| Description | Tape 1 Side A: CHRISTOPHER JOHN FREEMAN born 1 December 1945 Reading Berkshire. Has younger brother. Details re family names. Ancestor coachman to Duke of Bedford. Paternal family: father born in Fulham 1913, lives in Norfolk, toolmaker. Details re his work, meeting with mother, an engineering industry inspector. Maternal family, Nicklen, from Hampshire, New Forest. Has done family history back to 1700s. Details. One ancestor a shorthand writer. Details about him. Reference to Hansard. Origin of name Freeman. Paternal grandfather was engineer with North Thames Gas Board. Details re him. He mended watches. Mechanical interest in both families. Maternal grandfather was a marine engineer, died from TB aged 26. Grandmother from Channel Islands, eldest of 19 children. All went to sea, grandmother senior nurse on ship Queen Mary. Reference to ship Mauretania. Describes grandmother, her energy. She was a storyteller. Stories of a whisky delivery during prohibition, smuggling cigarettes in a doll. Details re great-grandmother Bourke, her move to Channel Islands from Ireland at time of potato famine, her first husband worked on wool ships, lost at sea. Details re her children, second husband. Great grandmother's letters from her children destroyed, own family history done through internet. A relative also in oil industry, Petrogas, Enterprise. Recalls own home in Kingston-upon-Thames. Details re grandmother, great uncle. Family very religious. Describes father who had tool-making business. Mentions his brothers. He is still healthy, nearly 90, likes chocolate. Inherited his handyman skills. Explains trade of tool-making, father's work. Gives example of jobs done. Some had to be hand-done. Details re an old Norfolk church replacement key made by father, engineering drawings etc.
Tape 1 Side B: Details re church key replacement carried out by father, his attention to detail. Example of own handyman skills. Reference to son training as engineer. Describes father, his political outlook. Religious family. He worked for agricultural machinery manufacturer. He was trade union dispute arbiter. He started work at 14. Sees him regularly. Describes mother. She went to Southampton University, wanted to be pharmacist, trained as nurse. Grandmother worked on ambulances which mother drove. Explains. Father's formal education limited. Mother great cook. Earliest memories - of dog, grandmother, father's Riley car, number plate. Family were Baptists, became Mormons. Father's attitude. Details re Mormonism, Book of Mormon. Father eventually became minister in church. Own family still practising. Mentions being Bishop in Aberdeen. Impact of religion on work, challenges of human problems on Maureen Platform. Having set of moral values helpful when ethical decision have to be made. No alcohol in home. Explains. No alcohol offshore so no problems. Politically, both sides of family supported Labour. Own leaning the other way. Explains change of views to right. Mentions changes in oil industry, George Orwell, working with Americans. Not supporter of Tony Blair. Education: went to Tiffin Boys (Grammar) School, Kingston-upon-Thames. Tiffin did not become comprehensive. Explains. Details re authoritarian style of school, head, expectations of pupils. Details re primary schooling. Only boy to pass Eleven-Plus. Progress at Tiffin, mother's influence, enthusiasm. Involved in music at school, current family's musical activities in church etc. Mentions St Paul's Cathedral, effect of dome when singing in choir. Not good at ball sports, enjoyed boating activities. Recalls influence of English master, teacher in orchestra.
Tape 2 Side A: Early career aspirations. Details. Early interest in geology, geography. Always a reader, encouraged children. Inspired by Shell Petroleum Handbook. Mother's attitude to education. Only oil course in Europe at Imperial College. Only eleven undergraduates. Self and brother caught polio 1953. Details. Had to have physiotherapy. Explains symptoms. Both made complete recoveries. Long-term effect on brother who also got meningitis. He is involved in horticulture. Details. Mentions parents getting telephone early because of sons' polio. Impact of polio on own life. Details re daughter's tumour, successful treatment. Reference to later polio injections. Graduated BSc in petroleum engineer at Imperial College 1967, got Shell scholarship to return to Imperial. Explains. Mentions vacation work for Shell, expected work with them. Mentions early UK oil fields. Recalls first awareness of southern North Sea fields. Reference to Sea Gem disaster. Reference to McKinsey report on Shell, staff downsizing. Got job 1968 with Chevron Oil, sleeping partners in UK industry with Burma. Worked in downstream area. Details. Explains bowser filling of early jumbo jets, later development of fuel-piped airfields. Recalls learning from John Baynham about fuels, lubricants etc. Reason for leaving Chevron, joining Phillips. Mentions marriage. Details re Imperial College, London, different sections. University had no campus. Lived at home. Limited social life. International membership of class at Imperial. Details re sailing activities, field trips. Course was geology, petroleum engineering. Value for later career. Sees self as engineer. Defines different types of engineers, popular definition. Not enough engineers in the world. Details. Compares US, Japan statistics re engineers. Problem for British industry. Confusion re definition of engineer, hijacking of title, status.
Tape 2 Side B: Recalls holiday work on Shell/Esso drilling rig in The Netherlands as roughneck. Had cursory safety briefing. Details re accommodation, old drilling rigs. Compares with today. Details re a gas blow-out. Effects on surrounding area, animals, clean-up necessary. Supervisors all Dutch. Some oil wells in middle of shopping centres, car parks etc. Recalls later feelings about Chevron. Left and worked with Young Chemical Engineering on water injection project for Abu Dhabi as Project Manager. Technical details. Problem with transport around world, Southampton dock strikes. Reference to Miners' Strike, 3-day week. Ways of getting round these, use of mobile generators for offices. Details re office at No. 1 London Bridge. Details re water injection into oil wells. Details re problem with sand for filters, shape of grain, export of sand to Abu Dhabi, problem with unwanted publicity. Political difficulties related to material from Israel. Details re Davy's (owners of Youngs), their merger with Cranes, development of Davy Environmental, Davy McKee. Details re these companies, their various jobs. Working in project management every minute counted, pressure on staff. MD could see growth of environmental lobby. Summary of own jobs, dates. Married 1972. Details re wife, her names, family history. Recalls meeting her through church-related conference. She trained to be teacher, did Bachelor of Education at Warwick University. Describes her. She had similar upbringing to self, her father in British Rail, British Road Services, Transport Manager. Her father similar to own. Wife did Master of Education at Aberdeen University. Describes her skills. Details re her mother. Explains wife's approach to activities. Details re children, their families, work, education etc.
Tape 3 Side A: Background to offer from Phillips re vacancy for staff Petroleum Engineer 1974. Details re salary. Feelings re leaving Davy. Recalls colleagues there. Compares Chevron with Phillips. Mentions Chevron attitude to women. History of Phillips. Reference to recent Conoco-Phillips merger. Phillips pioneers in North Sea. Gives examples. Never overstaffed, responsibility given to young people. Details re offices in Victoria. Details re Hewett Field. Recalls early colleagues. Mentions alcohol rehabilitation programme in company, paternalistic attitude. Details re Swedish name changes, racing odds system. Details re hierarchy in Phillips. Mentions former Phillips basketball team. Has known all chairmen of the Board. Access possible to senior personnel. Recalls own secretary, Greek Cypriot. Reference to arranged marriages. Recalls first lady geologist, engineers - all very bright. Still male-dominated world. Details. Few women in senior administration in US. Details re later Vice President for Health & Safety, an American woman, former teacher, former lobbyist in Washington. Recalls only two Blacks in office. Most Americans came from Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana. Recalls Wedgy (Tony) Benn opening Hamilton's Argyle Field oil production. Phillips discovered Maureen Field 1973. Details re field, its size etc. Not large enough to support pipeline to shore. Details re possibility of sending oil via BP's Forties pipeline. Plans for structure. Background to name of Maureen Field, Phillips' naming convention. Mentions Mary Field, named after own secretary. Own connection with Maureen work concerned with facilities needed on platform. Oil was good quality crude. Explains refining processes. Need for water or injection - reference to earlier Abu Dhabi work. Economics tight. Considered exporting via tankers. Explains need for storage. Describes company organisation, own role.
Tape 3 Side B: Recalls Maureen timetable, aim to have field producing by 1980. Details. Biggest challenge was export system using tankers. Technical details re pressures possible in tankers and in pipelines. Pipeline too expensive because of BP charges. Explains Government's attitude to flaring off gas, pressure to maximise recovery from field. Tension between this and economic use of field. Worked on Maureen development 1975, economics for Hewett Field. Based in London, Great Yarmouth. Details re Hewett development, sour gas, sweet gas, development of pipelines for each type. Explains in detail chemical processes involved in removal of hydrogen sulphide. Mentions production of sulphuric acid. Reference to environmental considerations. Different platforms have different feelings, characteristics. Recalls 'Black Pig' (Thistle Platform) designed by BNOC (British National Oil Corporation). People impressed by Maureen. Details re accommodation, facilities. Impact of early managers. Details re sources of staff, many long-staying. Effect of continuity. Reference to Hewett, Ekofisk.
Tape 4 Side A: Retired from Phillips Petroleum 2002. Feeling that merger was takeover by Conoco, Phillips procedures ignored. Gives example. Comments on absence of corporate memory. Mentions involvement in Institution of Chemical Engineers' Loss Prevention Panel. Some lessons from Piper Alpha being forgotten. Example of British Gas ignorance of safe working practice in Rough Field, cover up, fine. Details re Rough storage system. Other stories not fully explained. Explains permit-to-work system on Piper at time of disaster. Now working as consultant for Genisis. Details. In Great Yarmouth 1976-9. Summarises work on Hewett Field. Reference to Bacton Gas Terminal. Returned to London as Senior Petroleum Engineer. Details. Moved to Croydon 1980. Recalls first links with Maureen Field. Little infrastructure then in North Sea. Explains possibility of oil pipeline linking to BP Forties pipeline to shore, issue of what to do with gas. Details re building of Maureen by Chicago Bridge & Iron (CBI) initially at Hunterston. Workforce from Glasgow, brought industrial relations challenges. Details. Yard shut down by CBI. Influence of wives of employees, re-start of work. Effective team. Explains sustained level of productivity. Maureen gravity structure built 1979-82. Deck built at Loch Kishorn by Howard Doris. Details. Reference to Brown & Root design. Explains final construction processes matching gravity structure, deck. Details re tow to location, template over pre-drilled wells. Installation of platform June 1983. Production started September 1983. Peak production January 1984. Explains need to flare gas. Recalls discussions with Department of Trade & Industry (DTI), last minute consideration of pipeline possibility. Details re BP profits from their pipeline being rented out. Statistics re Maureen production, costings.
Tape 4 Side B: Maureen project (cont'd). At one stage, because of industrial problems, considered hybrid structure. Details. Recalls Phillips' industrial relations officer, his stories re fictitious workers. Mentions problems with shipbuilding industry. Different challenges in Kishorn. All material for deck came by sea. Explains. Workforce travelled by bus. Example of stories from this time. Mentions alcohol. Agreement re no Sunday work, local minister's curse on project when Sunday work started. Own involvement was in operational phase of project, liaison with partners, dealing with site visits. Recalls a flight to Kishorn over a heard of deer. Most pilots were ex-North Sea. Details. Mentions hydroelectric industry, heliskiing, deerstalking. Feelings about working with American company. Compares with working with Continentals. Company run in American way. Gives example involving need for materials, having to find ways of doing things. Wells, drilled by Sedco 701, due to be completed in time for arrival of gravity base but problem at Well 12 with a kick. Well abandoned. 20 wells drilled. Details re kick, pressures involved, use of blowout preventer. Involvement of local people in construction project. Also involved with Hewett Field in Southern North Sea, contractual issues with British Gas. Phillips always looking at augmenting compression at Bacton. Details re 'sucking' compressors onshore. Growth in size of compressors. Involved in deciding economics of compressor installation. Explains complexities re correct size of compressor. Involved in upgrading fire systems on platform. New regulations required two fire pumps. Details re seawater pumps, versatility of system. Explains difficulties feeding water to different parts of platform. Recalls collision between supply boat and platform, damage to riser. Corrective steps taken.
Tape 5 Side A: Maureen project (cont'd). Explains recruitment of crew. Workforce mostly from former Phillips background. Had pick of the bunch. Emphasis on safe performance from start. Used a simulator for training in Aberdeen, built by Rediffusion. Maureen design allowed platform to float, be lowered to template accurately. Explains tow-out, mooring, ballasting-down, locator piles. Had to level seabed beforehand. Describes plan to refloat at time of commissioning, devices to measure settlement of structure. Mentions other structures that lean. Details re refloating preparations using water jets. Explains further steps to ensure even seabed support, nature of seabed. Mentions UN Law of the Sea, London Convention re disposal. Not all companies considered it, eg those with large concrete structures. Recalls character of Maureen. Maureen crude oil sweet. Explains simple processing necessary. Accommodation impressive. Compares with present-day platforms. Medical suite was a showpiece. Significance of Maureen being put together onshore. Mentions positive effect of name. People commented on quality of briefings. Compares with other platforms. Recalls ballasting-down, weather, insurance etc. Met force 10 storm during tow. Details re draught. Largest fleet of tugs ever to tow out a structure. Details re towlines. Recalls dedication by Prince of Wales. Mentions use of Kishorn crane to lift ship Mary Rose from seabed. Details re royal visit, plaque unveiling. Mentions Prince's pot-shot at British Rail. Details re Chairmen of Phillips Petroleum. Mentions company basketball team, a number of whom progressed to high levels in corporation. Recalls giving VIP tours including Chairman. Moved to Aberdeen 1983. Maureen dominated life at time. Involved with helicopter contracts, boat contact, catering services, transportation of personnel. Explains alcohol situation.
Tape 5 Side B: Maureen project (cont'd). ARA used for catering. Details re other catering companies including Chalks. No complaints re food. Recalls early suggestion of healthy eating, negative reaction. Compares with later. Origin of idea. Later employed a dietician offshore. Evolution of counselling possibilities linked to appointment of medics. Details. Growth of use of counselling. Gives examples of personal situations. Human Resources in Aberdeen also provided counselling services. Andrew Wylie appointed North Sea Chaplain, had office in Phillips building, succeeded by Angus Smith. Details re their work. Essential to have chaplain. Explains. Mentions Piper Alpha. Explains requirement for supply boats to transport materials, need for standby vessels, tug to help tankers moor to loading column. Details re column, loading operations and procedures, statistics re oil transferred. Company had two dedicated tankers. Describes. Later combined functions of tugs/standby vessels. Explains use of water canon for cleaning. Had to recruit Marine Representative, a master mariner, who also acted as Mooring Master. Explains his role being in overall command of loading operations. Frequency of loading operations. Own involvement with helicopter operations. Mentions Aviation Services Department in US. Aberdeen operations regularly audited. Mentions various Aberdeen helicopter operators. Describes skilled technique of helicopter auditor, his extensive experience. Reason for recommendation for change from Bristow to Bond helicopters. Reference to helicopter incidents. Mentions distance to Maureen, need for suitable aircraft, benefit of small company. Bond have since been taken over by Scotia. Details re other helicopter companies. Bond a good choice. Explains. Recalls one pilot whose daughter deaf, collection taken offshore, visit to platform by MP Malcolm Bruce, use of sign language on platform.
Tape 6 Side A: Licensing rounds: explains technical procedure, timescale re licensing of block, geological, environmental, financial etc submissions to DTI (Department of Trade & Industry), subsequent steps leading to production. Requirement to carry out work within specified time. Explains situation re sharing of information. Role of seismic companies. Once discovery made, operator applies to DTI for production license. Details including what's in it for Treasury. Further requirements preceding production, possibilities of extension etc. Details re Maureen dates. Mention 4th Licensing Round. First environmental round in mid-90s. Explains. Mentions only environmental person in DTI. Describes cooperation between companies especially re environmental matters. Recalls industrial secrecy, role of 'scout', passing of information, media monitoring etc. Reference to Press & Journal. Maureen's first production September 1983. Recalls platform stabilisation process, difficulty cleaning drainage system involving going inside tank. Dimensions of tanks, details re drainage of platform. Details re platform start-up, well tie-backs, installation of production tubing, Christmas tree, tying up water-injection well. Recalls souvenirs to celebrate oil. Describes Maureen oil. Describes process separating water, gas and oil; dehydrator, use of salt water to wash oil. Technical details leading to production of oil for export. Details re water, salt in oil. Other platforms have more complex processing equipment. Explains. Challenge for Maureen - not having enough gas, decline of overall reservoir pressure. Had to start gas-lift in well after couple of years. Details. Need for increasing amount of gas. Explains procedures followed, details re pressures involved. Need to overcome hydrostatic head of well. Explains skills of reservoir management, hazards of too much, too little pressure. All Maureen wells started to produce more water.
Tape 6 Side B: Oil recovery (con't). Well production can be controlled by choke which can cause problems. Details re choke. Explains procedure when platform settled on seabed. Details re settlement, weight of platform, distributed weight. Maximum production achieved January 1984 using c10 wells under natural pressure. Recalls teething problems, e.g. with instrumentation. Used old technology, usually reliable. Example of problem with oil foaming under pressure, finding interface. Introduction of nucleonic controls using radioactivity, sensors etc. Explains gas lifts within production casing. Water injected through water injection wells further out. Details re processing water before use to prevent production of sour gas etc. Explains extent of Maureen field, volume, dimensions, depth. Women not popular offshore in early days. Recalls reaction of American OIM (Offshore Installation Manager) to first woman who stayed night on Maureen, practical difficulties, shortage of beds. Details re first women stewardesses on Maureen. Recalls other reactions to women offshore, strong attitude of stewardess. Describes superstitions, customs, e.g. re putting hard hat on bed, use of lift when leaving platform, talking about weather, fog. Americans brought traditions like names of equipment. Example of mousehole, Kelly. Details re dealing with pipe on drill floor now, in early days. Another tradition for drillers was loss of fingers. Describes different groups on platform, place of drillers. In early days, animosity between drilling crew and production people. Drillers referred to the operators as the girls. Explains. Drillers got incentive bonuses. Feelings of production people about this, specially when wound up by drillers. Sometimes operations people got their own back, e.g. colour-coding hard hats. Details. Drillers had macho attitude, in American tradition.
Tape 7 Side A: Recalls pranks from Hewett Platform, e.g. re advertising dances on platform - aimed at newcomers who would dress up. Another told to set out chairs for Sunday service on helideck. Recalls other stories e.g. re meal vouchers. Describes platform, original plans for many more production platforms. Details. Recalls move to Aberdeen as Onshore Production Superintendent 1983. Aberdeen was expensive. Details re housing arrangements, difficulties. Details re children, discovering area around city, wife's involvement in running playgroup, friends in church etc. Feelings about Aberdeen. Comments on shops in early days, attitude of Aberdonians. Some resentment at oil industry. Most local people not employed in oil industry. Oil people came from elsewhere. Details. Many Aberdonians later became educationally qualified. Recalls regular questionnaires from Council, constantly expanding oil industry, growth in accommodation requirements etc until 1986. Recalls meeting Ian Wood during Aberdeen 2000 project. Mentions Union Terrace proposal. Big concern in Aberdeen re oil industry moving on, likely consequences of this, lack of manufacturing capability. Situation in Great Yarmouth. Aberdeen never attracted heavy oilfield engineering, competition in other countries. Phillips had platforms built elsewhere. Explains role as Onshore Production Superintendent, briefing routines, dealing with tankers, weather. Need for constant flow of oil through Maureen storage tank, careful coordination. Explains delays when restarting pressure in well. Advent of electric pumps which helped process towards end of field life. Describes earlier problems with electric pumps, remedies. Explains process of recovering equipment, e.g. worn valves, from well using wire line. Explains in detail latching devices, methods of releasing, locking, jarring, over-pull, use of shaped collars in well. Skill in wire line work.
Tape 7 Side B: Onshore Production Superintendent (cont'd). Describes daily routine including telex report of offshore installation managers' meetings, projections. Concerned re amount of oil storage available. Met with meteorologists re weather four days ahead. Met with Marine Representative re tanker situation. Requirement for maintenance, e.g. of tanker hawsers, hoses between tanker loadings. Dimensions of loading column. Describes its unusual figure-eight motion, held to seabed by universal joint. Describes its construction, ballasting. Explains tanker loading operation, regular tension cycle on hawser, rules for time to release tanker because of weather. Other duties included discussions with Personnel Department. Gives example of situation, e.g., bad news, need to keep eye on affected personnel, get them home. Numbers of people on platform. Occasional calls from Police re individuals. Explains. Recalls finding evidence of cannabis. Lot of concern from families after Piper Alpha. Phillips gave relatives trips offshore. Recalls Company counselling opportunities. Religious services occasionally held by chaplains on request. OIM had authority to arrest, legal authority and responsibility. Recalls incident on standby boat where crew member disappeared. Standby boats came from Colne Shipping in early days. Explains their roles re rescue drills, mail delivery, helicopter emergency etc. Recalls rationalisation of shipping around platform. Describes emergency tanker fire-wire procedure, also used if tanker dangerously close to platform. Reference to Department of Energy regulations, new protocols. Details re supply vessels. Mentions companies working in North Sea. Recalls OIMs, larger than life. Mentions workforce of a thousand on Brae platform during construction period. Recalls BP idea that ship captains would make good OIMs - varying result. Mentions several OIMs. Explains relationship with them, need for trust.
Tape 8 Side A: Phillips' attitude to shutdown of platform. Recalls occasions where OIM chose to shut down to be safe. Company always emphasised safety. Explains. Example of a shutdown by a scaffolder when he spotted an oil leak. Explains different levels of shutdown. Recalls Ekofisk Alpha fire. Recalls problem with porous insulation of process piping, risk of spontaneous combustion. Recalls leaks, fractured pipe. Details. No significant problems. Recalls effective control technology, innovative sand-monitoring ultrasonic device, emergency shutdown system on platform. Details re complex correction to fault, devised in Aberdeen. Comments on small causes of big problems, e.g. too much flux in soldering process. Further details re daily routine including jobs to be done when platform shut down. Attitude to spending, production rate. Had time for family. Aberdeen good place to raise family. Explains. Recalls membership of Aberdeen Petroleum Club, use of pool etc. Many social activities through service companies, church. Regular expeditions to family in England.
Tape 8 Side B: Blank
Tape 9 Side A: Comments on current terrorism situation in London. Details re current work with Genesis since leaving Phillips when their office closed. Genesis provides service to oil industry, e.g. assisting with projects, production of safety cases. Travelling a lot. Details. Gives example of one project advising on faulty layout of an offshore control room. Problem with designers following old designs, ways of doing things, risk of people not understanding what they are doing. Impact of cost-cutting. Example of differing approaches of OIMs (offshore installation managers). You get what you pay for. Gives example of purchase of unsuitable second-hand accommodation equipment for offshore ex Sydney Olympics. Comments on situation re regulatory bodies. No regulatory bodies in Caspian sea area. Example of current job in Pakistan. Increasingly fewer people with experience available to advise in oil industry. Details re changing trends, pattern of recruitment into oil industry, gap in age groups. Comments on loss of corporate memory. Recalls disposal of Phillips documentation at time of Conoco merger. Operations Manager, Phillips, Aberdeen 1985. Recalls work routine, tanker schedules, bad weather procedures, organisation of Maureen tank filling/emptying schedules, tanker bad weather shelter locations. Statistics re tanker capacity etc. Mentions personnel issues, flight and shift routines, overtime benefits, pay rates. Recalls manipulation of overtime shifts. Explains production routines, control of well pressure, use of chokes, agreement with Government re production quota, restriction of flow where necessary, modifications to quota. Recalls producing exact amount of quota. Explains use of choke to control flow of oil on platform. Company always had to have approval to produce at a higher rate than agreed.
Tape 9 Side B: Operations Manager, Phillips, Aberdeen 1985 (cont'd). Phillips had unusual safety performance standards, safety representatives long before Piper Alpha disaster because of Ekofisk experience etc. Safety reps were volunteers. Details re their roles, compares with that of elected reps. Mentions Ekofisk blowout. Maureen didn't have official union recognition in contrast to Hewett Field, other sites. Explains. Union representatives were moderates. Reference to Roger Spiller; ASTMS (Association of Scientific and Technical (workers)). Recalls annual visits from IUOOC (InterUnion Offshore Oil Committee). Enjoyed living in Aberdeen. Recalls birth of daughter 1984. Piper Alpha disaster 1988: Recalls first hearing news, request for Phillips' standby vessel, reaction to situation, enquiries from families, confusion with Maureen Alpha. Babysitter's father a casualty. Details. Recalls a survivor who didn't get his feet wet, story re his wife who was unaware of disaster. He never went offshore again. Production routine had to continue after Piper. Details. Comments on disaster happening to Occidental, reputation of Piper. Compares Phillips safety briefings with those of Piper. Recalls reaction to disaster in Aberdeen, conduct of media people. Phillips Emergency Response Team offered help to Oxy. Compares Maureen with Piper Alpha, fire safety precautions. Describes use of water insulation on Maureen. Maureen had gravity structure, no incoming risers like Piper, safer design. Situation on Maureen re authority to shut down platform. Example of platform being shut down by scaffolder. Recalls a situation on Hewett. Mentions Department of Energy. Phillips' reaction to Piper disaster. Recalls going to Piper soon after, discussions with Phillips personnel re precautions on Maureen. Took wives offshore to see Maureen. Details re their reaction.
Tape 10 Side A: Wives' visits to Maureen (cont'd). Their impressions of conditions offshore. Appointed to Piper Alpha Enquiry Workgroup 1989. Details. Reference to Brian Tayor, UKOOA (UK Offshore Operators Association). Had to produce expert witnesses for enquiry. Met regularly in Aberdeen, London. Evolution of Safety Case regime. Ideas borrowed from atomic energy industry. Explains approach to job. Recalls Piper permit-to-work system. Mentions controversial moments in enquiry, Cullen's attitude, experts consulted eg in fire, lifeboats. Recalls need for speed of Workgroup's actions, rationale for process, legal approach, status of individual company views. Further details re Cullen in the enquiry, his style, ability to assimilate information. He wrote virtually all his report. Workgroup disbanded in 1991. Mentions subsequent legislation, provision of feedback to other organisations by Workgroup as industry voice. Explains arrangements with Phillips re own participation on Workgroup. Mentions appointment as Area Manager, Southern North Sea 1989, level of responsibilities. Impact of work, move to London on family. Details re son's schooling, church activities. Spent most weekends in Aberdeen, weekdays in south. Effect of church life on work. Mentions church friend who survived Piper. Recalls talking to bereaved people, attending memorial services, funerals after recovery of Piper accommodation module, counselling work. Reference to Andrew Wylie, Industry Chaplain. Comments on survivors of Piper not obeying rules, instructions in survival school. Mentions Ocean Odyssey blow-out soon after Piper, lifeboats leaving before all on board. Explains need for common sense. Describes various personal descent devices for escape from platform, possibility of choice for offshore workers. Problem on Piper - people didn't know what was going on. Details re situation, vessel Tharos. Situation now.
Tape 10 Side B: Comments on conduct of people on Piper Alpha. Further details re work as Area Manager, Southern North Sea 1989. Post-Piper changes in southern North Sea. Reorganisation of company's safety organisation. Explains difficulty selling ideas to northern and southern regions - rivalry between them. Also had to liaise with Norwegian, worldwide colleagues; their attitudes. Describes diplomacy necessary. Recalls problems within UKOOA, the coordinating body, eg difficulty introducing common permit system for North Sea, similar colour-coding for hotwork, coldwork permits. Eventually, all 107 Cullen Enquiry recommendations implemented. Difficulties with Shell because of their hotwork permit system. Still no common permit-to-work system in North Sea. Explains. Mentions compulsory Guidance Notes. Further details re Cullen recommendations, role of Government. Explains value of legislation, voluntary systems. Continued to be involved with Maureen. Details. Mentions innovative aspects eg spaciousness. Only platform to win President's Award from ROSPA (Royal Society for Prevention of Accidents). Details re awards. Emphasis on safety from start. Own change in role - responsibility for UK, Europe, Africa as Safety and Environmental Manager, move to London 2001. Family arrangements. Mentions daughter's health situation, Company support. Background to decommissioning of Maureen. Details re production decline, engineering arrangements for re-floating. Explains unsuccessful attempts to sell platform, reason for disposal, options available. Blair administration wanted no Brent Spar-type situation. Engineering aspect easier than environmental issue. Consulted c300 organisations, individuals. Details re cleaning tanks, low specific activity scale, radioactive salts, piping, cold water coral, export to Norwegian waters etc. Delayed decommissioning a year because of consultations. Explains. Greenpeace not present at re-float. Mentions their earlier water testing activities. Recalls journalist's erroneous accusations re discharges.
Tape 11 Side A: Story re alleged discharges (cont'd). Recalls long-term Bacton discharge blamed for seal distemper, sea birds' loss of oil in feathers, rumours about specialist researcher. Comments on public perception of oil industry. Compares cost of oil with cost of bottled water. Explains situation in Nigeria re waste of gas through flaring. Recalls involvement in Nigerian project using gas for electricity. Mentions another process piping gas to coast. Attitude of locals to oil companies, arrogant attitude of oil companies. Recalls oil spills in Nigeria because of pipeline being blown up. Reasons for attack. Explains payment of 'homage'. Situation re compensation payments for damage, false claims. Recalls Nigeria pre-oil. Comments on activities carried out by Phillips to help locals, eg in agriculture, attitude to handouts. Details re Nigerian share of oil revenue. Nigerian Government not putting money back into communities. Details re this. Example of difficulties for oil companies, low priority for, eg, environmental projects. Effect of oil on world politics, eg Kuwait, Iraq, Falklands. Difficulty getting oil companies' point of view over. Scepticism towards independent experts employed by oil companies. Mentions meeting with David Bellamy. Suspicion re multinational organisations. Own involvement in production of environmental statements before carrying out jobs, modification of timetables if necessary. Power of emotional argument over reason. Problem of the media sound-bite. Greenpeace's 'no developments' approach, attitude to windmills. Comments on importance of understanding Piper Alpha disaster. Able to export Phillips ideas re safety. Greater challenges when environment involved. Explains. Re-float of Maureen: details re procedure for un-sticking base pods from seabed. Mentions cleaning tanks. Recalls uncertainties re floating process, success of operation.
Tape 11 Side B: Raising, tow of Maureen 2001 (cont'd). Cameras recorded operation. Perfect weather but thick fog. Reference to Brent Spar. Lot of equipment reused, recycled. Details re dismantling process, digging out haemolite ballast. Nobody on board Maureen during re-float. Maureen first of large platforms to be decommissioned. Large concrete ones will never be re-floated. Reference to exhibition in Aberdeen Maritime Museum. Story of disappearance of Maureen's brass plaque. Changes to own role, move to London, Woking office. Details re Conoco-Phillips merger. Impact of this on staff. Took redundancy. Phillips assets absorbed into Conoco organisation, Phillips people disappeared. Comments on meeting of the two cultures. Comments on Conoco's safety awards. Background to Phillips/Conoco relationship, merger. Details re name of new company, company makeup. Phillips more profitable. Details re approach of Phillips leadership to financial management. Feelings re disappearance of old Phillips. Reference to other takeovers in industry. Phillips had paternal approach to staff, many long-term. Reference to Phillips 66. Explains significance of Phillips UK to whole organisation. Attitude of company to political parties. Recalls early images of oil industry, impact of television programme 'Dallas' in Bacton. Own future plans. Details re family. Aim to go on church mission or work in orphanage overseas. Father's situation. Comments on present work with Genesis. Now, as contractor rather than operator, seeing operations that are worse than in early days, also seeing cutting edge technology. Attitude of Genesis to quick and dirty operations. Prospects for North Sea with smaller new developments. Comments on wind-farms off Great Yarmouth, power potential of wind, solar, wave; changing attitudes to nuclear power. Reference to son's work
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