Piper Alpha: Red Adair’s plan to tame the fires
When world-famous US firefighter Red Adair flew in from Houston to orchestrate the operation to “kill” the Piper Alpha wells, the mission appeared immense. Some even thought it impossible. Read More
Piper Alpha and Offshore Health and Safety
Exclusive: HSE documents lay bare ‘alarming’ safety failings across North Sea platforms
Premium ContentHas the industry forgotten the lessons learned from Piper Alpha?
Premium ContentAnniversary reminds us there is no room for complacency in safety
Gold standard not gold plated: How the UK’s approach to health and safety is changing the world
Keeping ‘corporate memory’ alive of major oil and gas safety incidents
Premium Content
Piper Alpha Memorial Garden
Piper Alpha memorial statue granted listed status
The statue at the centre of the Piper Alpha memorial gardens in Aberdeen has been granted designated status following a row over proposed changes to the wider rose garden site. Read More
All Piper Alpha Posts
Opinion: 28 years on from Piper Alpha.. ‘Inside Out’ is a simple concept
The reality of the devastating impact a major Incident has on friends and families, and the vast reach it has into the community and into the future is immeasurable.
Opinion: Many of the challenges from 1988 still face industry today
It’s been almost three decades since the tragic Piper Alpha disaster, the world’s deadliest oil rig accident that claimed 167 lives off the coast of Aberdeen. Yet many of the challenges that Occidental Petroleum faced 28 years ago are once again gripping the oil and gas industry today.
Union boss cites Piper Alpha disaster in oil industry warning
The deterioration of workers’ rights and morale in the oil industry is following a similar pattern to the conditions that preceded the Piper Alpha disaster, an offshore union boss has warned.
PhD student’s quest to record Piper Alpha memories
A former oil industry worker has launched a quest to gather the thoughts and memories of those affected by the Piper Alpha disaster
New declassified documents reveal Thatcher’s reaction to Piper Alpha explosion
Newly-declassified papers have painted a dramatic picture of the moment Margaret Thatcher’s Cabinet was told about the Piper Alpha Disaster. The late Cecil Parkinson – who was energy secretary at the time – broke the news to the prime minister and colleagues just hours after the devastating explosion on the platform.
Files reveal former energy secretary’s “confidence” in Piper Alpha investigation
Former Energy Secretary Cecil Parkinson told the Cabinet he had "complete confidence" in Lord Cullen's inquiry into the Piper Alpha Disaster.
EV Insights: Energy Voice’s top columns from 2015
Throughout the holiday season Energy Voice will be taking a look back at some of our most read columns from 2015.
Opinion: 27 years after Piper Alpha, we should be much further than we are
I posted this on Linked-In a few months back:
Piper Alpha rescue plaque donated to memorial trust
A plaque dedicated to two crewmen who died during the Piper Alpha rescue mission has been saved. Emergency response and rescue vessel Sandhaven was one of the first on the scene of the catastrophic oil rig blaze on July 6, 1988. Six men were rescued by the team, but it was overcome by flames when a second gas line ruptured and crewmen Brian Batchelor and Malcolm Storey died, along with 165 other men. Rig operator Occidental Group later donated a plaque to the Sandhaven as a tribute to the pair.
When the cowboys came to town
British war-time comedian Tommy Trinder is widely credited with coining the phrase – “over-fed, over-paid, over-sexed and over here” when referring to American GIs during World War Two.
Piper Alpha memorial trust receives industry funding to maintain garden of remembrance
Funds to help pay for the ongoing maintenance of the North Sea Memorial Garden in Aberdeen that pays tribute to the 167 men who lost their lives in the 1988 Piper Alpha disaster are being handed over today.
Thatcher files: Safety plans dropped before Piper Alpha catastrophe
The UK Government abandoned plans to invest extra cash in North Sea safety two years before the Piper Alpha disaster – because it was not deemed a priority. Newly-released files show that Margaret Thatcher’s energy secretary highlighted the need to spend more on the sector in 1986. But Peter Walker, the minister at the time, said he had decided against asking the Treasury for any additional money after having “carefully reviewed my priorities”.
Whistleblowing: Why energy industry should heed the warnings
With the 25th anniversary of the Piper Alpha disaster drawing near, the on-going commitment to health and safety is rightly at the forefront of the industry's collective consciousness.
Horror of Piper Alpha stories left inquiry team in tears
Members of the Piper Alpha inquiry team were reduced to tears by the harrowing and dramatic stories of survival against the odds, it has been revealed.
Holyrood honours the dead of Piper Alpha
A reception was held in the Scottish Parliament last night to mark the 25th anniversary of the Piper Alpha disaster.
Preventing tragedy is greatest tribute we can pay Piper Alpha victims
The Piper Alpha disaster – still the world’s worst offshore industrial tragedy – changed the lives of the loved ones of all on board and it brought about fundamental changes to the way Scotland’s offshore industry treated the health and safety of its workers, writes Alex Salmond.
Piper Alpha: Safety standards must improve year on year
As the 25th anniversary of the Piper Alpha disaster approaches, it provides not only a time to reflect on the terrible tragedy but also an opportunity to look forward, writes David Mundell
Video: Piper Alpha lessons must fuel further change
The industry needs to keep learning from Piper Alpha to improve safety, agreed key Piper 25 speakers.
Piper 25: Remembering the past, we must work together for the future
It was 24 years ago, almost to the day, when I spent my first night offshore on-board the Tharos support vessel. I had just finished my first shift on Claymore as part of a commissioning squad preparing for first oil post the Piper tragedy. In the days to come I would be caught up in the industrial action that dominated our offshore life and the headlines in 1989.
Piper 25: Industry must turn words into actions to ensure safety standards continue
Hundreds of delegates at Piper 25 were urged to turn words into action yesterday as the conference commemorating observing the Piper Alpha disaster drew to a close.
Energy industry focus pays off for Infotechnics
Aberdeen firm Infotechnics has reported a strong start to 2013, securing new contracts worth more than £750,000.
Piper 25: Vital to remember the individual lives lost to the disaster
That was the last time I saw Carl Busse, his curly mop of black hair and a warm, engaging smile that literally did light up the room. On the night of July 6th he and 166 other souls lost their lives in the worst rig disaster of all time. I was lying in bed and listening to the radio when the news of the fire began to unfold.
Piper 25: Workers should ‘take chance to raise worries’, conference told
Offshore workers should take every opportunity to raise concerns they may have over safety, according to a Piper Alpha survivor.
Video: Piper Alpha survivor relives his escape
A Piper Alpha survivor has told how he could not resist returning to the rigs - despite the tragic events that saw 167 people killed.
Video: Support for Step Change in Safety at Piper 25
The UK’s potential to become the safest oil and gas sector in the world is second to none, thanks to its unique safety partnership, a senior industry figure has claimed.