A photographic print of Industry, Fuel & Power, Oil & Petrol - Oil From The Sea Bed Miscellaneous

FOR FIRST PUBLICATION THURSDAY JUNE 12TH FIRST MOBILE OIL DRILLING PLATFORM IN U.K. 12.6.1958. WORK PROGRESSES ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE FIRST MOBILE OIL DRILLING PLATFORM IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, BEING BUILT AT THE STEEL STRUCTURES LTD, WORKS WHICH WERE CREATED IN TWO MONTHS AT SOUTHAMPTON. THE PLATFORM WILL BE READY FOR LAUNCHING BY THE END OF THIS MONTH, SIX MONTHS SINCE WORK BEGAN, FROM AUGUST THE SHELL COMPANY WILL USE IT FOR DRILLING OPERATIONS OFF BORNEO. IT IS DESIGNED FOR TOWING HALF WAY ROUND THE WORLD AND FOR OPERATIONS IN 125 FT. OF WATER. THE DE LONG CORPORATION OF AMERICA ORDERED THE PLATFORM WORTH £1M, FROM STEEL STRUCTURES LTD., ONE OF THE HOWARD GROUP OF COMPANIES. THE ONLY TWO OTHER PLATFORMS IN EUROPE WERE ALSO ORDERED BY THE DE LONG CORPORATION FROM GERMANY. BRITAIN FACED GERMAN OPPOSITION IN TIME AND COST. SOUTHAMPTON WAS CHOSEN AS THE SITE BECAUSE OF ITS PROXIMITY TO THE CONTINENT (THE BULK OF STEEL WILL BE IMPORTED FROM GERMANY) AND ALSO FOR ITS GOOD PORT HANDLING FACILITIES. STATISTICS: 3,000 TONS OF STEEL USED: 190 FT, LONG: 106 FT. WIDE: 16 FEET DEEP: AIR-CONDITIONED ACCOMMODATION FOR DRILL CREW OF 30: DRILLING CAPACITY OF 15,000FT BELOW SEA BED: HELICOPTER PLATFORM; HULL HAS FOUR LEGS WHICH CAN BE RETRACTED TO TOW AWAY TO ANOTHER POSITION. PHOTO SHOWS: RECENT PICTURE TAKEN AT SOUTHAMPTON SHOWS WORKMEN WELDING STIFFENING RINGS IN 1OFT. DIAMETER TUBES, THE RINGS FORM THE 125FT, LEFT OF THE PLATFORM. Industry - Oil from Sea Bed