List of Top 10 Biggest Oil Rigs in the World
As the world continues to invest in sustainable energy solutions, offshore oil and gas rigs are essential to meeting today’s global energy needs. These massive structures are designed to withstand extreme weather and environments while extracting, storing, and processing oil and gas on the seafloor. This article will explore the biggest ten oil rigs in the world and explain their unique features and functions.
1. Berkut Oil rig
Located near Sakhalin Island off the Pacific coast of Russia, the Berkut Oil rig is the largest in the world. Weighing approximately 200,000 tons, this engineering marvel sits 35 meters below the seafloor and has an estimated maximum oil extraction capacity of 4.5 million tons annually.
The rig is designed to withstand sub-Arctic conditions, including 60-foot high waves and temperatures as low as -44 degrees Celsius. Its gravity-bound structure (GBS) is anchored to the seafloor, providing stability and durability under extreme weather conditions and environmental challenges.
The Berkut rig, built to develop Arkotun-Dagi’s vast oil reserves, is one of the most expensive and challenging projects undertaken by a consortium of major oil companies from the United States, Japan, India, and Russia. Named after the Russian word for “Golden Eagle,” the $12 billion project is expected to generate more than $9 billion in revenue over the next 10 years.
The rig’s topside is massive, measuring 105 meters long, 60 meters wide, and 144 meters high. It weighs more than 42,780 tons and houses various modules, emergency equipment, safety systems, drilling rigs, processing units, living quarters, helipads, and other facilities.
2. Stones Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) Facility
Shell operates the Stones floating production, storage, and offloading facility in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, about 322 kilometers off the coast of New Orleans. It holds the record for Earth’s deepest operating oil and gas project, reaching 9,500 feet below sea level.
The Stones FPSO, named Turritella, is a converted Swissmax tanker secured in place using the floating tower tie-down (BTM) technology. It is tied to two wells, with plans to expand to six wells over time, and uses a “flexible steel wave crane” to bring oil and gas to the surface.
The Stones project is expected to produce 60,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day at peak production. The field is expected to contain more than 2 billion barrels of oil equivalent, significantly contributing to global oil production.
3. Perdido Oil rig
The Perdido Oil rig is located in the Gulf of Mexico, approximately 200 miles south of Galveston, Texas, and is the world’s deepest mast-mounted rig. Shell operates the rig, anchored in 2,450 meters (8,000 feet) of water, producing oil and gas from 2,300 to 2,800 meters (7,500 to 9,500 feet).
Perdido’s cylindrical mast is 170 meters (555 feet) long and is firmly anchored to the seafloor. The structure is 267 meters tall, nearly the height of the Eiffel Tower, and weighs 22,000 tons.
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The rig can process 100,000 barrels of oil and 200 million cubic feet of natural gas daily. It is a hub for three fields in the Gulf of Mexico (Great White, Tobago, and Silvertip) and is connected to 22 wells via a 44-kilometer (27-mile) pipeline network under the sea.
4. Olympus Oil rig (Mars B)
Shell owns the Olympus oil rig, also known as Mars B, and operates it within the Mars B field in the Gulf of Mexico. The rig was built to extend the life of the Mars oil field to at least 2050 and increase production capacity.
Weighing 120,000 tons and measuring 406 feet from the bottom of the hull to the top of the derrick, Olympus is one of the world’s largest floating deepwater rigs. The rig operates in a water depth of about 3,100 feet and produces about 100,000 barrels of oil equivalent daily.
Since its inception in 2014, the Olympus rig has produced more than 700 million barrels of oil. It supports 192 marine functions with a total surface area of 342,000 square feet, larger than the NFL Superdome.
5. Hibernia rig
Located approximately 196 miles east of Newfoundland, Canada, the Hibernia rig is the world’s largest offshore rig and the first iceberg-resistant gravity structure. It operates in the North Atlantic with a total tonnage of 496,040 tons.
The rig is designed to withstand the impact of icebergs weighing up to 1.1 million tons. It has a 106-meter-long concrete cement box surrounded by steel structure protection to resist icebergs. This gravity-based structure can store 1.4 million barrels of oil.
The Hibernia rig has operated since November 1997, producing more than 1,400 barrels of oil daily. It is expected to continue producing oil after 2040, significantly contributing to global oil production.
6. Petronius rig
The Petronius rig is located in the Gulf of Mexico near New Orleans and is one of the tallest free-standing structures in the world. Built between 1997 and 2000, this dovetail fixed tower rig weighs 47,399 tons and has an operating depth of 1,754 feet.
The unique design of the Petronius rig allows it to sway with the tide rather than resist movement caused by waves or wind. It stands 2,001 feet tall and features multiple upper decks that house essential equipment, worker living quarters, pipelines, operating rooms, and drilling rigs.
The Petronius rig can process 60,000 barrels of oil equivalent and 3.1 million cubic meters of oil and gas daily. It remains a major contributor to global oil production.
7. Baldpate rig
Located off the coast of Louisiana, the Baldpate rig is the first freestanding tower ever built to meet marine standards. Designed by Hudson Engineering in Houston, Texas, the Baldpate rig sits in 1,650 feet of water. The rig reached peak production in 1999.
The unique design and construction of the Baldpate rig make it an important part of the global oil production landscape. Its continued operation has contributed to the total global oil supply.
8. Troll A rig
Located on the west coast of Norway, the Troll A rig is one of the tallest structures in the world, reaching 1,210 feet below the water’s surface. The rig uses high-strength concrete reinforced with steel and prestressed tendons, making it a marvel of engineering and design.
The Troll A rig has operated since 1996 and has significantly contributed to global oil production. Its unique design and structure enable it to withstand the harsh conditions of the North Sea while maintaining efficient production levels.
9. Olympus Floating rig (Mars B)
Shell’s Olympus Floating rig (Mars B) is the company’s largest deepwater floating rig. The structure was built in South Korea and became operational in February 2014. Olympus is 405 feet tall, weighs 122,000 tons, and provides the latest technology and modern facilities for its 195 employees.
The Olympus rig extracts and processes over 360,000 barrels of oil daily through 48 wells. The pillars supporting the rig are coated with a special corrosion-resistant coating to ensure its durability and longevity in the Gulf of Mexico.
10. Olympus Oil rig
Shell owns the Olympus oil rig, also known as Mars B, and operates it within the Mars B field in the Gulf of Mexico. The rig was built to extend the life of the Mars field until at least 2050 and increase production capacity.
Weighing 120,000 tons and measuring 406 feet from the bottom of the hull to the top of the crane, the rig is one of the largest floating deepwater rigs in the world. The rig operates in a water depth of approximately 3,100 feet and produces approximately 100,000 barrels of oil equivalent daily.
Since its inception in 2014, the Olympus rig has produced more than 700 million barrels of oil. It supports 192 marine features with a total surface area of 342,000 square feet, larger than the NFL Superdome.
