Offshore oil rigs are some of the largest structures found on the water, but are they just floating out there? How do they stay in place? Here's what we know.

Offshore oil rigs are some of the largest structures found on the water, but are they just floating out there? How do they stay in place? Here's what we know.

Oil rigs around the world are habitats for marine species. When they stop producing oil, should they be removed or allowed to stay? By Asher Radziner edited by Jen Schwartz.

Long before offshore oil rigs are put together, much less sent out into the open ocean, they're expertly designed. Schematics are drawn up, and in many cases, engineers will take these plans and ...

These floating production systems are used in water depths from 600 to 6,000 feet, and are among the most common types of offshore rigs found in the Gulf of Mexico.

You've probably noticed those towers with flames shooting out of the top on oil rigs. This is an important part of many oil and gas facilities.

Oil companies must remove all structures installed at sea, as required by the Petroleum Act 1998 and decision 98/3 of industry body OSPAR, and return the seabed to its original state.

Removing rigs is also a formidable logistical challenge, because of their size. The topside of a platform, which is home to the facilities for oil or gas production, can weigh more than 40,000 tonnes.