Ninian Central Platform
Encyclopedia
The Ninian Central Platform is an oil platform
in the North Sea
. When constructed in Loch Kishorn
, Scotland
in 1978 the 600,000 tonne platform was the world's largest man-made movable object before being towed to its current position and fixed to the sea floor.
It is a circular concrete gravity structure, 140 m in diameter at its base, with seven concentric walls of stepped heights intersected by radial walls at 45-degree angles. A 14 m wide central shaft is surrounded by a breakwater wall ("Jarlin Wall") 45 m in diameter and 1.6 m thick pierced with 15m diameter holes. Between these two walls drill slots are arranged for drilling up to 42 wells.
Originally operated by Chevron Petroleum (UK), a division of Chevron
, it is currently operated by CNR (Canadian Natural Resources)
.
Oil platform
An oil platform, also referred to as an offshore platform or, somewhat incorrectly, oil rig, is a lаrge structure with facilities to drill wells, to extract and process oil and natural gas, and to temporarily store product until it can be brought to shore for refining and marketing...
in the North Sea
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
. When constructed in Loch Kishorn
Loch Kishorn
Loch Kishorn is a sea loch in the north-west Highlands of Scotland.-Topography:Loch Kishorn is a northern branch of Loch Carron about 1.5 km wide and 4 km long, and with a maximum depth of about 60 m. It is fed by the River Kishorn which flows from the north and enters through an...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
in 1978 the 600,000 tonne platform was the world's largest man-made movable object before being towed to its current position and fixed to the sea floor.
It is a circular concrete gravity structure, 140 m in diameter at its base, with seven concentric walls of stepped heights intersected by radial walls at 45-degree angles. A 14 m wide central shaft is surrounded by a breakwater wall ("Jarlin Wall") 45 m in diameter and 1.6 m thick pierced with 15m diameter holes. Between these two walls drill slots are arranged for drilling up to 42 wells.
Originally operated by Chevron Petroleum (UK), a division of Chevron
Chevron Corporation
Chevron Corporation is an American multinational energy corporation headquartered in San Ramon, California, United States and active in more than 180 countries. It is engaged in every aspect of the oil, gas, and geothermal energy industries, including exploration and production; refining,...
, it is currently operated by CNR (Canadian Natural Resources)
Canadian Natural Resources Limited
Canadian Natural Resources Limited is an oil and natural gas exploration, development and production company centered in Calgary, Alberta. Operations are focused in western Canada, the North Sea and offshore West Africa. It ranks number 251 on the Forbes Global 2000 list for...
.
External links
- Photo of Ninian Central
- "The Kishorn Commandos", film of the construction
- 'The Ninian Central Platform", film of the construction and towing out