Offshore Oil Platforms
Offshore oil wells handle the task of recovering crude oil reserves from lake beds and ocean floors alike. The world's first offshore oil rig was built in 1869, the same year that designer T.F. Rowland patented his offshore rig design.
Offshore oil drilling is a successful enterprise, with a variety of oil rig jobs including driller, shakerhand, toolpusher, floormen, ballast controlman, barge engineer or rig welder. Offshore oil wells are sometimes the only crude oil production that a country has. The wells off the coast of northeast Australia's Barents Sea provides the country with nearly 90% of its total petroleum supply. Offshore oil rigs account for 25% of the United States natural gas reserves and 24% of its oil production. Estimates say that on average over the last several years almost 100 wells a year in the Barents Sea have been discovered. This leaves Australia's northern coast as a fertile front for oil extraction. The area could see an explosion of offshore rigs in the near future. Technology has enhanced offshore drilling, as depths of 2 miles can now be reached, drilled and mined.
Another offshore are poised for economic explosion are the Campos and Santos Basin that are located off the southeastern coast of Brazil. The Santos Basin is a relative newcomer that was discovered in October 2007. Experts differ over how much reserve is located here, but they can all agree that it is a substantial amount. The Santos Basin currently has less than 100 oil wells, but they present great challenges as some of the wells are located at depths of up to 2,140 meters. The Campos Basin, by contrast, is established and accounts for 80% of Brazil's total oil production at 1.8 million barrels per day through 1,130 total wells.
