Offshore Drilling Accidents and Information
FREE Case ReviewTopics Covered on This Page:
Drill Ships · Jackup Drilling Rigs · Mobile Drilling Rigs · Oil Drilling Rigs · Submersible Oil Storage Vessels
Offshore drilling is one of the world's most dangerous professions, and there are always inherent risks involved. Explosions, fires, falls, wrongful death and serious injury are just some of the many perils that may result from offshore drilling accidents. Unfortunately, these incidents are often completely unexpected, catching supervisors and co-workers alike off guard and unprepared for disasters that may exact the ultimate penalty.
In the wake of such tragic events, it is reassuring to know that injured maritime workers and their families can take legal action. Certain provisions within admiralty law - such as The Jones Act - allow victims to seek legal recourse from attorneys who are well versed in the codes and language of maritime law. In addition, affected individuals are encouraged to seek reparations for the costs associated with the injury, such as lost wages, medical care costs and future earnings.
If you or a loved one is a victim of a drilling accident, it is imperative to discuss the case with an experienced attorney immediately. Your decision to take legal action against those responsible for your suffering can help ease the stress and personal trauma associated with injuries of this magnitude.
Drillships are maritime vessels modified to include a drilling rig and special station-keeping equipment. The vessel is typically capable of operating in deep water. A drillship must stay relatively stationary on location in the water for extended periods of time. This positioning may be accomplished with multiple anchors, dynamic propulsion or a combination therein. Drillships typically carry larger payloads than other drilling vessels, but the larger carrying capacity tends to make them far less mobile.
Jack-up rigs are similar to drilling barges, with one difference. Once a jack-up rig is towed to the drilling site, three or four 'legs' are lowered until they rest on the sea bottom. This allows the working platform to rest above the surface of the water, as opposed to a floating barge. However, jack-up rigs are suitable for shallower waters, as extending these legs down too deeply would be impractical. These rigs are typically safer to operate than drilling barges, as their working platform is elevated above the water level.
Moveable drilling rigs are often used for exploratory purposes because they are much cheaper to use than permanent platforms. There are several types of mobile drilling rigs, including jack-up rigs, drilling barges, semi-submersible rigs, drillships and floating production systems. Once large deposits of hydrocarbons have been found, a permanent platform is built to allow their extraction.
Oil drilling rigs are structures used to extract oil and natural gas from undersea reservoirs. These rigs are often huge, and can drill for resources at great depths. The hazards associated with offshore oil and gas drilling led to specialized codes and procedures for safety and personnel in areas where there are significant amounts of annual production.
Submersible oil storage vessels are used to transport oil from undersea platforms or subsea systems and wells. Typically, the oil is drilled and extracted by a moveable oil rig, then transferred to a submersible oil storage vessel where it is either stored for future transfer, or moved to a production facility in the immediate vicinity. Submersible oil storage systems are typically in use at depths of 7,000 feet or more, and do not have the ability to drill, only to store and transport.
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