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Title: BENEATH THE NORTH SEA

Reference number: 0692

Date: 1976c

Director: d. Keith Duerden

Sponsor: Mobil

Production company: Michael Forlong Productions

Sound: sound

Original format: 16mm

Colour: col

Fiction: non-fiction

Running time: 22.00 mins

Description: The construction, positioning and operation of an oil rig in the Beryl Alpha oil field, 95 miles South East of the Shetland islands.

Credits: sc. Michael Forlong
p. Michael Forlong
ph. Keith Duerden, Colin Underhill
anim. Alison de Vere, John Mosen
ed. Fred Ives, Alex Olah
addit. material Pim Korver Films

Shotlist: Credits. shots of heavy seas. Deck of oil tanker and profile of a fishing vessel, hull of wrecked vessel (0.51) brief shot of burning Viking longboat, during Up Helly Aa festival? (1.01) shots of oil platform and sunset with title superimposed (1.22) shot of Mobil geophysical research vessel "Explorer". Various shots on deck and in control rooms as data is gathered. Information on the formation of oil deposits illustrated by isometric projection and animation (3.07) gvs of the Beryl field rig as helicopter lands (4.15) shots in a Norwegian fjord of construction of towers to support platform and storage cells at base of towers (6.21) Arendal, a town in south Norway, as completed platform is towed out to sea and north to Stavanger. shots of the tow vessels, "Poseidon" and "Orion"; pumping system used by towers (8.16) the platform is lowered onto towers. Towers are raised and the rig is towed out to sea watched by surveyors on shore, checking the platform's position. (10.44) Diagram illustrating the size and draught of the rig; general shots of the rig being towed out to sea and the Beryl field. Animated diagram of the positioning procedure (13.33) once in position, the fitting out is completed. shots of storms, supply vessels, flare bridge support being positioned and flare bridge attached to rig (17.06) various shots on the platform of the generating station; model demonstrating organisation of platform; control room; canteen and living quarters, etc (18.36) gvs of rig as drilling is carried out; animated diagram of drilling (19.47) animated diagram illustrating oil transfer to tanker; gvs tanker loads oil from a single point mooring one mile away from platform (21.02) gvs of the platform (21.32) ecs (21.56)