Ep 6. Off-shore Oil Platforms

Off-shore Oil Platforms is the sixth episode of the second season of Extreme Engineering. This episode explores the fascinating world of oil platforms - massive structures designed to extract oil from the ocean floor.

Hosted by Danny Forster, the episode takes viewers on a journey to Norway, where he meets with experts who are designing the world's largest oil platform. Built to withstand harsh North Sea conditions, this platform will tower over 250 meters above sea level and weigh 200,000 tons. The engineering team faces many unique challenges in designing this behemoth, including the extreme weather conditions and the need to safeguard the marine environment.

Next, Danny travels to the Gulf of Mexico to visit the world's largest floating oil platform, also known as an FPSO. This impressive structure is designed to extract oil from deep beneath the ocean floor. The FPSO is a marvel of engineering, with a storage capacity of up to 2 million barrels of oil and the ability to produce 150,000 barrels of oil per day. Danny gets an inside look at how the FPSO operates and learns about the cutting-edge technology that makes its success possible.

The episode then takes a dark turn as Danny visits the site of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, which devastated the Gulf of Mexico in 2010. Danny meets with marine biologists and cleanup crews who are working tirelessly to restore the affected areas and minimize the environmental impact of the spill. He also learns about the lessons that were learned from the disaster and the measures that have been put in place to prevent such tragedies from happening again.

Finally, Danny returns to Norway to witness the construction of a massive oil platform that will help extract oil from beneath the Arctic ice. This platform is an engineering feat that will be able to withstand temperatures as low as -30 degrees Celsius and will be able to pump oil from a depth of 1,300 meters. Danny speaks with the engineers who are pushing the limits of what is possible and creating machines that were once thought impossible.

Off-shore Oil Platforms is a fascinating episode that explores the cutting-edge technology and engineering that makes it possible to extract oil from beneath the ocean floor. This episode is a must-watch for anyone interested in engineering, technology, and the environment. It shows that even the biggest challenges can be overcome with innovation and hard work.