Cromarty Archive

Miller Platform?

Miller Platform?

Date Added: 11 November 2003 Contributor: Bill Wren Year: 1988 Picture No: 557

I think this is the jacket for the BP Miller Platform, which was the last major jacket built at Nigg. It is seen here on a barge, as it was built on a slipway rather than in the dry dock. At the time I believe it was the tallest jacket ever built, though by no means the heaviest.

Albums: Oil Industry, The Sea

13 Comments

The Miller platform was named after Hugh Miller of Cromarty. Pictures of it in position can be found here and here. Comment left on 19 December 2003 by Garve Scott-Lodge
This is actually the Chevron Alba jacket which had the largest Mud Mats of its kind due to the condition of the sea bed where it was to be situated. Comment left on 22 December 2005 at 16:01 by Greig Campbell
Greig is right this is the Chevron Alba. This was the only time the yard had to call in a weather man on the site for each lift of the mud mats, due to their size and sail like shape they needed zero wind for each lift. The weather man was called in for a continually updated forecast. Comment left on 24 December 2005 at 16:28 by Ronald Young
Guys how can it be the Chevron Alba when the date of the picture is 1988.?The Alba wasn't installed in the North Sea until 93/94.Unless the photo taker has the wrong date.?Think that 88 is even to early for the Miller Platform as well. Comment left on 08 May 2006 at 21:50 by Dave Cunningham
The Alba Platform was installed in April 1993, which would have involved an early spring float out. Judging by the colour of the grass, and the leaves on the trees behind Nigg, this is a mid summer shot. The Miller Platform was installed in July 1991, so I guess this is the Miller Jacket. I remember watching the float-out, with Magnus as a baby so that must date it to the summer of 1991.

See www.dbd-data.co.uk/bb2001/append13.htm
Comment left on 08 May 2006 at 22:38 by Calum Davidson
My money is on Ronald for the correct answer!! On the archive coloured isometric drawing for BP
Block 16/8B. My particular drawing direct from BP does not indicate any Mud plates? The dates of the structure I'll leave to my buddies in Cromarty Boom Town.
Comment left on 10 May 2006 at 20:16 by Clem Watson
Yes it does seem like the editor has the wrong date in with this picture but it is with out a doubt the Chevron Alba jacket in the picture. Comment left on 13 May 2006 at 21:05 by Ronald Young
Absolutely ALBA !!! ... I remember it well ... no other Jacket has (ever had) such enormous mudmats ...

I worked at the Nigg yard when it was built (and I now work for BP) ...
Comment left on 06 September 2006 at 12:08 by J. Derek Riddell
Most definately Alba!! I know, I was a trainee engineer at the time working on it and had to count every single blooming anode on that thing and was also involved in the Mudmat lifting. Oh the joys of being a trainee!!. The top right mudmat as you look at it in the picture had the words "Terry Grinder Hands" painted on it in large lettering. Oh the banter!!! Comment left on 14 February 2007 at 09:22 by Greig Campbell
This was swiftly followed by the fabrication of the Elf Froy jacket which would be the last jacket to come out of Nigg. Has anyone got any photos of the Monopods, Amoco Davy & Bessemer or Mobil Galahad, at Nigg or during loadout. If I remember rightly there were some quite spectacular scenes with the Micoperi M7000 barge. Talk about taking the mountain to Mohammed! Comment left on 14 February 2007 at 09:29 by Greig Campbell
It is the Chevron Alba, as I was one of the Welding Supervisors on this Jacket, down the West side, so the date is definitely wrong. I believe it sailed in the summer of '93.
The last Jacket fabricated at Nigg would have been the Maersk Dan FF Jacket which loaded out in the summer of '96.
Great web-site by the way.
Comment left on 28 August 2007 at 07:37 by Les Wilson
Yes I think this is Miller, as I remember it in 1991. First major fabrication project I ever worked on, so sticks in the mind. A bit sad to think it's decomissioned so soon! Comment left on 20 June 2014 at 17:58 by Jenny McEwens
Actually this is not Miller, too large Mud mats. Miller was also painted full depth to minise anodes - don't know if that worked? Comment left on 20 June 2014 at 18:15 by Jenny McEwens
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