The  16th September proved to be a mind-stretching account of the complexities of ‘well control’ in the oil drilling world. The talk was by club member Ian McBain who, in his professional life, was Master of an oil-exploration and well-drilling ship.

Deep-sea oil exploration is difficult and dangerous with equipment working in extreme conditions. We heard that drilling is carried out at depths of perhaps 300 feet in the North Sea - but at up to 8,000 feet in the Gulf of Mexico. Pressures in drill tubes can be 15,000 lb/square inch. We learned something of the mechanics of drilling and the importance of the ‘mud’ or ‘barite’ used inside the drill tubes and which has a number of essential functions. The steel tubes themselves some 36 inches in diameter and with walls 1 inch thick. All this without considering the stresses caused by ocean currents and of course bad weather.

We were reminded of just how real the dangers are, when Ian spoke of the drill rig ‘Deepwater Horizon’ and the catastrophic explosion in April 2010. Working at a water depth of approximately 5,000 feet, a violent explosion occurred, leading to destruction of the rig and resulting in an environmentally disastrous oil spill. 

In addition to management practices and safety procedures needed, Ian spoke also of the enormous costs involved and of organisational complexities with oil wells typically being in multiple ownership.

Altogether a remarkable insight into a business that keeps our modern world supplied with the oil needed for fuel and the many synthetic chemicals and plastics on which we depend.

Following questions an appreciative vote of thanks was proposed by Steve Blaney.