On April 20, 2010, an and fire occurred on the , which was owned and operated by and drilling for in the about 40 miles (64 km) southeast off the coast. The explosion and subsequent fire resulted in the sinking of the Deepwater Horizon and the deaths of 11 workers.
[pdf] A jackup rig is a barge fitted with long support legs that can be raised or lowered. The jackup is maneuvered (self-propelled or by towing) into location with its legs up and the hull floating on the water. Upon arrival at the work location, the legs are jacked down onto the seafloor. Then "preloading" takes place, where the weight of the barge and additional ballast water are used to dr. OverviewA jackup rig or a self-elevating unit is a type of mobile platform that consists of a buoyant fitted with a number of movable legs, capable of raising its hull over the surface of the sea. The buoyant hull enables tra. .
Jackup rigs are so named because they are self-elevating with three, four, six and even eight movable legs that can be extended (“jacked”) above or below the hull. Jackups are towed or moved under self propulsion to the site.
[pdf] The Gulf is home to more than 3,500 offshore oil and gas structures, though only a small number are active drilling sites. For the men and women working on these platforms, the risks are constant.
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