How an Offshore Oil Rig Becomes an Artificial Reef
The Lena, in Louisiana, was once a giant platform used to support oil wells. Now it’s a home for marine life like fish and coral. Is that a good thing?
The ExxonMobil Lena as it was being transformed from an oil rig into a reef.
Source: ExxonMobil/BSEE
Fifty miles southeast of Grand Isle, La., sits the Lena, which used to be an oil rig owned by ExxonMobil. After the site stopped producing oil, the company hauled away the above-water platform and in July finished the job by disconnecting the structure from the sea floor and toppling it over. Now it’s an artificial reef.
In the U.S., it’s the law: As an offshore oil well drips out its last barrels, producers must prepare to seal it and dismantle the rig and restore the ocean floor to its original condition. Left to stand, the rig may pose risks during hurricanes, prevent future oil exploration, or in some places stand in the way of wind-power development.