Greetings from Louisiana !

Hi All,

Today we spent in the city where Offshore Oil Rigs began. We got to visit

the very first oil rig ever built in 1954. It is now retired as a museum in Morgan City,

Louisiana. However it is still used as a training rig. The Diamond Offshore Roustabout

Training Program teaches new recruits here. New recruits spend two weeks isolated on the rig

to simulate two weeks at sea. This platform is a semi-submersible. That is it can be floated out to where it's needed, then  flooded to a depth of 40 feet. It was used up to 1985 in the shallow portions of the Gulf of Mexico.

   The first picture shows the Spirit of Morgan City on permanent display as you enter town.

The second photo shows the first oil rig “Mr Charlie”.

   The third picture shows the drilling gear which is still used to train crews.

The fourth shows the production platform which is moved over the well head after the oil has been found so the rig can move and drill another well.

The fifth and final photo shows two submersibles used by the oil rig and the “man lift” to

lift people from a boat up onto the rig.

Take care and talk to you soon!