Land rigs
The most common type, used across onshore basins like the Permian and Bakken. Land rigs range from small workover units to large, fast-moving 'walking' rigs that can skid between wells on a multi-well pad without being dismantled.
Offshore rigs
Offshore drilling uses different rig types depending on water depth:
| Rig type | Water depth | How it works |
|---|---|---|
| Jackup | Shallow (to ~400 ft) | Floats to location, then lowers legs to the seabed and jacks the deck above the waves. |
| Semi-submersible | Deep | Floats on submerged pontoons for stability; held by mooring or dynamic positioning. |
| Drillship | Ultra-deep | A ship with a derrick and moonpool; uses dynamic positioning to hold station in thousands of feet of water. |
| Barge / submersible | Very shallow / inland | Used in swamps, rivers and shallow bays; rests on the bottom. |
In the Gulf of Mexico, about 94% of crude and 80% of gas now comes from deepwater (water depths of 1,000 ft or more), drilled mostly by semi-submersibles and drillships.
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Frequently asked
A jackup is an offshore rig that floats to location, then lowers three or four legs to the seabed and jacks its deck up above the water to drill in shallow water.
Both drill in deep water. A drillship is a vessel with a derrick that's faster to move; a semi-submersible floats on submerged pontoons for greater stability in rough seas.