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Apollo
September 24, 2011, 12:51am Report to Moderator Report to Moderator

Forewarned is Forearmed
Secret
Posts: 14200
We've seen a few stories about World War II ordnance recently, but these were all about 'new' finds, even the one that closed the Forties pipeline.

The most recent story is a little older in its origin, and features an unexploded World War II mine near the FLAGS pipeline (Far North Liquids and Associated Gas System), discovered some 18 years ago, back in 1993.

The mine has been monitored and its condition reviewed since its discovery, and after the last review it was further identified, leading to the decision to post a guard ship over it, in preparation for works to remove it. The removal is reported to have been enabled due to better technology now available, meaning the risks involved had been considerably reduced.

BBC News - Guard ship at unexploded WWII mine in North Sea
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WANLOCK
September 24, 2011, 6:44am Report to Moderator Report to Moderator
Illusion
Posts: 387
All pipelines onshore and offshore are monitored for encroachment, remember my employment with a major oil company when I was assigned a duty in a helicopter to survey  ME onshore oil lines. ATC alerted us that mirages were at 250 feet in our area, pilot hit the deck, just in time.
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Apollo
August 2, 2012, 5:27am Report to Moderator Report to Moderator

Forewarned is Forearmed
Secret
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I see there was a follow-up to the story of plans to remove the above mine after it had sat innocuously under a pipeline for about 18 years.
Quoted Text
Shell were initially advised to leave the device in place when the Royal Navy first inspected it in 1993.

But Shell have always been keen to remove the mine and kept in close contact with Portsmouth-based unexploded ordnance disposal firm Ramora UK to find a solution. And due to new technology - known as a Remote Explosive Ordnance Disposal System, or REODS - Shell are looking to lift and dispose of the bomb safely in August.

It is understood that a bag will be attached to a lifting mechanism which is to be dropped to the sea bed.

The bag is designed to inflate around the mine and float to the surface. The bomb will then be towed to a safe area, lowered to the seabed and detonated. Shell recently deployed a guard vessel to keep a continuous watch on the site.

Oil firm to attempt to lift World War II mine from under North Sea pipeline | Aberdeen & North | News | STV

I guess we'll soon know if this was a good idea or not (if they choose to proceed that is), and whether or not the old maxim of 'Leave well alone' might have been a better idea
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Apollo
August 2, 2012, 10:59pm Report to Moderator Report to Moderator

Forewarned is Forearmed
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Apollo
August 6, 2012, 8:52pm Report to Moderator Report to Moderator

Forewarned is Forearmed
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At Last!!!

It's only taken 19 years
Quoted Text
An unexploded World War II mine found at a pipeline in the North Sea has been "successfully detonated".

The mine was discovered in 1993, at the Far North Liquids and Associated Gas System (Flags) pipeline, about 62 miles off Aberdeen.

Shell launched an operation on Thursday, after risk assessments and approval.

The company said the disposal operation had been successfully completed on Sunday.

World War II North Sea mine 'successfully detonated'
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