by Philp Babitsky

Created on: May 18, 2010

Once geologists discovered multiple large oil deposits around the world oil platforms began to be utilised to increase the production rate and profitability of oil for a growing global population. An oil rig is a platform positioned over deeply concealed fossil fuel reserves below the surface of the planet. Oil wells have been around for more than one hundred and twenty years. In fact around 1891 the world’s first sumerged oil wells were drilled from large platforms at the Mercer County Reservoir in Ohio United States. 

There are many different types of oil rig platforms. Some of these are:

a) Fixed Platforms

Are held in place by large steele and concrete support pillars, that are anchored into the sea/ocean floor. The platform itself supports drilling rigs, generators, oil pruction centres and large crew quarters. These strutures are designed to be self sustaining for long periods of time. Some concrete caisson structural versions even have inbuilt oil storage tanks.

b) Jacked Platforms

Are platforms mounted on legs that can be lowered or raised, depending on the depth of the water; and are usualy used in shallow waters where tides are pronounced. The existence of gears on the bottom of the legs allows for the platform to be mobile.

c) Tension Leg Platforms

Are large structures, usualy supported on four large legs that are inbedded into the seaflor in such a manner that minimises vertical and sideways movement, thus reducing stress on the rigging systems. In particular, such structures are designed for deep water oil extraction and can siphen oil from waters as deep as 2000 metres.

d) Spar Platforms

Are seabed platforms that are moored by lines, is made up of a cylindrical hull, truss elements that connects to the boyant hull and the bottom structure containing a ballast, allows the entire structure to minimise any unconventional, distruptive movement thanks to its large counterweight, which holds it upright. Movement is achieved via chains that wind up the tension lines, thus pulling itself towards an oil well.

e) Semi-Submersible Platforms

Are nothing more than buoyant hulls. They are ballasted by the altersation of the amount of liquid in the ballast tanks. This systems are usualy anchored by varius chains, ropes and cables and GPS.

f) Compliant Towers

Are designed to be deployed in medium depth water where a lot of lateral stress is experienced. The structures consist of a platform, that houses flexible towers as

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