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This is English USA, on the Voice of
America. Now, Lesson 66, Part 1. |
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PILOT: |
Let's go inside. It's quiet inside. |
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MARTIN: |
Good idea. |
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MARTIN: |
Where are we? |
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PILOT: |
We're in the elevator. It goes to the recreation area. We can get
a cup of coffee there and talk quietly. |
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MARTIN: |
Is there a recreation area? |
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PILOT: |
Haven't you been below deck? |
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MARTIN: |
No, I haven't. Tell me about it. What does everyone do? Tell me
all about this oil rig. |
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PILOT: |
I
can't tell you all about it. I'm just a helicopter pilot. We'll
ask some of the workers. They can tell you what they do. |
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MARTIN: |
Where is the rig exactly? |
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PILOT: |
We're in the Gulf of Mexico, about one hundred miles from Texas
and Mexico. This is called an offshore rig. The workers on the rig
are drilling for oil in the Gulf. |
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MARTIN: |
Is that like drilling for oil on land? |
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PILOT: |
I
think so. We can ask the men working here. You have all these
machines and equipment drilling for oil, but we are in the middle
of all this water. |
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MARTIN: |
Do the men live here? |
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PILOT: |
Yes. For a short time. Then they have vacation at their homes on
land. That's one of the things I do. I take them back and forth to
land. It's like going to a job in another city. |
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MARTIN: |
Or like going away to school. You live in a dormitory, away from
your family and other friends. |
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PILOT: |
The men are older than school boys. |
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MARTIN: |
Does the rig stay here when they find oil? |
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PILOT: |
Not this rig. This is a drilling rig. When they find oil, this rig
goes to another place. They bring another rig for pumping the oil.
The work is different. |
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MARTIN: |
Do some men live on that rig? |
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PILOT: |
Yes, a smaller number of men live on that rig. |
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MARTIN: |
The rig has to be very strong, doesn't it? |
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PILOT: |
Of course. There are many storms here. The rig must be very
strong. Here we are. This is the recreation room. |
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MARTIN: |
The rig looks very comfortable. |
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PILOT: |
It's not bad. I don't stay here very long. |
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MARTIN: |
What is your job? |
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PILOT: |
I
pilot the helicopter. That's it. I fly from Texas or Louisiana to
the rig. Then I go back. I bring men, supplies, equipment,
whatever is needed. I take the workers back and forth. I fly the
owners here to the rig sometimes. I carry the supervisors back to
meetings. |
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MARTIN: |
Is there a lot of flying? |
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PILOT: |
Every day. People go back and forth all the time. There is always
something to carry. |
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MARTIN: |
Why doesn't the company use a boat? Isn't that cheaper? |
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PILOT: |
They do use boats. They bring fuel by boat. They need some things
in a hurry. Equipment breaks. They need someone to repair the
equipment. He works in Louisiana, not here. So I go to get him.
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MARTIN: |
What about food? Do you bring the food? |
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PILOT: |
Yes. The men have very good food. I bring videos for
entertainment. It's something different every day. Would you like
to take a tour of the rig? |
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MARTIN: |
I
would like that very much. |
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PILOT: |
I'll find a supervisor. |
