| We have the capacity to locate oil deep below | | | | of the oil rig night and day. They check for |
| the ocean floor. Sometimes very large oil | | | | cracks and parts that may have been weakened, |
| reserves are found very deep in the ocean | | | | especially after storms or a hurricane. Any |
| bed. To get to the oil and use it, huge | | | | parts that become rusty or loose could mean |
| drilling rigs are built to provide a platform | | | | disaster. The safety of all the workers is in |
| for drills to be fixed to. The drills can | | | | their hands. They make sure that any excess |
| drill through rock on the sea floor and give | | | | gas that cannot be used is burned off to |
| us access to huge oil reserves. The platform | | | | reduce the amount of explosion risk around |
| can house workers, machinery and drills | | | | and under the oil platform. Fireboats are |
| needed to drill oil and natural gas wells | | | | always nearby, ready to extinguish any fires |
| into the ocean floor. | | | | that may erupt, with thousands of gallons of |
| | | | water per minute. |
| Oil platforms can be located far out in the | | | | |
| ocean. The capability of drilling in deeper | | | | Life on an oil platform can be tough for |
| and deeper waters is becoming more and more | | | | workers. They are exposed to high winds, |
| feasible every day. Currently, we can access | | | | dangerous conditions and harsh weather. The |
| oil reservoirs about five miles down from the | | | | work itself can be extremely hard, |
| ocean's surface. Helicopters carry workers to | | | | physically, and mentally can be tough because |
| and from the oil platform. Cranes lift and | | | | workers are usually required to live on the |
| lower supplies from ships to the platform. | | | | rig for weeks at a time. Roustabouts are |
| The drill is made of thirty-three foot long | | | | workers that keep everything running smoothly |
| pipes pieced together to get to the depth of | | | | around the drilling area. Roughnecks are more |
| the ocean floor. A drill bit is located at | | | | highly trained to work the drill itself. |
| the end of the pipes. All of the drilling | | | | Roughnecks add pipe to the drill when needed |
| equipment is housed in a steel tower known as | | | | and make repairs as they go. People work on |
| the derrick. Most oil platforms are equipped | | | | the rig night and day to keep things running |
| with fireproof life boats and living quarters | | | | smoothly and safely. |
| with fireproof walls for its workers. Since | | | | |
| fires and explosions are not unheard of on | | | | All oil rigs have a team of highly skilled |
| oil rigs, workers are sometimes housed in | | | | divers permanently on call. Divers are |
| floating living quarters away from the rig | | | | responsible to the erection of the rig during |
| itself. | | | | production. They are then responsible for |
| | | | monitoring all of the underwater components |
| Oil rigs have to be built to be extremely | | | | of the oil platform. They are required to |
| tough. They must be able to withstand super | | | | make repairs to pipes, cables and the |
| high winds and a continuous pounding of | | | | underlying structures of the rig. |
| waves. Engineers monitor and repair all parts | | | | |