Where is the Biggest Oil Rig in the World in 2026? Check Top 7 Rankings

One of the first examples that comes to mind when thinking of the biggest machines ever created by humans is offshore oil rigs. Before asking yourself where the biggest oil rig is, or who owns the largest rigs in the world, note that these enormous structures cannot be considered only as machines but as cities constructed and located on top of the ocean. 

Designed to drill oil and gas located in the depths of the ocean, oil rigs are high-tech constructions that consist of drilling machinery, processing equipment, storage capacities, and housing units where specialists work for weeks at a time.

Where is the Biggest Oil Rig in the World?

The Berkut oil platform is the biggest oil rig in the world. This oil platform belongs to and operates under the control of Rosneft, Russia’s largest company in terms of oil production. 

The mentioned oil platform is a part of the Sakhalin-1 oil program located in the eastern waters of Russia, near the Sakhalin Island. The reason for mentioning this oil rig as one of the biggest lies in its impressive size and weight (exceeding 200,000 tons). 

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List of 7 Biggest Oil Rigs in the World

Here is the list of the seven largest oil rigs in the world, along with their location and the companies that own those rigs: 

1. Berkut Platform

The Berkut Platform tops the list of the biggest oil rigs effortlessly. It is run by Rosneft and situated near Sakhalin Island in Russia. The Berkut platform is estimated to weigh 200,000 tons and is made to endure the harsh conditions of the Arctic zone. It can sustain severe cold, gales, giant waves, and drill oil wells at great depths under the sea. 

2. Hibernia Platform

The Hibernia Platform, located on the coast of Canada, is considered to be one of the largest offshore oil platforms ever created. Weighing in at about 1.2 million tons, the platform can withstand strong iceberg collisions. Managed by ExxonMobil, it contributes greatly to the oil production in the North Atlantic region.

3. Troll A Platform

Another large construction is the Troll A Platform of Norway, which is the tallest offshore oil platform, measuring about 472 meters high. Run by Equinor, it is a concrete platform designed primarily to produce natural gas. Troll A Platform is a wonderful specimen of offshore design and technology.

4. Perdido Platform

Shell plc manages the Perdido Platform, which happens to be the deepest offshore oil rig in the world. Situated in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, it works at depths of almost 2,450 meters. Its cutting-edge technology allows drilling for oil and gas under such conditions.

5. Petronius Platform

The Petronius Platform ranks among the tallest free-standing structures in the world, standing tall around 610 meters above the seabed. The platform, which is owned by the Chevron Corporation, is a type of compliant tower, meaning it has some flexibility that enables it to move a little against ocean currents, hence its stability.

6. Bullwinkle Platform

The Bullwinkle Platform, which is owned by the Shell plc company, ranks as one of the tallest fixed offshore platforms in the world. Situated off the Gulf of Mexico, the platform rises to about 529 meters above sea level. It was one of the deepest fixed platforms when it was erected.

7. Stones FPSO

Stones FPSO, which is owned by Shell plc, is an example of a floating oil and gas processing plant working in ultra-deepwater, which averages 2,896 meters below sea level. It is linked with underwater wells and is capable of processing, storing, and transferring the oil right at sea. It is best suited for deep-sea waters where no fixed platform can be erected.

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The world’s largest oil rigs, such as the Berkut platform, Stones FPSO, Hibernia Platform, and Troll A Platform, show how far advanced technology has come in terms of engineering. Some rigs are famous because of their sheer mass, while others are renowned for their towering heights and great depths. Undeniably, oil rigs are an essential part of fulfilling the energy needs of our planet.