no reports of casualties.

More than half of the crew had been rescued by 1100 GMT.

The Thistle Alpha is 120 miles north east of Sumburgh in Shetland.

The first 44 crew members were evacuated shortly before 1000 GMT, with a further 50 following about half and hour later.

The entire crew is due to be taken from the platform later, although it is understood those still on board are beginning to bring the situation under control.

Helicopters from the RAF, coastguard and other platforms in the area were sent to the scene along with two Norwegian helicopters. A Nimrod aircraft was also scrambled from RAF Kinloss to co-ordinate the operation.

The platform is operated by Swedish-based Lundin Petroleum, which is involved in oil exploration and production across the globe.

Michael Mulford of RAF Kinloss said he believed the Norwegian helicopters, which were the first to arrive, had been able to land on the platform itself to pick up crew members.

He said it was "quite unusual" for a full evacuation to be ordered so quickly.

Mr Mulford added: "Normally what they will try and do is take off non-essential staff first but they have gone for a fairly major airlift from the first moment.

"The plan is for the helicopters to lift these guys to three neighbouring platforms five or six miles away."

He said the Thistle oil field was "just about as remote as it gets - about five or six miles inside the UK search and rescue region".

Weather conditions in the area have been described as "not great", with strong north westerly winds and "reasonable" visibility.

"The next couple of hours will be the critical time for this operation", Mr Mulford said.

"Ideally you don't want people in the water itself. If they take to the rescue boats that is a different matter but by the sound of it the two Norwegian helicopters have managed to get to the platform itself."

A spokeswoman for Petrofac, an international service provider to the oil and gas industry, said: "Petrofac as duty holders of the Thistle Alpha installation, on behalf of Lundin Britain Ltd, can confirm that it is currently investigating an incident involving this installation.

"As a precautionary measure the appropriate emergency procedures have been activated and the relevant authorities have been notified."

[pumaboy]

Fire has been extingushed more from this link:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/north_east/7111750.stm

regds

[DX Wombat]

"quite unusual" for a full evacuation to be ordered so quickly.
They were probably mindful of the dreadful Piper Alpha fire in 1988. Far better to evacuate all then discover it wasn't quite as nasty as they feared. I'm glad all are safe. :ok:

[tottigol]

Whheeeeew! Glad everything turned out to be minor (relatively speaking).:D:D
It may have been some Coonass oil hand frying their turkey for Thanksgiving:}, oh! wait a minute, it says North Sea, not Gulf of Mexico.:rolleyes:

[I Build 92's]

Anyone know which aircraft performed the rescue??

[cyclic]

Don't quote me but I think the two Bond Jigsaw aircraft were first on scene but I maybe wrong.

[cyclic]

Knew I'd be wrong :)

[Bounce Bounce]

Can we clarify both Sumburgh aircraft!!!!! Was it MU and the Bond aircraft or was there a stand by crew availabale to fly HL.


Bounce Bounce,

Welcome to Rotorheads. I have removed your personal abuse from this post: if you want to continue in that manner, there are other sites on the internet where you may be a lot happier. No more :=

Senior Pilot
Rotorheads Moderator

[cyclic gal]

A second CHC crew was available, mustered, briefed and dressed at Sumburgh within 25 mins of the first aircraft leaving. Not because they're special, not because they're civvies. not because they're military but because they care. The same as we all do. Nuff said. Lets stop the bickering guys and get on with it.

[Vie sans frontieres]

I wonder what he said. Was it a naughty word?

[cyclic gal]

Speechless

Not you.

Regards