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On the 50th anniversary of UK North Sea production, some thoughts from JL

Posted in energy policy, Offshore Energy - General, UK, tagged , , , , , , on June 18, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Argyll first production
Queen Elizabeth inaugurates the Forties field
Queen Elizabeth: a day of “outstanding significance in the history of the United Kingdom” and a “critical milestone in the development of our energy resources.”  

JL Daeschler recalls the inauguration of production at the Argyll field (18 June 1975) and Forties field (3 Nov 1975):

  • While some were bitter that Hamilton Brothers, a company owned by 2 brothers from Denver, was able to start production before British giant BP, there was never a race between the companies.
  • Instead there was a broad industry effort to initiate production during a financial crisis.
  • All operators exercized caution. We learned slowly with safety in mind. There was a great transfer of knowledge between operators small and big.
  • BP’s Forties field was a major achievement – designed for 400,000 bopd.  240 miles of 36″ pipeline were required (110 miles offshore and 130 miles onshore). The biggest delay was associated with the pipeline system, not the platform or wells.
  • The Hamilton Brothers Argyll field project (30,000 bopd) was not comparable in magnitude, requiring only a few wells and short infield flowlines.
  • The inauguration of Argyll  (photo above) was with the UK Energy Minister, Ferris and Fred Hamilton, and a  Greek tanker captain. There was minimal promotion and PR followup.
  • Contrast that with the Forties inauguration (photo above), a big event featuring Queen Elizabeth!

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Tomorrow (18 June) is the 50th anniversary of the first UK North Sea production! 👏🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿👏

Posted in Offshore Energy - General, UK, tagged , , , , , on June 17, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Converted semi-submersible initiates production at the Argyll field in the UK sector of the North Sea
British Secretary of State for Energy Tony Benn, center, with Frederic Hamilton and Captain Harry Koutsoukos opening a valve to release the first oil from the North Sea into the BP refinery on the Isle of Grain in 1975.

Congratulations to JL Daeschler and other North Sea pioneers! Your important contributions to the UK and the world have not been forgotten.

See the attached summary shared by JL and a related 2023 post.

18th June 1975Download

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The Hamilton brothers, JL Daeschler, and the first production in the UK North Sea

Posted in Offshore Energy - General, UK, tagged , , , , , on November 10, 2023| Leave a Comment »

converted semi-submersible initiates production at the Argyll field

JL Daeschler, a pioneering subsea engineer who lives in Scotland, has fond memories of his interactions with Fred and Ferris Hamilton, the brothers whose company was the first to produce oil in the UK sector of the North Sea (1975). Their small company aced the super-majors by initiating production at the Argyll Field with subsea wells and the Transworld 58, a converted semi-submersible drilling rig. Their rig conversion was an early predecessor to the modern floating production units that have become the surface facilities of choice for deepwater development.

JL recalls that Ferris and Fred took time to discuss any problem with any employee. Should there be arguments, they were often followed by more relaxed discussions about sailing, cars, cooking, and other topics of mutual interest. The brothers would travel from Denver for the annual Christmas dinner in Aberdeen, and invited everyone from the warehouse crew to the production manager. There was a great sense of community among the employees and contractors.

As JL notes, there were no satellite positioning systems, and real time communications with the rig were short and limited to the normal marine radio channels. This was a remarkable era of achievement for the North Sea and the offshore industry, as operations expanded and technology advanced to support them. I have much respect for these offshore pioneers and their contributions to societies around the world.

Related articles:

British Secretary of State for Energy Tony Benn, center, with Frederic Hamilton and Captain Harry Koutsoukos opening a valve to release the first oil from the North Sea into the BP refinery on the Isle of Grain in 1975.

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