|
 |
Marine & Air
Transportation
Helicopters
The first use of helicopters in
transportation to offshore platforms was carried out at the request of
Kerr-McGee and Humble Oil & Refining Co. Bell Helicopters had developed
the leading equipment in this field--the 3-person Model 47--and recognized the opportunity by forming the company Petroleum Bell
Helicopters (PBHI). One of the pilots taking this decisive first leap
was Al Danner who flew to a Kerr-McGee platform 8-10 miles offshore in
1948 (the rig was awaiting a tool from shore). A flat area on the LST
anchored next to Humble's rig 28 served as landing pad for one of the
first helicopters to be flown offshore. With helicopters now the
globally-accepted mode of transportation to take crews and equipment to
offshore sites, all rigs, platforms and vessels have
permanently-installed helipads and refueling stations. Robert L. Suggs,
Jack Lee, Larry Gussman and Maurice "Dookie" Bayon developed Petroleum
Helicopters Inc. (PHI) from 1949 onwards to support seismic crews in
Louisiana and offshore oil and gas industry, providing safe, reliable
transportation and support to operations worldwide.
Recognizing the pioneering efforts of
the following people and companies who contributed to the development of
this technology:
Maurice "Dookie" Bayon, Al Danner,
Larry Gussman, Jack Lee, Robert L. Suggs
Bell Helicopters, Humble Oil & Refining Co. (ExxonMobil), Kerr-McGee,
Petroleum Helicopters, Inc.
|
|
|
