Development of Offshore Drilling Technology (1897–2010)

1. Summerland pioneers pier-based offshore wells

   Jan 1, 1897Labels: Summerland pier

   • ETHW
   • Offshore Mag

2. Fixed platforms move offshore beyond shoreline work

   Jan 1, 1947Labels: fixed platform

   • Offshore Mag

3. Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act establishes U.S. framework

   Aug 7, 1953Labels: OCSLA, U S

   • BOEM

4. CUSS I supports early deepwater drilling experiments

   Jan 1, 1956Labels: CUSS I, drillship

   • Project Mohole

5. First semi-submersible concept proven in Gulf of Mexico

   Jan 1, 1961Labels: semi-submersible

   • Oil platform
   • Offshore drilling

6. Dynamic positioning enables precise deepwater station-keeping

   Mar 1, 1961Labels: dynamic positioning, Project Mohole

   • Earth Magazine
   • Project Mohole

7. Ocean Driller launches as first purpose-built semi-submersible

   Jan 1, 1963Labels: Ocean Driller, ODECO

   • ODECO
   • Oil platform

8. Santa Barbara blowout reshapes offshore risk and oversight

   Jan 28, 1969Labels: Santa Barbara, Platform A

   • Santa Barbara spill

9. Ixtoc I blowout highlights deepwater response challenges

   Jun 3, 1979Labels: Ixtoc I, Bay of

   • WHOI
   • NOAA Incident

10. Hutton tension-leg platform demonstrates deepwater floating production

    Jan 1, 1984Labels: Hutton TLP, tension-leg platform

    • TLP Wikipedia
    • Hutton field

11. Auger brings large-scale deepwater TLP production to Gulf

    Apr 15, 1994Labels: Auger TLP, Shell

    • OSTI
    • OSTI Auger

12. Neptune becomes first production spar in Gulf of Mexico

    Oct 1, 1996Labels: Neptune spar

    • Oil Gas Journal
    • Offshore Mag

13. Petrobras sets ultradeep subsea installation record at Roncador

    May 7, 2002Labels: Petrobras, Roncador

    • Oil Gas J

14. Deepwater Horizon disaster prompts major safety reforms focus

    Apr 20, 2010Labels: Deepwater Horizon, Macondo well

    • DOI report
    • CSB