Images courtesy of Texaco, Inc., Global Marine, Inc., and Diamond Offshore. Use by permission only.
Example of a permanent offshore platform
The Ocean Star Platform An offshore stationary oil rig that is towed into position. The rig legs are flooded causing a portion of the leg length to sink into the sea floor .. thus anchoring the whole structure. This a picture of Diamond Offshore's "Ocean Star" performing subsea completion operations in the Mississippi Canyon Block 292 in 3200' of water.
Another View of The Ocean Star Platform Notice the derrick, the drill pipe (vertical black structure next to the derrick), the helicopter pad, and cranes for loading drill pipe and other equipment.
Good example of a "Jack Up" Rig This platform is floated into place and the legs are lowered ... or "jacked" downward onto the sea floor. Once the legs make contact with the sea floor, the legs are "jacked" further resulting in raising the platform out of the water to the desired height.
Example of an exploratory Jack Up Rig This type of platform is usually used in shallower waters. Its primary use is to drill exploratory wells. It has the capability of moving onsite quickly, drilling the well, then moving to another location.
Glomar Explorer Drill
Ship in the Adriatic Sea. The water depth is approximately 2000 feet. This ship cruises the various oceans and seas, drills along the plate margins, and collects rock samples in order to better understand the geologic development of the earth through time.