The Ocean Nomad is a semi sumersible drilling rig built as the Ross Rig at the Brevik Shipyard, Norway.
The Ross Rig owned by Ross Drilling started oil exploration in 1975. For various oil companies.
In November 1983 the name was changed to Ocean Nomad. Due to the name I guess this is when Diamond Offshore Drilling Services took over ownership of the rig.
So lets look at a few facts and figures:
Length 227ft. Width 220ft. Height 120ft.
Drilling depth of 25,000 ft.
3 mud pumps running at 1600hp.
4 diesel engines running at 2200 hp.
2 120 foot boom cranes.
Anyway, some time ago @AndyK mentions wanting a boat, my first guesss was for the Maunsell Forts, "no far more epic than that" he said. "Please let their be an abandoned oil rig" was my immediate reply. Well bugger me, I certainly wasn't expecting an article about a number of abandoned rigs.
With the abscence of @SpiderMonkey at the helm I stepped in to join Andy on the good ship BCD.
Twenty minutes away and the tension was building. What the fuck are we doing? All I had seen was a few photos and by now I was nearing 24 hours with no sleep.
We arrive around 5am and the temperature is zero. We are already unprepaired and get wet as we set sail. The tide is choppy and the boat is bouncing up and down which seems like a few feet. I am holding the side rope tightly as the ice cold water splashes over my hands and into the small inflatable boat.
We start to near the floating giant and swing round to our mooring point and see a large sharp object protruding from the base. What if there are more that are hidden underwater? We could be stranded, would we even be able to get off the boat in time if the worst happened? Sadly we had to retreat and head back to shore. Thewater was calmer and I felt a bit more relaxed during the return to shore and managed to grab a few shots with my phone.
1. Lost Oil Rig
2. Ocean Nomad
3. The Stumps and the Galxy III
Fast forward a few weeks and some extra items for safety and we find ourselves on the shore looking at the rigs. A much more pleasent 12 degrees and some calm looking waters. Things are looking up. Its a smooth uneventful journey, we discuss the jack up rigs there is corrosion on the teeth and a ladder that goes to the top of every leg.
Anyway we arrive and turn to moor our little boat the tide is going out and we accleerate quickly towards the sharp protruding object. We can't fail again!! Second times a charm and we are on board. Unload the gear and fasten the boat and we are on our way up. An awful experience if you are scared of heights like me, we arrive at the top and it gets worse. Even more climbing is involved. Big thanks to Andy who got me through the last part. First thing first a smoke then the tour begins.
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Thanks for looking and big thanks to Andy for all he put into this project to make it happen.
The Ross Rig owned by Ross Drilling started oil exploration in 1975. For various oil companies.
In November 1983 the name was changed to Ocean Nomad. Due to the name I guess this is when Diamond Offshore Drilling Services took over ownership of the rig.
So lets look at a few facts and figures:
Length 227ft. Width 220ft. Height 120ft.
Drilling depth of 25,000 ft.
3 mud pumps running at 1600hp.
4 diesel engines running at 2200 hp.
2 120 foot boom cranes.
Anyway, some time ago @AndyK mentions wanting a boat, my first guesss was for the Maunsell Forts, "no far more epic than that" he said. "Please let their be an abandoned oil rig" was my immediate reply. Well bugger me, I certainly wasn't expecting an article about a number of abandoned rigs.
With the abscence of @SpiderMonkey at the helm I stepped in to join Andy on the good ship BCD.
Twenty minutes away and the tension was building. What the fuck are we doing? All I had seen was a few photos and by now I was nearing 24 hours with no sleep.
We arrive around 5am and the temperature is zero. We are already unprepaired and get wet as we set sail. The tide is choppy and the boat is bouncing up and down which seems like a few feet. I am holding the side rope tightly as the ice cold water splashes over my hands and into the small inflatable boat.
We start to near the floating giant and swing round to our mooring point and see a large sharp object protruding from the base. What if there are more that are hidden underwater? We could be stranded, would we even be able to get off the boat in time if the worst happened? Sadly we had to retreat and head back to shore. Thewater was calmer and I felt a bit more relaxed during the return to shore and managed to grab a few shots with my phone.
1. Lost Oil Rig
2. Ocean Nomad
3. The Stumps and the Galxy III
Fast forward a few weeks and some extra items for safety and we find ourselves on the shore looking at the rigs. A much more pleasent 12 degrees and some calm looking waters. Things are looking up. Its a smooth uneventful journey, we discuss the jack up rigs there is corrosion on the teeth and a ladder that goes to the top of every leg.
Anyway we arrive and turn to moor our little boat the tide is going out and we accleerate quickly towards the sharp protruding object. We can't fail again!! Second times a charm and we are on board. Unload the gear and fasten the boat and we are on our way up. An awful experience if you are scared of heights like me, we arrive at the top and it gets worse. Even more climbing is involved. Big thanks to Andy who got me through the last part. First thing first a smoke then the tour begins.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
Thanks for looking and big thanks to Andy for all he put into this project to make it happen.
