As an important pubic service, BOE will maintain a comprehensive list of the many potential uses of offshore platforms (beneficial and otherwise). In honor of the pioneering and world renowned Rigs-to-Reefs progam, each use will be described in the “R-to-R” format.
Rigs-to-Roosts: Platforms are havens for migrating birds. Read more about this amazing story.
Rigs-to-Range: Offshore platforms have been proposed as sites for (1) raising exotic cattle, (2) target practice. Neither of these uses is endorsed by BOE!
Rigs-to-Rescue (Refuge): Many lives have been saved by the presence of offshore platforms. At least 15 people were saved by the presence of US offshore platforms in 2009. Read Coast Guard news release on one incident.
Rigs-to-Rides (Recreation, Roar): The ultimate amusement park; great water rides! Invest in the theme park pictured below!
Rigs-to-Reform: The ideal prisons! Columbia uses floating prisons for notorious criminals.
Rigs-to-Rodents: The perfect place for that “not-so-special” person in your life!
Rigs-to-Resistors: Offshore power plants to support offshore facilities and send electricity to shore.
Rigs-to-Radium (Reactors): If you think offshore drilling is controversial, how about offshore nuclear plants?
Rigs-to-Regulators: Offshore inspection stations increase regulatory presence, reduce costs.
Rigs-to-Ruins: Do early platforms have historical value?
Rigs-to-Renaissance: Museums, cultural centers. Venice on the OCS?
Rigs-to-Resorts (Romance, Roulette, Retreats, Respite, Rendezvous): Exotic hotels, romantic retreats, casinos, eco-resorts
Rigs-to-Rotors: Bases for wind turbines
Rigs-to-Regasification: LNG import facilities
Rigs-to-Refrigeration: LNG export facilities – liquefaction
Rigs-to-Research: Great centers for ocean studies! Research associated with offshore facilities has greatly enhanced our understanding about ocean species. Read about the recent giant squid discovery!
Rigs-to-Roe (Redfish, Rockfish): Aquaculture facilities
Rigs-to-Rx’s: Species that reside on offshore platforms may unlock the clues to miracle drugs
Rigs-to-Recovery: Offshore hospitals, detox centers
Rigs-to-Reels: Great locations for filming movies and TV shows
Rigs-to-Renewables: Alternative energy centers – wind, waves, hydrates
Rigs-to-Reinjection: Disposal of CO2 and other greenhouse gases deep beneath the earth
Rigs-to-Reefers (Reggae, Rum, Revelry): The ultimate party destinations!
Rigs-to-Rock: Great concert setting
Rigs-to-Rockets: Satellite launch facilities; Sea Launch
Rigs-to-Runways: Offshore airports
Rigs-to-Rust: For operators who specialize in deferred maintenance
Rigs-to-Retirees: Great retirement condos! Ocean front, rear, and bottom!
Rigs-to-Reconaissance: Bases for monitoring ships and potential security threats
Rigs-to-Readiness: Sites for offshore military drills
Rigs-to-Restoration: Offshore production can improve air and water quality by reducing natural seepage.
Rigs-to-Revival: Offshore industry and the Saints help New Orleans recover.
Rigs-to-Rodin: Giant sculptures at sea
Rigs-to-Radar: Sea-based military and commercial radar
Rigs-to-Radar: “Blue Marlin” – sea based X-Band radar on board a heavy lift and transport vessel
Bud,
Great well though out web site. It’s now a favorite! A good addition to your site would be “links” to other sites with info. Suggest you have a spot for Current rules in Progress on the OCS” good spot to place where the regs are going!
Allen of OOC
Thanks Allen. Good suggestions, and you win the prize for being our first commenter! Pick out an item in the Not-My-Job store 🙂 bud
Seems like it would be a good place for a telescope without light pollution. Not sure about how wave impacts would spoil the steadiness required for the mirror.
Interesting point, and a use that has not been previously discussed. You would still need some lighting because of navigation concerns, but perhaps that could be oriented to minimize the light impacts. A relatively isolated bottom-founded platform on the shelf would seem to be best.