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Glite Dictionary
offshore drilling rig

offshore drilling rig

6.3
Large platform at sea where workers get oil or gas from under the sea floor
  • noun
  • /ˈɔfˌʃɔr ˈdrɪlɪŋ rɪg/
  • Specialized
translation icon : plataforma de perforación en alta mar
  • The offshore drilling rig was equipped with the latest technology for oil extraction.

Examples

  • Any and all fines levied on offshore drilling rigs should be put into this fund.

    Academic text (2010)

  • 165 huge quantities of crude oil were released from an offshore drilling rig, causing damage to the marine environment.

    Academic text (1990)

  • Far out on the water, cleanly separated from any structure on land but towering high enough to be an artificial island, stood a massive offshore drilling rig.

    Fiction book (2000)

  • The workers on the offshore drilling rig extracted oil from deep beneath the seabed.

  • Many countries rely heavily on offshore drilling rigs to meet their energy demands.

Synonyms

rig
vsoffshore drilling rig
126 4.9

A group of equipment used for a specific job, like sound or fishing

is the specific sea platform for extracting oil or gas beneath the seabed
oil rig
vsoffshore drilling rig
  • Specialized
24 3.5

A large platform with machines that drill oil and gas on land or at sea

is the sea-only platform focused on extracting beneath the seabed
drilling rig
vsoffshore drilling rig
  • Specialized
6 4.1

A large machine that makes holes in the ground to get oil or gas

is used at sea as a large platform for extracting from the seabed
drilling platform
vsoffshore drilling rig
  • Specialized
2 5.1

A large structure in the sea that holds machines and people to drill for oil

is the platform that supports drilling and enables extraction beneath the seabed
offshore rig
vsoffshore drilling rig
  • Specialized
1 5.6

A large structure in the sea for drilling oil or gas from under the sea floor

is located at sea and used specifically to extract oil or gas from seabed
drill rig
vsoffshore drilling rig
  • Specialized
1 5.1

A large machine that drills wells to get oil or gas

is the sea-based platform version used specifically to reach seabed resources
oilrig
vsoffshore drilling rig
4.8

A large structure on land or at sea where people drill for oil and gas

is the sea-specific platform extracting from beneath the seabed

How Permanent

offshore drilling rig
  • Specialized
6.3
drilling platform
  • Specialized
2 5.1

Surface Forms

offshore drilling rig singular
offshore drilling rigs plural

Morphology

offshore + drilling + rig

The meaning is directly compositional from 'offshore' (located away from shore), 'drilling' (making holes) and 'rig' (equipment/assembly), yielding an equipment/platform used for drilling at sea. This noun-compound pattern is transparent and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words and basic context would readily infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Offshore drilling rig gives a clear picture: offshore means 'away from the shore, at sea' and a drilling rig is a big machine that drills into the ground. So imagine a huge platform and heavy machines standing out on the water, drilling down through the sea floor to 'get oil or gas', which is why the phrase means a large platform at sea used to get those resources.