30/10/11 The Oil

 

30 October, 2011

Onal’s plant – note flame burning to one side 24/7

Here's something you'll all find fascinating! When they pump the oil out of the ground and send in down the 300km-odd pipeline through the bush to the sea, they have to heat it first because its so thick and full of paraffin, that if its temperature drops below 35°C it will solidify and become a giant candle.

They have pump houses all along
the pipeline, presumably also with heat exchangers to keep it runny...

Aren't you all AMAZED!

Onal Camp. My container is one in the bottom left corner. Helipad  close to trees above the camp. The flame from the plant can be seen burning above the trees, visible from up to 20nm (35km!)

Also, practically all the oil wells have a monster (like 4 storey) flame burning above them (or to one side actually) which is burning all the natural gas away that comes up with the oil. Apparently the government is thinking of forcing the wells to capture the gas as well, rather than burning it off (makes sense since the gas can be used and isn't just wasted energy in a big flame) but apparently the costs that the oil companies would incur to set up that infrastructure to capture the gas would make many of the smaller wells non-viable. So the companies have told the government that they would have to stop pumping oil from most of their wells if forced to capture the gas. Quite sad really... That flame never goes out! And this is just one well!

Tank on Coucal's plant (standing on helipad, camp to right)

Coucal pad with camp beyond and safety officer in fire gear for every take off and landing. Coucal is a much smaller camp than Onal.

You'll all be delighted (or disappointed if I know you lot) to know I didn't do anything stupid today. I'm starting to land the B2 without dancing it all over the helipad (can't believe how crap I have become at hovering the B2) and I'm starting to feel more like I know what's going on, rather than struggling to find out what I'm supposed to be doing... Happy days...

Keep those mails coming!! Thanks to all who are keeping my sanity intact... :-)