Drilling for Oil

Oil has been around for millions of years, located deep below the land or sea 

where it becametrapped under layers of permeable rocks, or slowly seeping to the 

surface. Although examples of oil drilling were documented in 4th Century China, 

the first modern oil-gathering structure was built in 1897, and by 1928 mobile rigs

consisting of a simple barge witha drill mounted on top had set the scene for a revolution

that fuelled Western industrial dominance for the next century.

Drill Ships

Designed for speculative or deep-water mining, these vessels are converted to include a drilling platform in the centre. Drill ships use sophisticated sensors and satellite tracking tokeep them

moving while lined up to the well.

Semi-submersibles
Made up of fl oating pontoons and columns able to sink in the water where they are anchored to the sea floor or kept in place by steerable thrusters. Effective at drill depths of up to 1,800m, they’re designed for quick deployment.Jack-up
Mobile platforms can be raised above the sea on extendable steel legs. Designed for depths of
500m or less, they are useful for small to midsized deposits and typically only support smaller crews.Rig
An immovable structure of concrete and steel that rests on the seabed with deck space for multiple
rigs, crew quarters and production facilities. Their design and expense makes them appropriate for larger offshore deposits.Spar
Perfect for major oil fields, such as the North Sea, spars are drilling platforms fixed to giant, hollow hulls that can descend up to 250m, still above the ocean floor and secured by cables.

   Required to work for up to six months a year, oil workers are well compensated for the undeniably hazardous conditions in which they work. Wages are typically higher than in similar engineering disciplines and the larger platforms and spars come complete with facilities more appropriate to a cruise ship than a fl oating factory. These can include private rooms for the 100+ crew, cinemas, 24-hour restaurants and even gyms. Supplies are usually brought in by helicopter or ship, making oil platforms better stocked than most workplaces and signifi cantly more important to the local economies in which they reside. It is estimated that every offshore worker supports up to ten more in local industries such as food, transport or maintenance. However, the dangers are constant and

largely unpredictable. Offshore drilling involves not only dealing with highly fl ammable oil and gas – with the added danger of this being pumped out at exceptionally high pressures – but also extreme wind and sea conditions. When danger strikes, support is often miles away by helicopter or ship, and despite the high levels of training and increasingly safe equipment, offshore fatality rates have been on the rise in recent years. In addition to this, workers are often prone to alcoholism or drug abuse to overcome the isolation and gruelling 12-hour shifts.