Massive rig to spend winter in Cromarty Firth

A massive drilling rig that has been working in the North Atlantic off Shetland has been towed into a Highland firth for the winter.

The West Phoenix joins 11 other rigs already parked up in the Cromarty Firth near Invergordon.

The others have also been towed in to the sheltered waters for winter, or are in the firth for refits.

Eight years ago, high oil prices and a shortage of rigs to meet the demand for oil emptied the firth of rigs.

The Cromarty Firth has been used for the parking up of rigs since the start of the North Sea oil and gas industry.

Several of the latest rigs were towed into the firth earlier this year to be parked up, or for refurbishment work by yards at Invergordon and Nigg.

Bob Buskie, of the Port of Cromarty Firth, said falling demand for drilling work had led to the laying up of the rigs.

He said "We currently have 12 rigs anchored in the Cromarty Firth, with capacity to accommodate at least a further six. The West Phoenix is the largest rig at circa 35,500 gross tonnes.

"The persistent depression in oil price has caused great uncertainty within the North Sea oil and gas sector and the demand for exploration, appraisal and work over drilling has diminished considerably resulting in a significant lay up of oil and gas drilling rigs across the North Sea."

Mr Buskie added: "The safe sheltered deep water anchorages within the Cromarty Firth play a significant role when the market is in such a situation."