The Petronius Compliant Tower
The Petronius Compliant Tower in the Gulf of Mexico holds the title of the tallest maritime oil rig ever deployed. It stands at a height of 640 m or 2100 ft from the seabed to its tip and was the tallest freestanding structure in the world until it was surpassed by Dubai’s Burj Khalifa in 2010.
It was designed to flex and sway in deepwater conditions and extracts 60,000 barrels of oil and 100 million cubic feet of gas daily.
The tower is located in Viosca Knoll Block 786, at a water depth of 535 m and was originally developed by Texaco and Marathon Oil. The Chevron Corporation currently operates it.
What is a Compliant Tower?
While the more common fixed platforms remain in place, compliant towers sway or move with ocean currents, winds and waves. This flexibility is needed in deep waters with powerful currents or winds, as rigid structures might not be able to withstand these conditions.
Compliant towers have a narrow
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