Oil rigs, or offshore drilling rigs, are built to extract, store, and also process crude oil and natural gas from the ocean floor. These platforms come in various types, including Examples: fixed platforms, spar platforms, also semi-submersible platforms, etc. Most oil rigs are located in the Gulf of Mexico and are owned by the U.S. Government, followed by the Persian Gulf and the Far East. Advances in energy and also marine technology have allowed such structures to be built to withstand the harshest conditions. 

While reducing their impact on the environment. Equipped with the latest technology to maximize productivity, these are essential to meeting the world’s oil demand. Most platforms are equipped with basic equipment as workers are stationed on these structures to monitor operations. Accidents at these facilities can have devastating effects on marine life and also on humans. Therefore, it has a top-notch security system to detect potential leaks.

Five Largest Oil Rigs

Berkut Oil Rig

The Berkut drilling rig is the world’s largest oil rigs, located near the Russian coast overlooking the Pacific Ocean, near Sakhalin Island, and also near mainland Japan. Weighing approximately 200,000 tons and standing 35 meters above the seabed, it is a true engineering marvel. The offshore oil rig maximum oil production capacity is estimated at 4.5 million tons per year. This Platform was built to exploit the vast Arkutun Dagi oil reserves, which extend over 50 kilometers from the Russian coast to the Sea of ​​Okhotsk. It was one of the most expensive and demanding projects undertaken by a consortium of major U.S. Japan, India, and also Russia spent $12 billion on Berkut and Golden Eagle. 

The offshore oil rig name emphasizes its economic importance to Russia, with the government estimating that revenue from the rig will be more than $9 billion over the next ten years. Before the Platform was built, he had 27 wells drilled to produce oil that would be transported to the Chaivo oil refinery. Eventually, it will be sent via pipeline to the oil terminal at the port of Dekastri for export around the world. The main structure, the Platform, stands on four strong pillars that jut out from the sea. It was designed by Russian engineers and also built in the port of Vostochny in eastern Russia. Fifty-three thousand cubic meters and 26,000 tonnes of concrete and steel were used.

Perdido 

The Perdido oil and gas platform is the second largest in the world and is located near the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. Commissioned in 2010, it is operated by Shell Oil, which is one of the largest oil companies. This project was extremely difficult due to geographical constraints, as the Gulf region is prone to typhoons and hurricanes. Therefore, the Platform had to be durable enough to withstand hurricanes and extremely cold temperatures. This structure is approximately 8,000 feet below the seabed and produces oil and gas from the Great White, Tobago and Silverfields area. There are three low-pressure oil reserves in this area. The Platform will produce 100,000 barrels of oil and also 200 million cubic meters of gas daily. 

With a unique and classic girder design, this product was built by Finnish construction company Technip. The girder was 170 meters long, the hull was as tall as the Eiffel Tower, and it weighed as much as 11,000 cars. Approximately 12,500 experts were involved in the planning, construction, and assembly of one of the world’s deepest oil production facilities. Its Platform weighs 53,000 tons, and its deck is the size of two soccer fields. Numerous barges and cargo ships transported spars and platforms from Finland to the Gulf of Mexico. Proper mooring was a difficult task and took over 22 hours, with the team working despite Hurricane Gustav rapidly approaching. The structure was able to withstand powerful hurricanes thanks to its internal ballast system. 

Petronius 

The Petronius oil platform is located in the Gulf of Mexico near New Orleans, United States. Construction of this sturdy and compliant tower drilling rig began in 1997 and finished in 2000. The drilling rig was located at a depth of more than 530 meters and was intended to develop the Petronius oil field, discovered in the 1990s and named after the famous Roman author. He served at the court of Roman Emperor Nero. This oil rig was once the tallest freestanding structure until it was surpassed by Dubai’s Burj Khalifa. 

The construction had many technical problems, especially since it began in the 1990s and cost about $500 million. It was built by Mac Dermott International Limited, who was also responsible for the assembly, and the engineering contract was awarded to W. H. Linder and Associates. Prior to construction, 16 oil wells were drilled and connected to oil pipelines. Typically, platforms are designed to be stable to withstand movements caused by waves and wind. 

Hibernia Platform 

The Hibernia oil rig is located approximately 314 kilometers from Saint John, Newfoundland, Canada. It was built to exploit the Hibernian and Avalon oil reserves, one of the world’s oldest oil reserves. These fields are located more than 3,500 meters underwater and are thought to contain more than 3 billion barrels of oil. They were discovered in 1979, and construction of the Hibernian oil platform began in 1991 and was completed in seven years. 

More than 1,400 barrels of oil are produced per day. It is operated by ExxonMobil and co-owned by numerous companies, including Murphy Oil and Chevron. Because this region experiences harsh weather conditions with strong northerly winds, fog, and large floating icebergs, the GBS has constructed structures with the desired stability and durability to withstand these conditions while operating at maximum capacity. It was seen as an ideal option to serve things. Additional wells were drilled in 2008 to increase production. The structure consists of a 106 m-long concrete caisson protected by a surrounding steel structure to withstand icebergs. GBS includes facilities capable of storing 1.Four million barrels of oil.

Oil Platform Olympus 

Olympus, the fifth largest oil rigs, was built to develop the Mars oil fields in the Gulf of Mexico, 200 kilometers south of New Orleans, USA. The installation of this Platform was part of a project aimed at extending the life of the oil field until 2050 and possibly even further. As of 2010, the construction and assembly phase involved more than 24,000 workers and took three years to complete. The base of the Platform was built by Samsung Industries at the South Korean shipyard Daewoo Shipyard and transported to the installation site by barge. The rig produced oil for the first time in 2014. This is a stretch platform located just 1 kilometer away from the old Platform. 

It is the largest in the Gulf of Mexico region and the seventh-largest Shell facility. The Platform will produce and process more than 360,000 barrels of oil per day through 48 wells producing oil from 6,500 meters below the seabed. Field of Mars was founded in 1989 and began production in 1997. It is essential to meeting America’s energy needs and is an important natural resource for this country. At 405 feet tall and weighing 122,000 tons, Olympus features the latest technology and modern amenities for its 195 employees. The living area is four stories high and includes a pantry, gymnasium, a small first aid room with medical staff, and emergency evacuation facilities. The platform struts are coated with a special anti-corrosion paint.