Oil rig explosion?? North Wales coast

[Kernackered]

Has there been an explosion on an oil rig? I can see a huge fire and plume if smoke somewhere in the North Wales sea. Nothing on the news about it. Can anyone else see it or know what it is?

I can see it from Near Prestatyn. No idea what it is though!

It could just be flaring (controlled burning of gas).

It is just flaring. It does it fairly often - I can see it from my sitting room window.

There are oil rigs and wind farms in that area, a couple of helicopters are in the area at the moment, not sure if that's usual or not?

Is flaring normally so huge though?

Can you take some photos and post them?

Are there oil fields up that way, I thought it mostly gas? Generally new oil or gas wells will be flared whilst being cleaned up so it may be a new well which looks more significant than normal. Do you know which field it could be?

Just had a look out my window, although looks a lot brighter than usual, I dont thinks it's anything to worry about.

I'm on the fylde coast so too far for a photo. I've never seen flames so obviously from here. I was looking at it through my binoculars so not close enough to know if it's normal. I was just surprised how it seemed to be big enough to see from here.
Does anyone know how long they usually burn for?
I'm afraid I'm not clued up enough to know if it's oil or gas or where they all are around the country.

Wow is this a thing? Sounds scary

@Kernackered in terms of how long it really depends on why it’s burning harder but if for example it’s a new well cleanup then it’ll be a few days or longer

I'm on the Fylde coast too and it is really bright fairly frequently, not seen it tonight but I think it will just be flaring.

Why? It's in the middle of the sea

The Conwy Platform flaring, I expect?

Hope it's only flaring brings back memories I lost my uncle when the piper alfa happened

I've seen the one that's more straight out to sea before, further north than this one But it's appeared more like a tiny glow despite being closer. Maybe it was the plume that made it look more dramatic today but the fire looked bigger and kind of glowing/ flashing. Was quite a sight!

That was so sad. I know it doesn’t bring your uncle back but the lessons learnt from the Piper Alpha totally changed rig design and safety in the industry.

Should be alpha

I'm sorry to hear that. Glad there wasn't an accident today.

I am so sorry to hear this. My brother left on the last chopper before it blew. It is always in my thoughts in early July .

Not my photo, but it confirms flaring. It did look huge from further away though