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This 1980s color film from the Shell Oil Company focuses on the 1982-1983 installation of the Underwater Manifold Center (UMC) in the Central Cormorant field of the North Sea, then the most sophisticated subsea oil production system of its kind (TRT: 27:23).
Film opens on NASA mission control in Houston during the Apollo 17 mission. Astronauts Harrison Schmitt and Eugene Ceran walk on the moon (0:10). A starscape crossfades to deep sea photography of the ocean floor. A partial view of a submersible in low light (0:34). A closeup and a medium shot of the submersible. Narration: “There is a need for something more permanent on the seabed than man himself” (1:27). Lower third text: “Holland 1982” over a press conference speech by John Jennings, Managing Director of Shell Expro. A champagne bottle christens a new project (1:56). The UMC, or Underwater Manifold Center is introduced: “It is, in effect, a giant robot… Over the next 25 years, it will produce billions of gallons of oil, entirely by remote control (2:25). Opening titles: “Subsea Pioneers” (2:50). A sign for the World Petroleum Congress at the Barbican Centre in London. Project Technical Advisor Tom Childers speaks, standing next to a scale model of an Exxon Submerged Production System (SBS) (3:01). Crossfade to footage of the real SBS during its 1974 installation in the Gulf of Mexico (3:46). An undulating sea jelly drifts past a subsea production system (4:03). A massive concrete and steel oil production platform stands high above sea level (4:41). An algae-covered subsea structure (5:10). An oil production platform at sea. Reels of magnetic tape. A smaller, remote-controlled satellite well developed by Shell (5:33). A production platform in Britain’s North Sea. A ship is tossed violently by waves on the high seas (6:36). Exterior: “Shell-Mex House.” John Jennings speaks in an office interview. A map indicates Aberdeen and the Cormorant Field, where the UMC was to be installed (7:13). An interview with Chief Engineer Don Henry discusses the design process. An engineer reviews a blueprint (8:15). The UMC under construction, and in an illustration (9:01). Animation shows the process by which the platform and manifold system drills the Cormorant Field for oil. A “Christmas tree” valve (9:20). An underwater pipeline sends the oil ashore. Treated water is pumped in the opposite direction (10:13). A Remote Maintenance Vehicle (RMV) is tested above ground in Holland. Animation shows how the maintenance vehicle travels down a line from a platform to the UMC (11:14). A man uses a switchboard to control the RMV, testing a valve change (12:21). Engineers handle a string of precision tools, then feed them into fluid-filled lines (12:41). A sign: “Testing Grounds.” On the map, the test area is outlined. Control panels (13:50). The UMC is christened and launched. Four men toast glasses of champagne (14:40). The semi-submersible crane barge Hermod (15:11). Project Team Engineer Bill Gamage. Workers in orange. Welding (15:25). The UMC begins its journey to the seabed (16:28). An engineer and a Project Manager speak as the line is attached (16:45). Men struggle with a hook and line. Remote CRT monitors (18:00). Animation illustrates progress (18:58). Computer screen readouts. Tense engineers. Touchdown (19:43). The pipeline connection process in illustration and reality, via aerial photography (20:29). Insulated steel pipes on shore, towed out to sea (21:28). A remote controlled arm works on the submerged UMC (22:08). The UMC’s main control panel (22:49). A rotating drill (23:31). Title: “May 1983” and audio news clips, continued interviews (24:04). A fish swims past the UMC. An illustration of the completed project (25:09). Tom Childers mentions a goal of continuing this work for another 20 years. Jellyfish and ominous music. Logos: “Cresswell Film Unit, Shell/Esso U.K. Exploration and Production” (26:00).
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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit www.PeriscopeFilm.com