Offshore Time

 

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When I went to the closet to get some cold weather gear,
I found an old sweat shirt I had tucked away in there.
So I pulled it out and it reminded me of a time in life,
When I worked offshore in Cook Inlet once or twice.

 

 

 

 

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Offshore Time

 

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We had an Liquified Natural Gas plant in Alaska near Kenai,
Processing natural gas from the area there on the fly,
Turning the gas into a liquified stream for ship loading,
To haul to Japan in special cold tanks that were floating.

Kenai LNG plant after the expansion project I worked on in the 1990s.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Part of the gas feeding our plant there on the shore,
Came from an offshore platform in Cook inlet for sure.
The Tyonek Platform removed gas from under the ocean floor,
Of 99% methane, compressed and pipelined to shore.

The Tyonek Platform out in Cook Inlet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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I recall the Cook inlet had 25 to 30 foot tides so very large,
With a current speed of 5 knots going in or out on a charge.
And water temperature was about 34 degrees Fahrenheit,
So just getting out to the platform was quite a plight.

It was a 35 minute helicopter ride out to the Platform.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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We had to wear a cold water survival suit on the chopper ride,
If we went down in the inlet, the suit would save our hide.
I recall we had to watch a survival film before we flew,
So it took about half a day to get out there being so new.

We all wore a cold water survival suit on that helicopter ride.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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I recall after we got out there, I saw a strange sight.
I saw a 3′ diameter 50′ log heading right in with the tide,
It was moving fast and it hit one of the platform legs,
I could feel and hear the big hit putting me on edge.

 

 

 

 

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The platform had 4 – 14′ diameter steel legs concrete filled,
And I was already having thoughts of being killed.
The hands out there assured me it was ok that day,
As in the winter much bigger chunks of ice are in play.

God’s Country

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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We were looking at equipment to process richer gas,
From test wells recently drilled to help the field last.
I recall we prepared a quick estimate for their review
But additional shore facility’s had to be added new.

 

 

 

 

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I don’t think that special Tyonek project was completed,
It would complicate the operation but could have succeeded
I went out to that Tyonek Platform on another trip.
As a safety audit team member finding they ran a tight ship.

The sweatshirt I received on a trip out to the Tyonek Platform.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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I loved to go up to those facilities to work back then,
As the scenery in than area always gave me a grin.
It was the best that I ever recall seeing in my long life.
Giving me that peaceful easy feeling relieving my strife.

What awesome scenery out there in Alaska around Cook Inlet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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When we went on that Alaskan Cruise so very fine,
I got to see the fantastic Cook Inlet scenery one more time.
I remember looking down from the Alyeska Ski lift in June,
Taking in that awesome Cook Inlet view about noon.

That peaceful easy feeling can be achieved from the Alyeska Resort Ski Lift area.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By Bill

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for reading Offshore Time,
By Bill