From roving, computer-controlled contraptions to giant "spar" platforms held up by 10,000-foot poles, today's deepwater rigs are going far beyond anything their offshore forefathers could have ...

The two most unique offshore oil rigs are subsea systems and spar platforms. Subsea systems are, as you may guess, below the water line and sit on the sea floor.

Originally designed as a floating buoy to acquire oceanographic information, the main component of a spar facility is the deep-draft floating chamber, or hollow cylindrical hull ...

Platforms contain dorms, withstand hurricanes, and in the Gulf alone offshore rigs have produced more than 23 billion barrels of oil. 4th of July Sale - 25% OFF! Magazine for all ages starting at ...

Using a moveable rig, the wells are drilled and pass gas and oil via pipelines to a production platform. Subsea systems can be used at depths of up to 2100 meters.