Diamond Offshore has shared a dramatic image of an intense lightning strike near one of its drillships in the Gulf of Mexico.
The eight-year-old Ocean BlackHornet vessel, sailing under the flag of the Marshall Islands, is under contract with BP in the US Gulf.
A supply boat that was alongside the vessel captured the dramatic moment lighting illuminated the Ocean Black Hornet against the night sky.
Diamond drilling wrote: “While we’re grateful for a quiet hurricane season so far, we know it only takes one storm to make it a season we won’t forget.”
The vessel has been under contract with BP since February 2020 and will be until the first quarter of 2025.
The Black Hornet, registered under Diamond Offshore, is currently in the Gulf of Mexico, South East of New Orleans.
Diamond drilling rounded out its LinkedIn post with: “We would like to thank all the crews offshore and onshore who work diligently to manage our business safely through these storm seasons around the world.”
Measuring 754 x 118 x 59 feet, the ultradeep water vessel, built in South Korea in 2014, can drill to depths of 40,000 ft.
Hurricane Season
© Supplied by NOAAThis year’s hurricane season in the gulf of Mexico started on the 1st of June and is set to end on the 30th of November.
In previous years, companies have had to evacuate platforms due to the dangers this time of year brings.
Hurricanes Ida and Nicholas damaged platforms, pipelines and processing hubs, shutting down offshore production for weeks.
At least 2 million barrels a day of oil refining capacity was affected by the weather pattern last year.
In 2020 BP removed offshore personnel and ramped down production at its Thunder Horse, Atlantis and Na Kika oil and gas platforms out of safety concerns brought about due to the weather.
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