How does the world's largest oil rig work?

Everyone from galley hand to ballast engineers work together to keep the rig running. Through their efforts, up to 100,000 barrels of oil per day are pumped up from 18,000 feet below the seafloor, processed, and sent another 82 miles to shore. Check out the video below of what life is like on Hebron, another of the world’s largest oil rigs!

How to set up a drilling rig?

Before drilling, the site must be carefully chosen. Then the land is prepared and access roads should also be built. A reserve pit must also be dug on the ground for the disposing of mud and rock. The next step is arranging the rig equipment. When the rig is complete set up, workers can begin the drilling operation. 2. Drilling Rig Tour

How are oil rigs transported?

Although people are transported via helicopter, supplies are transported via supply vessels that run to the platforms and back to shore. The oil from the rigs is usually transported to shore via an undersea pipeline. With hundreds of rigs offshore and all the air, water, and undersea travel, you can imagine that Aberdeen is a busy place!

How do offshore rigs work?

In the video you can see it passing under 3 bridges, just barely clearing the last one! Some offshore rigs are anchored to the bottom of the ocean while others use dynamic positioning to stay in place. Dynamic positioning uses very high tech computer algorithms to control thrusters that keep the vessel on location.

Should offshore rigs be reduced?

Offshore rigs are expensive to run and at low prices and low demand, it makes more sense to reduce offshore output and get oil from onshore sources. In short, onshore production is more flexible. However, in the longer term oil prices will likely even back out and offshore drilling will be productive.

What are the different types of oil rig jobs?

On the rigs, there are four main categories of jobs: production, maintenance, and service. Production workers are involved with the production of oil directly, while maintenance workers upkeep the platforms. Service handles the care of the workers such as cooking, cleaning, or medical service for the rest of the crew.