Why SpaceX Is Buying Oil Rigs

In 2020, SpaceX secretly bought two oil rigs with the intent to convert them into offshore rocket launch platforms. This video looks at why Starship will need these platforms and how SpaceX will convert these old rigs into rocket launching platforms.
Thanks to the following channels for their awesome footage.
Tommy J. Saenz / @tommyjsaenz
RGVAerialPhotography / rgvaerial
Mark Handley / @markhandley
SpaceXVision / @spacexvision
Port Of Brownsville / @portofbrownsvilletexas
Ensco / enscoinc
BP / bpplc
HASSELL / hassellstudio
Austin Barnard / austinbarnard
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Music used in this video:
» Infinite Perspective - Kevin MacLeod
» Sunset Trails - DJ Williams
» Stuck In The Air - The Tower Of Light
» Double You - The Mini Vandals
» Proud - Bobby Renz
» Key To Your Heart - The Mini Vandals
Credits:
Written and edited by Ewan Cunningham ( / ewan_cee )
Narrated by: Beau Stucki
#SpaceX #Starship #SeaLaunch

[@primalspace]

When do you think we'll see the first Starship launch from one of these rigs? - Shoutout to Skillshare for supporting this video, try it out for free here: skl.sh/primalspace02211

[@nathanhavens7770]

2025

[@Heisenberg_2]

Please Turkish infrastructure.

[@liangliangsusan]

2026

[@noahboa42069]

2022-2023

[@nathanhavens7770]

@@noahboa42069 thats when were launching the starship

[@20_percent]

Elon bought two oil rigs AND he's launching rockets from his backyard? He was destined to be in Texas.

[@jonny555ive]

That's some real cowboy sh!t right there, y'all......Hahaha

[@chloekaftan]

2 oilrigs for only 7 million usd too, normally 1 would cost upwards of 515,000,000 and if he bought 2 brand new it would have costed him 1.3 billion usd. To get such a good deal takes shrewdness to levels ive never dared dream of.

[@SahilP2648]

@@chloekaftan there's too much we don't know about that deal. They could have sold him just the hull or the platform of the rig without any equipment cause those drills and pretty much everything can be stripped off it. Then that price makes sense. Not to mention spacex will need to install all of their custom equipment on it which will again cost at least 10 milion USD each, don't know how high it can go. And lastly you are gravely mistaken if Elon himself negotiated all this. He takes all the design decisions regarding the company as a whole and individual tasks are designated to the employees... like any other company. What he does do is create plans for the company as a whole like creating BFR's designs and the overall concept of travel starting from the engine to refuelling to logistics. And obviously like any other CEO he executes and regulates everything.

[@teteeheeted]

He’s also destined to be raided by the national guard for that sweet sweet oil

[@littlesam6280]

Jesus Christ loves you all more than you know, please repent of your sins God Bless you and your family Jesus Christ died for our sins so that through him we might be saved😃

[@leoncampa]

What a time to be alive. This was the domain of science fiction just a few years ago.

[@S3l3ct1ve]

it still is man... I urge you to look up Mcdonnell Douglas DC-X The science fiction you never knew existed...

[@djinn666]

I'm still waiting for my $30,000 electric car. I'll believe Starship when tickets go on sale for less than the price of an average US house.

[@S3l3ct1ve]

@@djinn666 A Tesla cost like ~50k new, Musk himself said he will manage to offer a ticket to Mars for A 200k... So yeah...

[@oneaboveall1895]

Anytime is a good time if you alive

[@user-op1tq9ur3t]

Yea so nice to see are oceans and skies polluted beyond are understanding! Keep it going...lets see what happens.🌎😆

[@husky4782]

"Almost the same size as the falcon 9" Yeah, and I'm almost the same size as the Rock.

[@davidrikelv9529]

Year, and a banana is almost the size as a regular mango

[@whenthe2209]

damn you must be small lmao

[@mysterious6856]

@@whenthe2209 Rocks get pretty big, and come in all sizes, even if you don’t see them day to day. The joke went right over your head

[@stop8738]

@@mysterious6856 i think it went over your head too, he's talking about Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson

[@eddyst4955]

The next thing i'm waiting to see is that he contracted the russians to buy plutonium 235 to make a reactor in his backyard

[@jolio81]

"Used to be a former oil rig"... So... it's not currently a former oil rig... but it once was... so it currently is a not-former oil rig... so it's an oil rig! ... Wait...

[@comradeorange1645]

what ._.

[@ryanthompson3737]

Was an oil rig, was then retired, was then bought to be repurposed. Used to be a former oil rig.

[@vangildermichael1767]

everything you said, AND. Because it's all dirty and stuff. We are going to have to rebuild it. So, lets pay a bunch of money. And then rebuild what we just bought. Until nothing remains of what we bought. Yup, that's a good deal.

[@donaragorn]

Nice, you caught the double negative

[@jowillll]

@@ryanthompson3737 ohh that makes sense

[@captainzoom854]

Thank you primal space for making me more interested in learning about space

[@Т1000-м1и]

69th like

[@shlok975]

Perhaps try Scott Manley next for details or everyday astronauts longer videos.

[@hrsh042]

Watch melodysheep's

[@shlok975]

@@hrsh042 it doesn't seem nearly as informative but there could hardly be a better place for inspiration.

[@PlaneBuilder2]

@@Т1000-м1и Noice

[@faustin289]

Imagine a $3.5m resale value for a $550m asset. That's serious depreciation right there!

[@Andytlp]

it probably costs 3.5m in raw materials. Labor thats the remaining 546.5m. Elon is a fan of breaking down costs to raw materials and in house labor. Companies need to stop outsourcing labor to asia the effects of losing local money is huge and it hurts even the same companies long term even if their short term profits go up.

[@stejer211]

It's like buying an American car.

[@vangildermichael1767]

by selling at 3.5m, they will only retain .00636 percent of the original price. That is like selling a $50,000 car for 318. That's not a typo. Just three hundred and eighteen dollars. From an original 50 thousand dollar investment, So, yea. That is some, serious depreciation.

[@stejer211]

​@@vangildermichael1767 I notice that you have a calculator.

[@vangildermichael1767]

@@stejer211 it's still OK to use a calculator? This ain't grade

[@matthewpopp1054]

SpaceX using Lone Star in their company name does put a smile on my face

[@PresidentialWinner]

What is that?

[@justintimefordinner4902]

@@PresidentialWinner It's the main character in Spaceballs. It's like how Elon named the new tesla model s feature Ludicrous speed.

[@PresidentialWinner]

@@justintimefordinner4902 Ooooooh riight. I haven't seen that movie in a long time (and just once) so the characters aren't as recognizable to me as say, Vader or something.

[@damnedson4685]

"The Lone Star State" is what texas is also called. Mineral Development can be a synonym for developing mineral oil based propellant alternatives. Spaceballs Reference, Texas Reference, Punch in the face for Oil monopolists, pure goodness.

[@PresidentialWinner]

@@damnedson4685 As a European i had no idea about that. But now that you mention it, it's likely mostly just a Texas reference haha.

[@bred8363]

I think this is a great idea, I've worked on offshore oil and gas rigs/platforms for a while and they're engineering marvels & designed to operate in hazardous environments. Its also great to see that theses very complex and specific machines could a new life in another industry

[@tuvoca825]

Why aren't they turned into hotels? Or cheap living accomodations? Or fishing destinations and "artificial islands"? Or casinos and radio stations? Or schools? Or gyms? Or...???

[@conordyer2307]

​​@@tuvoca825 what even is this comment?.... why would you have a gym, school, houses, hotel etc miles from shore out in the sea?

[@halfeddi3152]

1:39 These guys from the 80's just censored the bottom parts of the rocket, they knew how internet would be nowdays.

[@balam314]

Lmao yes that's probably because the engine technology was secret or smth

[@polishkerbal6920]

@@balam314 "rocket r34"

[@user-jd7zj1bs7n]

@@polishkerbal6920 "rokn hub"

[@thalys1015]

@@user-jd7zj1bs7n LOL

[@therunning-farang3656]

it's a steel platform with sub legs........not rocket science lol.

[@DrTubeman]

"These rigs will be saturated with oil and crease after many years of service in the oil industry" Guy hasn't got a clue on what the hell goes on on an oil rig at all! Every surface on an oil rig is coated in the highest grade fire-retardant paint and materials, for the very reason of in case of a fire! Throughout the lifetime of oil rigs, all surfaces on rigs are maintained and kept clean and free from grease, oil, or any accelerant build-up as well, so as to not be a fire hazard!

[@NeoSaurfang]

Which will most likely have to be removed and replaced regardless. Recoating, etc. It flakes off evevtually, rust under the surface of the coating materials

[@NeoSaurfang]

If u doubt what im saying, ive recently been part of one of the first oil rig refurbishes. Been a part of the entire process. So i very well know what it looks like after 20 years of use and what has to be done to restore it to a decent level.

[@RV-jw7nb]

I liked the video, but it seemed like the creator was reaching a bit with some of the facts. The hole in the deck, oil and grease buildup, etc.

[@moffatcam]

@@RV-jw7nb hole in the deck is actually pretty sound logic though, it’s not like it’ll be using the helipad to take off from!

[@fposmith]

Saturated with oil, hold my beer, I'll get a mop !

[@BotherRed]

I saw the title and brain when to "Oil Rigs? I think you mean Launching Platforms"

[@AvengerSho]

buying oil rigs to convert to a launch platform

[@erridkforname]

Hmm yes an oil rug tapped into oil that might go boom

[@ivantimofeev2233]

@@erridkforname mmmm you don't seem to understand how this will work it won't have oil or use oil fuel in any way shape or form only methane (natural gas) and most probably produced in site by renewable source (electricity from renewables for oxygen separation from air and methane from CO2)

[@erridkforname]

@@ivantimofeev2233 ok

[@jewishmafia9801]

Nearly had a stroke trying to read that

[@-fuk57]

“L O N E S T A R!”

[@drewk6500]

Before I read this comment, I thought Lone Star was referring to Texas being the Lone Star state. Now I think its a nod to another one of Elon's Spaceballs references. :)

[@druunderwood5602]

BraveStarr.

[@lucasrossiemc]

Rigs have tanks called "reserve pits" located below the sea level - that's the most likely location of the fuel and LOX tanks, since it also keeps everything much safer from a catastrophic failure above deck. Also, they'll be keeping the diesel generators, as the rig uses its thrusters to maintain its position (a system called "dynamic positioning"), and there's no way to provide that much power for so long using batteries or solar or whatever - also, it's more reliable and cost-effective is a variety of ways.

[@csgergo80]

It might be more cost effective to replace them with methane gas turbines, so one less fuel type is needed.

[@lucasrossiemc]

@@csgergo80 I understand the sentiment, but if they intend to launch from different places, Diesel is available everywhere as it is the fuel used by ships, so refueling doesn't become an issue.

[@FindingJabin]

Been reading up about natural gas options, technology has crazy advanced where it could be possible. Maybe they will explore that route? Especially since the rockets themselves will already need a refuel option on each of these rigs. Excitedly following along either way

[@shiftrip]

I work on one of these trash cans. Good thing SpaceX is putting them to better use. 3.5M is a steal indeed.

[@aljaz4ever]

May I ask hows the pay?

[@loganwalker8537]

@@aljaz4ever i suppose working ona oil rig pays well since its so god damn dangerous

[@therunning-farang3656]

@@aljaz4ever depends your expertise.

[@nicosmind3]

Ive heard a lot of people talk about this and speculate as to whats happening, but this video was by far the most informative out of everything ive seen. Congrats guys (or guy) you easily beat the competition with the work you did on this video

[@conchaiii4167]

we've known for like a month now that the purchased oil rigs. this is nothing new

[@nicosmind3]

@@conchaiii4167 Lol, weve know its for Space X sure, i never said they didnt, but we did not know a lot of the details. Weve had people speculate to the details, but actual information? Videos have been light on that

[@conchaiii4167]

@@nicosmind3 im not saying this video is bad. i loved it. but i already knew most of the things.

[@InsidiousDr9]

Lone Star was also a character in the movie Spaceballs (1987) - which has also has references to "ludicrous speed' and going so fast a ship turns plaid; which have also been referenced by Tesla.

[@G-loid]

Elon will buy all the oil rig so that Tesla's competitors will not get petrol for their cars.😂

[@aeichelberger15]

I think the causation is the other way around, you can buy rigs pretty cheap these days precisely because of companies like Tesla.

[@Fauzanarief-n7i]

Just like car company in 50s buy trams acrosss the city just to scrap them, so the populstion is force to use the car and boost car sales

[@tomhill2497]

Ever heard of synthetic fuel? Nobody will need electric cars or oil rigs in the future

[@magicalmagicmagician5223]

@ᴡɪɴᴛᴇʀᴍᴜᴛᴇ _ bro, why so toxic? That's just his name, it doesn't even matter anyway, so what's with the name calling?

[@Neojhun]

@@tomhill2497 LOL FAIL! Engines are still WEAK & Fragile. Even if we have clean cheap Synth Fuel. It will be used to generate Electricity to drive Electric Motors in series hybrid EVs.

[@SaifKhan-wu4jt]

I think this is the one of the most underrated educational channels. Keep up the good work❤️👍🏻

[@jaredccain]

That was an excellent video. Thanks for taking the time to make it.

[@Black-Re4per]

I think the reason why they bought 2 platforms is that they will fuse them into one giant platform one for the fuel and one for the launch.

[@arthurwagar6224]

Makes for a mighty big "bang".

[@deanc9453]

That is a good idea

[@0623kaboom]

that would be a fair assumption ... then you just do rotating launch and lands on each platform ...

[@fumusdemoonus9343]

@@0623kaboom attach platforms and detaching platforms so like fuel then detach

[@keithscommunityanddomestic9513]

no, they will need 2 sites so they can actually have a safe destination to go to without having to land on the ground, and Elon doesn't want to have to use other people's facilities

[@tank7474]

5:06 lmao, renewables wouldn't suffice. That's just an outlandish speculation

[@kevinrobben1999]

Thank you

[@tank7474]

@Xp Reflex depends on what? Are you going to put windturbines and solar panels on the rig where space is limited as is? What happens when there is no wind or sun? Its not like there is an electricity outlet in the middle of the sea either.

[@floxer]

@@tank7474 Wouldn't hydrogen be a possibility? Create it in a renewable way elsewhere and ship it to the platform like the diesel.

[@floxer]

​@@Nighterlev Ah, I got it backwards... I meant fuel cells that utilize hydrogen. Thats why I wrote "and ship it [the hydrogen] to the platform".

[@StormWarningTV]

@@tank7474 I would think they would build an offshore wind or solar farm nearby and use a bunch of Tesla batteries for reliability... But I would think that would be a much longer term solution

[@docbrown9018]

Have been waiting for this! Finally someone makes some more content about the rigs

[@221b-l3t]

Someone snapped some pics recently and they're already being stripped down.

[@milkdrinker7]

Your graphic at 2:43 is pretty misleading in explaining how florida-launched rockets reach geostationary orbit. Rockets don't do equatorial plane-change maneuvers in low earth orbit. You could have just said that because the equator is the farthest from the earth's axis, rockets launched from nearer to the equator gain more horizontal speed from the earth's spinning.

[@eladdaniel8734]

yea but also no one cares. focus on elon

[@joe_mckirdy]

Multiple problems, while they may switch out the diesel generators, it would most likely be for methane powered turbines if they do, but diesel generators are pretty rigid. LOX will most likely be done on land as the amount of oxygen and power needed will use allot of space to create enough for a large cadence. Also, a LNG tanker has enough LNG for at least 8 launches, so it is very likely one rig will be used for bulk storage and the other for launching.

[@Benkenobi8118]

yeah. I don't see why Elon wouldn't power it with methane if he's already needing to fuel starship. His methane plant in Boca Chica is going to be interesting for sure.

[@matildastanford7019]

Why not simply use the tankers to store and transfer to the launch pad rig? When empty run back to a depot dock to refill. That way there can be three or four tanker ships (each for LOX & L CH4) in a rotation pattern to enable almost continual lauches. Also they can be independently driven away from the launch pad as to minimise accidents and bad weather.

[@joe_mckirdy]

@@matildastanford7019 I'm pretty sure that no LNG ship captain would be willing to sit next to a rig launching rockets. If the rocket blew up, the ship could low up. So docking over and over and over again becomes mundane. Keeping extra LNG onboard could cause excessive dmg from a larger explosion. I envision a bulk storage on one rig feeding multiple launch rigs with pipelines. In this manner, it would decrease the number of dockings, reduce the amount of potential damage.

[@jaredjames7018]

Thank you for the descriptions Bird Person!

[@EmazingGuitar]

It’s all fun and games until one day you’re actually at the entrance hatch to a fucking rocket.

[@rever4217]

That's when the real fun begins!

[@k0dede]

you are making very high quality video with your clam voice. good work!!

[@MortyMortyMorty]

Fishes when SpaceX launches a Starship: 😳😳😳🔥🔥🔥💀💀💀

[@maticz3923]

So true Even worse if one crashes Fishes will get their own Hiroshima

[@nytro4152]

I think they're fed up with SpaceX 1st stages in the ocean

[@Davethreshold]

This world is changing SO FAST!! Stuff like this is not normally in the news. At age 68 I only hope I live long enough to see us land a person on Mars, and bring them back! 😱😱😱

[@phoenixfront]

I’m so happy at your attitude! I am fairly confident we will get a person on Mars in your lifetime. I like your contrasting views to the majority of the older generation as most people I’ve spoken to have opposed space exploration. Thank you for you additions!

[@phoenixfront]

@Smit Shilpatul I think that it will be hard but is definitely not impossible, Elon Musk wants to send the first people to Mars in just two years so I think it is definitely possible.

[@crhu319]

No return tickets.

[@Davethreshold]

@@crhu319 LOL!! They were going to leave them there, but now they are talking about bringing them back. They will use a huge 3D printer to print space ship parts. - Seriously, NOT April fools joke.

[@parkejunior]

It's always a pleasure to watch your videos, thank you!

[@handsomeblackmuscle9845]

My friend: Are you..are you crying? Me: The oil rig idea is so beautiful! 😭

[@MemesnShet]

Thought oil rigs' columns were based on the sea floor on shallower areas or something Holy shit this is insane

[@mxdanger]

5:16 I was thinking you were going to say something clean and cost effective like nuclear but I guess he could also go with something less economical. Offshore wind maintenance is too much and you need more area for solar to be viable.

[@AsteroidM749A]

I know right.. wind or solar?!?

[@jonusjonus9271]

@@AsteroidM749A totally agree. when i heard that i rolled me eyes....some people are a bit to far into fantasy land...

[@sproctor1958]

Uh... middle of the ocean? WAVE ENERGY!

[@AsteroidM749A]

@@sproctor1958 hahahahaa nooooooooooo

[@sproctor1958]

@@AsteroidM749A hahahaha..... edit: After significant consideration, using "Wave Energy" may cause too much drag and slow the Earth's rotation, advancing climate change, and maybe even accelerate the pole reversal event... earthquakes... volcanic eruptions... tidal waves......(hmm...more energy...)... maybe even destroy the ozone layer and disperse the Van Allen Belts... eventually the Moon will escape Earth orbit, the oceans will stop having waves, and that energy source will then be exhausted.... No, after careful consideration, there is really little or no future in "Wave Energy".

[@groundsymphony]

As cliche as it sounds, this video is super great! Lots of insights, thanks!

[@Exodus000191]

Haha, there is NO WAY anything but a type of combustion engine would supply the horsepower required to use those water thrusters.

[@mokeyallaucope8987]

Ayo the new rust oil rig update looking sick

[@davet80000]

sounds like they got a good deal on those rigs, even with the refit costs

[@mangizo96]

Imagine being a fish in the sea near this rig when a rocket goes off

[@StudioCluiss]

Yeah the environmental impacts of this idea are frightening

[@0623kaboom]

@@StudioCluiss potentially make exon valdez crash on the west coast look like someone dropped a bottle of baby oil in the water ... 100k liters of kerosene in the ocean ... yeah talk about killing off life on this planet . dont forget the seas provide us with 70% of our breathable air ... and he wants to launch from a place where he can kill off a large portion of that when he crashes ... MAJOR environmental problem there

[@CeoMacNCheese]

@@0623kaboom Well it is a risk worth taking to become a interplanetary species

[@LancePFilms]

It's like SpaceX went to a thrift store and found an off shore oil rig: "Look, Harold! Well we have to buy this!"

[@macjonte]

Fuel and oxygen will probably be stored inside the legs of the platform. Has been many ideas on the internetz for how to use the space on the rig. Interesting to see yours, not bad! :)

[@Unmannedair]

Yeah, that's a good idea if you're looking to sink the platform... Fuel maybe but not likely, oxygen, definitely not.

[@macjonte]

@@Unmannedair You might be right, the future will tell. :)

[@lucasrossiemc]

FYI, rigs already store fluids inside the legs. Those are called "reserve pits". And they hold several thousand barrels of fluid, while also making the rig more stable when they're full. Think of it like ballast tanks. No, it won't sink the rig - remember Archimedes.

[@lasersailor0080]

Both of these rigs are in Pascagoula, Mississippi right now. They are absolutely massive they even dwarf the Navy destroyers nearby in the harbor

[@Ubernator]

Side note, these platforms are not called "oil rigs" they are drilling rigs. If oil gets to the surface its a bad time. Their only purpose is to drill a hole in the ground

[@VictorRuiz-dc9ed]

And how do they get profit out of drilling? I mean, how do they get the oil afterwards?

[@oleeliassen5658]

Some platforms can drill and exstract oil

[@liliatarlev6104]

Hey. Primal space thx 4 the subscription it warms my heart and I watched this oil rig video tons of time

[@ClockinLoot]

Hopefully this doesn’t disturb marine wildlife

[@maticz3923]

It most certainly will kill most of it due to the extremely loud noises and vibrations

[@avykh99]

Several problems regarding things like "everything covered in oil residue" and the part about them powering it with wind or solar instead of the diesel engines, but other than that great video.

[@seldoon_nemar]

Why would they mess with the original diesel engines of the platforms? they are already going to have giant methane reserves onboard... those engines would run fine on CNG, and the de-rating from less energy in the fuel wouldn't be a problem because they will still probably be oversized for what spacex is doing

[@PeterLawton]

I'm not so sure diesel engines would run fine on CNG. Those are compression ignition. NG has been widely used on spark ignition generators for home power backup, and NG has also augmented diesel engines still using diesel fuel. But I expect some modifications would have to be made to those 7 big diesel engines of the drilling rig.

[@seldoon_nemar]

@@PeterLawton I mean, i'm sure there are methods of conversion. I'd be interested in seeing how CNG tanker ships are run, whether it's still using bunker fuel or bulk fuel.

[@ifrite3]

history will repeat itself. the same way apple lost their way after steve died, spacex will soon follow suit after elon passes as well.

[@BestHakase]

SpaceX IS Elon Mask. So yes.

[@calebknight3611]

Do you have any sources for the 112db at @ 8km? Is that based off of any estimates or current measurements?

[@maticz3923]

Yeah i imagine it being much higher And a lot of sealife will die thanks to loud sounds. Just as sea turtles already do in boca chica

[@terrancopeland6978]

Damm that transition at ~ 8:57 is real smooth

[@proon.]

"will smash windows if close enough" SpaceX platform: *literally every angle has 30 windows*

[@LaughingOrange]

Windows can be engineered to take this pressure, but normal houses aren't meant to take it.

[@wanderingaceminecraftandmo8034]

I see the idea of an Oil rig being a useful launch pad idea. With the proper modifications, it is possible to do launching off these modified oil rigs.

[@AlexRadic5]

I love everything about this! Will it affect wild life? what happens when the fuel dumps into the water? Maybe they'll have something that sucks everything up instantly

[@jackwhitlock1]

1. It shouldn’t affect any wildlife (Apart from noise) 2. No fuel will ever be dumped into the water

[@maticz3923]

@@jackwhitlock1 you glanced over everything Noise will most likely kill nearly all the sealife cause they are very sensitive to sound You are assuming the fuel will never leak but you cannot predict the future so your arguments are worthless

[@adarshagrawal4557]

@@maticz3923 oil rig in itself would have cleared the nearby flora and fauna

[@gigachad5181]

@@maticz3923 only neraby sea life will get afected

[@maticz3923]

@@gigachad5181 i thought most people didnt want all the turtles to die on plastic straws. i guess you are not one of them ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[@fartsimpson8610]

Innocent fish finding refuge under the SpaceX rig: "Hey, let's hide right here under the moon pool where it's safe. What could go wrong?"

[@palabinash]

Will that shock wave of engines affect the marine life as sound travels faster in water.

[@Lucky-be3oq]

IIRC on another video that I cannot remember, it was proposed that they will be using air bubbles as dampener for the noise generated by the rocket.

[@balam314]

Well yes, but actually no. kzbin.info/www/bejne/b6XFqXedmNtqasU A rocket launch would cause a lot of localized damage, but not much else.

[@thesauce1682]

It will.

[@death13a]

As for power I don't see solar be enough for fuel production on rigs. Plus with rocket launching need to be hidden same for wind. The amount of shaking on rig will be rough. So best bet would be tidal power or more traditional on boat that would house personal, customers and power generation. Another thing that SpaceX need to watch out for is marine life as launching rockets will destabilizing local marine life.

[@Peoples_Republic_of_Cotati]

There are relatively dead areas in the seas which can be used; and noise underwater can be mitigated via "bubble curtains".

[@maticz3923]

@@Peoples_Republic_of_Cotati now how near the cities are those dead areas? Far enough for the noise to be a problem? Not too far so going there by boat wont take too long? Bubble curtains will not help too much with the noise If sound traveling through air 8km away will be 100db then those tiny bubbles wont do much Altough the density change between water and air will reflect some of the sound waves possibly conceling out others. I bet that aint gonna be enough at all

[@Peoples_Republic_of_Cotati]

@@maticz3923 bubble curtain won't have any effect in the air as they are underwater, to protect sea life. I do not know how effective they are in current practice, buit they do exist. IIRC, the platforms will generally be in international waters, so 20 miles out, not 8k .

[@alexanderkenway]

These are exciting times!

[@mpmansell]

Using a separate tanker as a fuel farm seems more sensible if launches are frequent. Not only would it mean that the launch rig would be less prone to rapid unscheduled disassembly in the inevitable event of a failure, but there would be less risk from explosion while pumping from the tanker to the on-board storage. During launch and landing, the tanker can also serve to evacuate personnel from the danger zone.

[@24pavlo]

5:12 How the hell do you put 20 MW of solar energy on that rig? And the batteries to operate at night? And wind turbines... putting wind turbines on an oil rig to power its thrusters is like putting a turbine on a moving car. I understand that you all like green energy very much but maybe think before shoving solar panels everywhere.

[@hvrmnd]

it's been some time to find some great in-depth information juice presently simply and calmly. thanks for what you are doing man. cheers.

[@isaytheenay5961]

According to you, someone noticed the oil rigs were sitting at port with Diemos and Phobos written on them. At which point sleuthing was done, and it was determined they had been purchased by a SpaceX subsidiary. Following the logic of your story, the NASASpaceFlight channel then sent a cameraman back in time, to film them coming into port.

[@MrMuki61]

I wouldn't be surprised if the fully stacked system would launch half submerged like the conceptual Sea Dragon rather than from the rig itself. 304 Stainless has great corrosion resistance and is widely used in the marine industry, so the Super Heavy should (theoretically) be well suited for semi-submerged launches.

[@NovaLand]

One word: ARMAGEDDON - everyone knows they need oil drilling equipment!!

[@JSp4wN]

😆🤣😅

[@Crusty-ie5eq]

"why is spacex buying oil rigs now?" Me and the boys with the compound bows: Our time has come.

[@notarmchairhistorian7779]

how crazy it would be of spacex actually started mining in space! I would love to see that happen in my lifetime.

[@user-zb8tq5pr4x]

It won't. Neither will manned missions to mars.

[@notarmchairhistorian7779]

@@user-zb8tq5pr4x Ew. A down earther.

[@user-zb8tq5pr4x]

@@notarmchairhistorian7779 I don't know what that is

[@siddhantamrutkar4688]

The aquatic life 10kms around the oil rig after a SpaceX launch be like: I am feeling so hot.( _confused screaming_ )

[@jana31415]

"lone star" is a spaceballs reference

[@mumpsimusceremonius]

his ads are so smooth i dont care that they are ads and watch them

[@primalspace]

haha thank you so much. Means a lot and really helps to keep the channel going as well!

[@robertschlesinger1342]

Interesting and worthwhile video. As stated, this sort of endeavor has been done before. Presently, China and UAE are pursuing similar endeavors.

[@irvalfirestar6265]

It'll be more logical for their tank farm to be based entirely out of a ship near the oil rig launch platform rather than onsite itself, maybe piped in from underwater via insulated tubes and coming up entirely shielded from the launch flames through one of the platform legs into a small onsite fuel pumping station. One benefit of a ship or barge-based tank farm system instead of onsite is allowing for the fuel to be located further from the launch location for safety reasons and be unloaded autonomously once the pipe connection has been done by crews. You can also switch out one ship for another once the tank run out with minimal disruption, or have two or more ships on the hook at any one time allowing for continuous fuel usage during operation. Given that the platform can be anchored to the sea floor and might only need towing by tugboats to a specific site at sea before anchoring it semi-permanently, SpaceX can ditch the engines entirely and maybe put in concrete ballasts to lower the center of gravity instead, allowing for a more stable platform overall. One tugboat operating multiple platforms when needed is much cheaper and more financially viable than having each launch platform self-propelling themselves.

[@Klaatu-ij9uz]

VERY informative episode!!

[@EddyKorgo]

How about we change a landing pad into a landing table. Air suspended in a copper tubes. Vehicle would experience stresses at landing equal to as if its being mounted on a launchpad with a crane.

[@haimbenavraham1502]

The power in Names. Then again I thought it would be more efficient and secure to build their own rigs.

[@garlandremingtoniii4679]

Starting at 8:15 The person that owns his channel says something that he is 100% dead wrong about. I have quoted it, verbatim. “This raises yet another problem though, these rigs will be saturated in oil in Greece after many years of service in the Oil Industry. Combining this with rocket flames and high pressure liquid oxygen, is a fire hazard on another level. So SpaceX will have to do a lot of cleaning 🧹 on the Oil Rig. And likely have to replace everything that is part of the structure.” Rigs are kept more clean than you know. . Do they get dirty yes. But they are in no way, none whatsoever, “saturated” in oil. Complete bullshit. The area that would be the oiliest would be right where the roughnecks connect disconnect the drill pipe standing directly in the middle, at the very bottom of the Derrick. Right in the middle. This entire area is called the drill floor. I’ve worked nearly my entire life in my beloved Oil&Gas Industry.....

[@Norminal1]

Wishing spaceX much success in paving the way human kinds future.

[@carholic-sz3qv]

Yeah by using million pounds of fossil fuels to pollute even more right!

[@ik1408]

And killing animals in the process. Dolphin, whales, fish are super sensitive to loud sounds. Scientists think that whales and dolphins commit suicides throwing themselves on beaches because of the super loud sounds created by ships, submarines, oil exploration devices. It looks that SpaceX have found another way to destroy the sea living world. Humankind is the name of the sixth mass extinction of animal life on this planet. Just one more reason to be proud to be human, and the sh.t with all those useless animals.

[@ik1408]

@Black Stone You, SpaceX PR people, have very primitive selling brochures.

[@ik1408]

@Black Stone Truth is never a broken record. On the other hand, oligarchs robbing nations and their servants yapping around - that's been around for a long time.

[@b14ckyy]

what I could imagine is, to use both rigs together. One for the tank farm andoff-shore fuel production and the other one as a launchg and landing pad. Separated by a safe distance and connected by flexible pipelines?

[@hrvojemikulcic7074]

This is amazing!Sea launch

[@keithscommunityanddomestic9513]

nice subtle product placement at the end there

[@kevinmiller8443]

I worked as a oilfield hand on one of the rigs spaceX bought.

[@v44n7]

so cool, what you used to do?

[@kevinmiller8443]

@@v44n7 I was a roustabout....chase the crane all day lol. It sucked. Paid well though

[@jayski9410]

I would never bet against SpaceX but I have to wonder when you have 28 rocket engines firing down onto the surface of the ocean, how big a vapor cloud is that going to create? Just the exhaust plume from a shuttle launch made it invisible until it cleared the launch tower. Add unlimited water vapor from the surface of the ocean, and I'll bet you won't see Starship until it's a couple of thousand feet in the air.

[@dinoplatinum3301]

Wow. They be launching starship at sea!

[@mohammadal-qurashi1884]

Exactly, and Nueralink is one of my favorite most!!!

[@AJexplorer2]

And I was dreaming to start a company which will be the future competitor of SPACEX

[@purplecow_1]

go for it 🌠

[@alexkorchev2594]

Is there no regulation on how close populated buildings can be to rocket launches? If there is, how do they plan to build a control center on the rig?

[@obi1kaboomi424]

It doesn't have to be on the platform it could always be remote

[@jeremiahborjon9202]

Spacex is going to be Big in the future

[@lostinthefuture9300]

This is Elon's version of hold my " lone star " beer.

[@SpaceflightRocketShorts]

The dislike are people from SpaceX that still want to keep it private :)

[@GauravSharma-dy8xv]

What's wrong with it being private? Can you please explain

[@SpaceflightRocketShorts]

@@GauravSharma-dy8xv no nothing is wrong lol it was a joke

[@SpaceflightRocketShorts]

They just want to keep it secret :)

[@GauravSharma-dy8xv]

@@SpaceflightRocketShorts oh👍🏻

[@corichg]

One thing you left out of the Sabatier Process overview is that the methane produced would be carbon neutral, i.e., a non-fossil sourced fuel. That's a pretty big deal, and a very SpaceX thing to do.

[@shoopyrust]

spaceX finna get countered by a scrap heli

[@knight9925]

Offshore Oil rigs are not "saturated in oil", they are some of the cleanest industrial structures around. Spilling more than a teaspoon of oil from equipment or production results in shutdowns, investigations, and cleanups. Once they remove all the piping which would be purged clean before removal, there will be a zero hydrocarbon footprint remaining on the platform.

[@theindianmarineaquarist2035]

Shouldn’t we be concerned about this disturbing the marine life, I mean it is 118 db loud also, What about the fumes that the launch will produce? Haven’t we polluted the oceans enough?

[@LtZetarn]

If we really concerned about nature we might still be in the cave long time ago.

[@kirkc9643]

"One molecule of methane, combined with two oxygen molecules, react to form a carbon dioxide molecule, and two water molecules usually given off as steam or water vapor during the reaction and energy. Natural gas is the cleanest burning fossil fuel." The CO2 will end up in the atmosphere not the ocean...and their plan is to make the methane using CO2 from the atmosphere

[@theindianmarineaquarist2035]

@@kirkc9643 Okay that’s great to know, but what about the sound, that 118 db they say?

[@2KOOLURATOOLGaming]

@@theindianmarineaquarist2035 Isn't water really good at dampening sound? The Shuttle used water jets to stop the engines from shaking apart the rocket. Also, sound transfers between mediums better when they are together (air to liquid is weaker than solid to liquid), of course that doesn't matter because the roof itself will carry vibrations into the water. One method could be to use bubble shields to disperse sound waves so that they don't travel too far into the water.

[@theindianmarineaquarist2035]

@@2KOOLURATOOLGaming actually I’m just want to clear my doubts. I didn’t post this comment to criticise, I posted it to learn instead.

[@joeyhamilton6854]

The issue is the oil rigs that go deep enough for the coast of texas are held to the ocean floor by cables. They sway a lot in the waves, something Starship really can’t have when trying to launch or recover vehicles. Edit: this probably means there will be smaller launch windows when compared to land based starship launch is. I doubt these rigs will be used to launch and recover the point to point flights.

[@DVjarhead]

many moons ago when I started in the offshore oil industry, 2,000ft was deep water drilling, When "CUSS I" was developed to be the first dynamically positioned drillship to drill a well with out mooring cables, it started the slow process of developing deeper water drilling. Cable moorings are typically limited to about 6-8,000 ft as the weight becomes to costly to maintain valuable deck loading capabilities... a full DP2 or DP3 rig is common place in the ultra deep water drilling. A DP3 semi submersible hull is ideal to limit sway and pitch when launching and recovering a rocket... yet not in the north sea ... as a typical winter weather would make anyone loose their cookies. LOL

[@northerncaptain855]

These two rigs are dynamically positioned rigs, not secured offshore with cables. They are equipped with anchors mounted on each of the four corners which were almost never used during their drilling lives. They are incredibly stable, self propelled platforms. They can and have maintained position for months at a time without anchors while holding an effective stationary position drilling in 1000’s of feet of water. Due to the oil price collapse they were laid up in 2015, while quite new-6-7 years old at the time. The oilfield technology involved in ultra deep water drilling/dynamic positioning rivals NASA. I worked on these rigs.

[@apacheattackhelicopter8778]

Great commentary!

[@TylerWitucki]

The development of the sabatier process is exciting!

[@karlshrestha3737]

SpaceX is like a Fairy godmother it makes our dreams real but more realistic and used time and effort.

[@bknesheim]

ref: 8:27 Oil is not something that is splashed around on a oil-rig. That would be a fire hazard and fire is something you really don not want on a rig. I do think that much of the structures will be removed, but that is because equipment for oil and gas are not well suited for cryogenic liquids.

[@PoppingPro98]

Really feeling for the aquatic life below the thrusters...

[@benwilms3942]

Wouldn't it make more sense to have your tank farm on its own dedicated ship. That way it can ferry propellant from Port to the platform, and after fueling the rocket just before launch, it can move away from the platform entirely to avoid having the tanks anywhere near the rocket blast. Since they'll need to ship to ferry it anyway, I'll wager that they'll probably do that. And probably have huge pumps to cannon sea water down the moon pool into the wash, to dissipate the heat from undermining the platforms substructure.

[@crypton1448]

Remember that fishes wake up and die because of loud sounds? Imagine this..

[@cameroncaulfield4281]

I wanna see a time lapse of Boca Chika