Energy Voice, sister publication to The Press and Journal, was invited to the world premiere of The Rig – Amazon Prime’s new TV show set in the North Sea. They’ve tried to keep the following as spoiler-free as possible but proceed at your own risk.
It might be a supernatural thriller, but the DNA of the North Sea industry is there if you’re looking for it in Amazon Prime’s The Rig.
Complaints about rotas, which the first episode opens on, will be familiar to the offshore workforce.
There’s a canteen and games area which I would describe as “Shearwater-esque” and a sorry-looking radio room which you could find on any number of ageing installations.
And yes, there’s some pretty lax safety and personal protective equipment standards, which eagle-eyed workers viewing the trailer have already caught on to, with outrage.
Any safety reps seeing Emily Hampshire’s character, Rose Mason heading to the drill floor in a rush during episode one, without anything more than a shirt and trousers, will roll their eyes.
There is a “you’ve got to put on your kit” shouted.
Less familiar will be the supernatural fog and frights that follow.
But once that happens, the crew of Kinloch Bravo have some discussion of commercial concerns versus safety, which do feel close to the bone.
Commercial pressures
Everyone involved in North Sea HSE will be familiar with the events of Piper Alpha – the worst-ever offshore disaster when 167 lives were lost – off Aberdeen on July 6, 1988.
Commercial pressure there, where workers on nearby fields feeding into Piper A didn’t feel empowered to shut down production without company permission, had horrific consequences which exacerbated the inferno.
Survivors were unambiguous about who was to blame for these failings; Occidental Petroleum, the US-based operator of Piper Alpha at the time.
Which leads us to our parallel with The Rig…
Ms Mason is the company woman for the fictional Pictor Energy, with characters alluding to her climbing the career ladder and concerns she may leave them behind if the firm makes layoffs.
So when the proverbial hits the fan, early in the episode, threatening the oilfield, offshore installation manager (OIM) Magnus MacMillan (Iain Glen) moves to shut down production.
But Ms Mason fights against it, with concern only for meeting company targets.
Commercial pressures impacting safety is a familiar phrase from North Sea unions, and HSE managers watching The Rig will likely view that as the most egregious behaviour from Ms Mason, which would not be tolerated.
She even goes so far, later, as to remind Mr MacMillan that he is not her boss – true, but an OIM is, for all intents and purposes, the king, the captain of the ship, and judge and jury when it comes to matters on their platforms.
What these exchanges show is a solid understanding of the background and pressures in the oil and gas industry from writer David MacPherson, who has drawn heavily upon his own father’s 30 years working in the industry in his script.
Finding a balance
After the premiere on Tuesday, the cast and filmmakers had a Q&A in which Mr Glen revealed he worked closely with a former OIM on his lines to make sure the authenticity is felt in the show.
And, although the supernatural element will of course start to take hold, these seem promising signs for a show which I was concerned would seek to, quite literally, demonise the men and women working hard to secure energy supplies for the UK – which mainstream media and even journalists so often fail to grasp or appreciate.
Early in the episode, there is a newsreel with climate protestors and talk of “subsidising” fossil fuels.
The trailer has about three separate mentions of a battle being fought with nature.
But Mr MacPherson’s Q&A showed appreciation for the industry, noting how society “owes” it to those working offshore to get the jobs transition to renewable energy right – a key issue for the sector these days.
He also told the audience he wanted to inject some nuance, bringing multiple perspectives into his work focused on the energy industry.
A good start but let’s see if these ambitions hold through the life of The Rig.
The Rig airs on Amazon Prime on January 6.
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