Case Study
Piper Bravo Flare Tip Changeout
Piper Bravo is a major oil production platform 200 miles off the Scottish coast. Oil platforms need to flare off excess gas as part of the safe production process. Talisman Energy, the Piper Bravo operating company engaged Vertech Offshore to carry out the 2007 flare tip change operation, using a heavy lift helicopter to lift the old tip down and lift the new tip into position. Vertech Offshore asked Argo Media to film the entire process to provide a DVD training and marketing solution to be used to instruct new staff on the process and health and safety issues in helicopter flare changes, as well as to show other offshore operators how the work is done, and to use as a briefing tool for platform operations staff, as well as giving a useful briefing to helicopter pilots in carrying out long line lifting operations.
Argo Personnel completed all the training required for offshore working, and then filmed the flare tip change in high definition wide screen video, using four cameras. Two cameras were mounted on the aircraft, with an additional camera on the flare deck 250 metres above the sea, with the main camera sited on the helicopter deck. 3D animation of the operation will be created to support the multi camera sequences, which are voiced using a combination of interview and scripted voiceover.