Difference the project has made
Although West Sole wasn’t the first natural gas discovery in the North Sea, it was the first real commercial find and encouraged further exploration of the region.
The field continues to produce natural gas, helping to power UK homes and industry.
Although production has fallen in recent years, the oil and gas industries have contributed around £190bn in UK tax revenues since the 1960s.
How the rigs are maintained
Maintenance and upkeep of the West Sole rigs was a constant challenge for engineers. As an example, an underwater inspection in 1972 uncovered damage to a brace on one of the platforms.
The pipeline carrying gas to the onshore processing plant ran close to the rig. This meant engineers had to strengthen the brace while protecting the pipe.
The project team sank new piles into the clay beneath the platform as part of the repairs. Workers used a jack-up barge to provide a stable platform for sinking the piles.
A jack-up barge is a mobile platform. It’s made up of a floating hull fitted with movable legs. These can raise the hull above the surface of the sea. Once on location, the legs are lowered to the sea bed and the hull unit is jacked up into place.
Using the jack-up barge as a platform for sinking the piles helped reduce vibrations that might affect both the rig and the pipeline.
Engineers also protected the pipeline with steel covers during the work.