Offshore Oil Rigging
An offshore oil rigging platform, also known as an oil platform or oil rig, is a facility, either floating or anchored which serves as a base for drilling for oil under water. The offshore oil rigging is a self-contained city, containing desalinization plants, generators, waste disposal plants as well as housing, food and amenities for the staff who work the drills, and who provide the support services.
The first offshore oil rigging platform was built in the Caspian Sea by a consortium of the Soviets and Azeri. It was begun in 1947 and is still partially operational, although the sea has taken over many of the wellheads and housing units. The Oil Rocks offshore oil rigging platform had miles of streets in what was actually a city of 5000 people, including schools, a library and shops.
The world's largest offshore oil rigging platform is the Hibernia which is located in the oil rich area of the North Atlantic. The Hibernia platform has the unusual accoutrement of a fleet of ships which spend part of the summer months towing away small and medium sized icebergs which might otherwise interfere with the operation of the site. Environmental factors make this job an unpleasant working site, but every effort is made to make the off-duty hours as pleasant as possible. The newer accommodations for the teams of workers include facilities equivalent to a 4 or 5 star hotel with great meals included in the amenities. Exercise areas, reading and games are all part of the activities which are available to the workers.
The offshore oil rigging platform known as the Petronius after the Roman writer is a deepwater platform located in the Gulf of Mexico. It is considered to be the tallest free-standing manmade structure in the world, yet since it stands in water almost 2000 feet deep, only about 75 meters project above the surface of the water. Even though the water is warmer in this area, there is still danger from tropical storms and hurricanes such as those which occurred during the Katrina season. Several platforms were damaged by high winds and could not be reopened until repairs were made. This resulted in the loss of thousands of barrels of needed oil.
The platforms are typically partially completed in areas of Norway where fjords allow building in deep water close to shore, then towed to the site where they will be used. It can sometimes take a year or more to build platform and more time is required to tow it into its final position.
Working on an offshore oil rigging site is a hazardous yet very well paid job. Even entry level positions, known as Roughnecks earn salaries in the $47,000 annual range. With experience and ability a roughneck can work up to higher responsibility and higher paid positions.
A typical work cycle will be two weeks on the job followed by 3 weeks on shore, which is not an easy lifestyle particularly if one has a family. Still, six months of leave time each year is not to be taken lightly.
The first offshore oil rigging platform was built in the Caspian Sea by a consortium of the Soviets and Azeri. It was begun in 1947 and is still partially operational, although the sea has taken over many of the wellheads and housing units. The Oil Rocks offshore oil rigging platform had miles of streets in what was actually a city of 5000 people, including schools, a library and shops.
The world's largest offshore oil rigging platform is the Hibernia which is located in the oil rich area of the North Atlantic. The Hibernia platform has the unusual accoutrement of a fleet of ships which spend part of the summer months towing away small and medium sized icebergs which might otherwise interfere with the operation of the site. Environmental factors make this job an unpleasant working site, but every effort is made to make the off-duty hours as pleasant as possible. The newer accommodations for the teams of workers include facilities equivalent to a 4 or 5 star hotel with great meals included in the amenities. Exercise areas, reading and games are all part of the activities which are available to the workers.
The offshore oil rigging platform known as the Petronius after the Roman writer is a deepwater platform located in the Gulf of Mexico. It is considered to be the tallest free-standing manmade structure in the world, yet since it stands in water almost 2000 feet deep, only about 75 meters project above the surface of the water. Even though the water is warmer in this area, there is still danger from tropical storms and hurricanes such as those which occurred during the Katrina season. Several platforms were damaged by high winds and could not be reopened until repairs were made. This resulted in the loss of thousands of barrels of needed oil.
The platforms are typically partially completed in areas of Norway where fjords allow building in deep water close to shore, then towed to the site where they will be used. It can sometimes take a year or more to build platform and more time is required to tow it into its final position.
Working on an offshore oil rigging site is a hazardous yet very well paid job. Even entry level positions, known as Roughnecks earn salaries in the $47,000 annual range. With experience and ability a roughneck can work up to higher responsibility and higher paid positions.
A typical work cycle will be two weeks on the job followed by 3 weeks on shore, which is not an easy lifestyle particularly if one has a family. Still, six months of leave time each year is not to be taken lightly.
