The first one was designed by R. G. LeTourneau for Zapata Oil, owned by George H. W. Bush, who later became the 41st president of the United States.
Square rig | Bermuda rig | Roman Rig | Rig Sefid, Zagheh | Rig Sefid, Robat | Rig Sefid, Dehpir-e Shomali | rig | jackup rig | Fire at Rig 15 |
Turbines are much less accessible when offshore (requiring the use of a service vessel for routine access, and a jackup rig for heavy service such as gearbox replacement), and thus reliability is more important than for an onshore turbine.
The Italian oil company Eni provided the San Marco platform, a mobile Jackup barge that could be towed to an equatorial location, which when combined with an easterly firing provides the most energetically favourable launch.