Hurricane Ivan Pictures

Picture from Ensco 64 rig after Hurricane Ivan came through the Gulf of Mexico.

The following is a video from a semi-submersible rig with GPS positioning.  The rig was working for BP and left about 40 people on it during the storm.  That's how many they need to run this particular rig.  They couldn't bring up the riser pack because of the loop currents and they couldn't drift to get off location because the riser pack would run into the equivalent of an underwater mountain.  They wouldn't release the riser pack because it's cost of equipment.  The riser pack isn't moving because of the GPS, so all movement is the rig.  From the lower deck, the clearance is approximately around 60 ft, so you get an idea of how big these waves are.

  Hurricane Ivan Video From Rig  

The following pictures are from the Pensacola, Orange Beach, and Gulf Shores areas from Hurricane Ivan.

Pensacola Hurricane Pictures