Oil Rig Habitats

27 oil and gas drilling rigs can be found on the coast of California in the Santa Barbara channel. These rigs, built between 1960 and 1980, have been around for up to 70 years and are starting to break down and show their age. These oil rigs have begun the process of decommissioning and it brings up the question of the ecological effect of these oil rigs and their decommissioning. Since their installation, the oil rigs have become artificial reefs and habitats for a variety of marine life. Scientists have found that blacksmith fish are common near the top, rockfish can be found in the middle, and other smaller fish can be found throughout the oil rig. Mussels have also been found clinging to the side of the oil rig. Completely removing the oil rigs would disrupt about 95% of that marine life. While these rigs are going to be decommissioned, there is a way to do it without disrupting the vast community of marine life. Scientists have found based on bio-mass calculations that the disruption can be lowered from 95% to 10%. If during decommissioning, the oil rig is severed at a water depth of 26 meters and just the top is removed, most of the community will survive. This solution is a win-win because it will cost less money if only the top portion is removed and the fish community will survive. With ocean communities already struggling, we need to be doing everything we can to preserve them, and this is a step in the right direction.

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