15 Largest Offshore Oil Rigs
The world's thirst for energy continues to drive the development of impressive engineering marvels: offshore oil rigs. These colossal structures are not only symbols of technological advancement but also crucial assets in the global energy supply chain. Below, we explore the 15 largest offshore oil rigs, highlighting their unique features and contributions to the industry.
1. Hibernia Platform
Located off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada, the Hibernia Platform is one of the world's largest oil rigs. Standing at 224 meters tall, it is designed to withstand extreme environmental conditions, including icebergs. The platform has a daily production capacity of around 220,000 barrels of oil.
2. Berkut
The Berkut oil platform, situated in the Sea of Okhotsk, Russia, is the heaviest in the world, with a total weight of 200,000 tons. This massive structure can handle harsh Arctic conditions and produces approximately 4.5 million tons of oil annually.
3. Perdido
Operated by Shell, the Perdido platform is located in the Gulf of Mexico and is one of the world's deepest offshore oil rigs. Positioned at a water depth of 2,438 meters, it has a production capacity of 100,000 barrels of oil and 200 million cubic feet of gas per day.
4. Petronius
The Petronius platform, operated by Chevron, is another marvel in the Gulf of Mexico. With a height of 610 meters, it is one of the tallest free-standing structures in the world. It has a daily production capacity of about 75,000 barrels of oil and 2 million cubic meters of natural gas.
5. Troll A
Located off the coast of Norway, Troll A is the tallest and heaviest concrete structure ever moved by humans. Standing at 472 meters, it extracts natural gas from the Troll gas field. This platform can produce up to 120 million cubic meters of natural gas per day.
6. Hebron
Also situated off the coast of Newfoundland, the Hebron platform is designed to handle extreme weather conditions. This gravity-based structure stands 230 meters tall and has a production capacity of 150,000 barrels of oil per day.
7. Mars B (Olympus)
The Mars B platform, also known as Olympus, is operated by Shell and located in the Gulf of Mexico. It stands at a height of 406 meters and can produce 100,000 barrels of oil and 100 million cubic feet of natural gas daily.
8. Thunder Horse
Another Gulf of Mexico giant, the Thunder Horse platform is operated by BP. It is one of the largest semi-submersible platforms in the world, with a production capacity of 250,000 barrels of oil and 200 million cubic feet of natural gas per day.
9. Jack/St. Malo
The Jack/St. Malo floating production unit is operated by Chevron in the Gulf of Mexico. It operates at a water depth of 2,133 meters and has a production capacity of 170,000 barrels of oil and 42.5 million cubic feet of natural gas per day.
10. Ekofisk
Ekofisk is one of the oldest oil fields in the North Sea, operated by ConocoPhillips. It consists of several platforms and has a combined production capacity of around 550,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day.
11. Safaniya
The Safaniya oil field, located in the Persian Gulf, is the largest offshore oil field in the world. Operated by Saudi Aramco, it has a production capacity of over 1.2 million barrels of oil per day.
12. Ichthys Explorer
Located off the coast of Western Australia, the Ichthys Explorer is part of the Ichthys LNG project. This semi-submersible platform is designed for natural gas and condensate production, with a capacity of 1,600 million cubic feet of gas and 85,000 barrels of condensate per day.
13. West Aquarius
The West Aquarius is a drilling rig used in the harsh environments of the North Atlantic and the Arctic. Owned by Seadrill, it has the capability to drill in water depths of up to 3,000 meters and is used for exploration and development drilling.
14. Deepwater Horizon
Although known for the tragic oil spill in 2010, Deepwater Horizon was a marvel of engineering. Operated by Transocean for BP, it was capable of drilling in water depths of up to 3,000 meters and had a drilling depth capacity of 10,600 meters.
15. Goliat
Located in the Barents Sea off Norway, the Goliat platform is the world’s northernmost offshore oil field. Operated by Eni, this cylindrical floating production unit can produce up to 100,000 barrels of oil per day in challenging Arctic conditions.
These offshore oil rigs are testaments to human ingenuity and the relentless quest for energy resources. Each platform, with its unique capabilities and design, plays a vital role in meeting the world's energy demands, often under the most challenging conditions imaginable.