Gulf Oil Spill Offshore Drilling Rigs

The Deepwater Horizon oil spill involved a mobile offshore drilling rig on the Gulf of Mexico. The spill is considered America's largest oil spill and one of the major oil spills to occur in recent memory. As a result of the spill, the American government put a moratorium on offshore oil drilling, effecting many jobs in the oil industry.

Types of Offshore Drilling Rigs

There are many types of offshore drilling rigs. Fixed platform oilrigs are cemented into the seabed and are designed for use over the long term. Compliant towers are on a pile foundation and have to be flexible enough to bend with forces upon it. A semi-submersible platform, like the one in the Gulf oil spill in 2010, floats on the water, though the platform itself provides the weight necessary to keep it straight up.

Semi-submersibles can be used over the short and long term and can be moved from place to place. Jack-up drilling rigs can be raised or lowered above the surface of the ocean. Drillships, as the name implies, are ships with the equipment necessary to drill oil and gas wells whether for exploratory or scientific purposes.

Floating production systems (FPSOs) are used for storing oil more than drilling. Tension-leg platforms float on the water, but are attached to the seafloor to prevent shifting. Similarly spar platforms are tethered to the seafloor; however, it has traditional lines to keep it upright. Normally unmanned installations consist of a small platform for remote use and occasional work.

Offshore Drilling Rig Companies

Transocean is one of the largest offshore drilling companies in the world. Others companies include:

Arabian Drilling
Chevron Texaco
Deepwater Drilling LLC
ExxonMobil
Fred Olsen ASA
Gulf Drilling International
Korea Oil Exploration CO
Nabors International
Nabors Offshore
Odebrecht
Pacific Drilling Limited
Petrobras/Mitsui
Sevan Drilling
Scorpion Offshore
Shell
Thule Drilling ASA
Viking Drilling
Well Services Petroleum Co. Ltd.

These companies hire oil and gas professionals to operate petroleum engineering drilling rigs. Though safety regulations are in place to keep employees safe, the jobs on rigs are often considered dangerous, as explosions or other safety issues can arise.

For more information or to speak with an attorney about a potential oil spill lawsuit, contact our BP oil spill lawyers.

BP Oil Spill Breaking News

"BP to establish $20 billion fund for Gulf cleanup and compensation"

The Obama administration and British Petroleum (BP) have furthered negotiations for a cleanup and compensation fund for the oil spill that devastated the Gulf of Mexico.

BP, taking full respons...

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"Panel hears testimony on BP oil spill"

During its third round of meetings, a federal panel working to determine the precise cause of the BP oil spill heard testimony focusing on human errors that ...

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"Gulf oil spill could be contained soon"

There hasn't been much positive news in regards to the Gulf oil spill, but that trend may be ending as the Coast Guard says the spilled oil will be contained wit...

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Gulf Oil Spill Offshore Drilling Rigs

Types of Offshore Drilling Rigs

Offshore Drilling Rig Companies

BP Oil Spill Breaking News

"BP to establish $20 billion fund for Gulf cleanup and compensation"

"Panel hears testimony on BP oil spill"

"Gulf oil spill could be contained soon"

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