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Canon Image Challenge | all galleries >> Energy II >> CIC 179 Exhibition > Refinery
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23-SEP-2011 davev

Refinery

From over 200' on a Flare Stack

Canon PowerShot G10
1/2000s f/2.8 at 6.1mm iso100 hide exif
Full EXIF Info
Date/Time23-Sep-2011 09:54:54
MakeCanon
ModelCanon PowerShot G10
Flash UsedNo
Focal Length6.1 mm
Exposure Time1/2000 sec
Aperturef/2.8
ISO Equivalent100
Exposure Bias-0.33
White Balance
Metering Mode
JPEG Quality
Exposure Program
Focus Distance64.400 m

other sizes: small medium large original auto
comment
Canon Image Challenge28-May-2018 15:12
That flaming arrow technique may have been the inspiration for the Barcelona Olympics cauldron lighting (IMO one of the coolest in history).

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=barcelona+olympics+torch+lighting&&view=detail&mid=CEDFECA54636644C1FDBCEDFECA54636644C1FDB&&FORM=VRDGAR

Dave
Canon Image Challenge28-May-2018 14:36
Yes, this brings back some memories. I traveled a lot, and many times on a return flight to MSP (Minneapolis St Paul Airport) I would fly over this site at night. It was on the flight path in. The sky would all be lit up, and you could see all the many stacks burning away.
A beautiful sight - especially after a long trip.

Jim
Canon Image Challenge27-May-2018 19:59
The Flare Stack in the foreground is 400 feet tall.
The one I'm on is 250 feet.
On the 400' stack you can see the ship's ladder on the left side.
There are platforms every 50' for you to rest on.
In the past, at least one of the Flare Stacks would have a flame that was burning off gases.
There have been laws passed that required them to handle the waste in some way other than to burn it.
The stacks are still there for emergency reasons to burn off gases in case of some type of failure in the
refining process.
At the top of these stacks are (many) pilot lines and igniters to light off those products/wastes.
We were inspecting and replacing the worn out equipment.

In the old days, close to 40 years ago, when a flare stack would go out for some reason,
they would re-ignite it with a flaming arrow.
(I should add that the old stacks were between 150 and 200 feet tall)
I'm not kidding, I saw them do it.

I was 53 at the time, the 20 somethings had to stop more than I did on the way.
davev
Canon Image Challenge27-May-2018 16:24
I didn't even want to ask about the height. I Hate heights. My palms get sweaty just thinking about climbing up 200 ft.

Jim
Canon Image Challenge27-May-2018 16:00
Very nice indeed but the real question is what were you doing up there and how did you get up there. I have gaffed up 30 foot poles no problem but a 200 foot climb is no easy task even with step bars Paul
Canon Image Challenge27-May-2018 03:24
Very refined.

Dave
Guest 27-May-2018 01:56
I like the bravery....(grin) Traveller
Canon Image Challenge27-May-2018 01:24
I like the B&W treatment.

Jim