Looking for Nova Special

[Scally]

I've been a fan of Nova programs since about 1988 or so, and I'm positive that I saw a portion of one about an oil rig that capsized in the North Atlantic sometime in the '80s. Since I've seen so many Nova programs, I doubt that I could misidentify this program. It's possible it was a Discovery Channel program, and I am mistaken, but I doubt it. I've searched the Nova site, and several google searches, using different terms, but found only this Canadian-made TV documentary: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0368096/?ref_=ttpl_pl_tt.

I'd love to watch that too, but I haven't found a way to buy it or download it. The Nova show was what I was really after, if I'm right.

I just watched Deepwater Horizon with my wife, so it has piqued my interest in these programs.

So, am I wrong, or is there such a Nova program? Or was it Discovery? Or the Learning Channel?

 

[Thebobo]

Was this the event?

http://www.nytimes.com/1982/02/16/world/84-feared-dead-as-oil-drilling-rig-reportedly-sinks-in-north-
atlantic.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocean_Ranger

84 FEARED DEAD AS OIL-DRILLING RIG REPORTEDLY SINKS IN NORTH ATLANTIC
By The Associated Press
Published: February 16, 1982
ST. JOHN'S, Newfoundland, Tuesday, Feb. 16 - A huge oil-drilling rig reportedly sank in a storm off the coast of Newfoundland Monday morning, and all 84 men aboard were said to be missing in 50-foot seas and feared dead.

If that's it here is a TV movie made about the event. There are lots of other video on you tube under Ocean Ranger. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0368096/

 

[Scally]

I'm pretty sure that's it, because it's the only rig disaster in the North Atlantic that I've found. I remember seeing video footage of it capsized. I remember that it was built like the Titanic - 'unsinkable', or not capsizable - but I saw the huge pontoons upsidedown in the water. The program also showed what went into the construction, and how much confidence they had in the rig. I remember the show mentioning 100ft waves, but what I've read about the Ocean Ranger said only 65ft waves, so maybe I'm wrong. It was also a perfect storm scenario, or a 100 year storm.

 

[Scally]

I've looked for this program, but there's nowhere to buy it or download it from.

 

[zinfamous]

I'd be surprised if it really was a Nova program when you can't find it in the archives. Memory is weird that way, convincing one of "close enough" is exactly what happened.

Maybe it was Frontline or some other similar investigative PBS program, or one of the other science programs? The only one I recall regularly running in those days is Nature, but I doubt that would have covered an engineering topic.

 

[Scally]

No, I think you're right. It seemed to be as well done as Nova, but I think it was the program mentioned above. I would like to watch it, but I can't find it to download anywhere. I have to keep searching.

 

[highland145]

http://www.cbc.ca/archives/search/d262aeedc5f0f75a19248bad90b114bc/