No Such Thing As Luck

Under pressure from the Ministry of Power and lagging behind its rivals' North Sea gas finds, Mogul loses its main rig to storm damage. Peter Thornton secures early delivery of a new rig, the Ocean Pearl, and, against the chief geologist's advice, insists on drilling a block of his own choosing, with Alec Stewart backing him. Brian Stead makes both men answerable, and offshore a run of setbacks feeds the superstitions of toolpusher Al Nillson's crew.