Jack Up Rig Explained: How It Works and Why It’s Essential for Offshore Drilling

Posted on Feb 25, 2025 at 10:02 PM

A Jack Up Rig is the most high-class asset in offshore oil drilling, with its utilisation rates ranging between 92% and 97% across southeast Asia, Indonesia and the US. Popular for their stability and versatility, Jack Up Rigs play a critical role in the exploration and extraction of oil and gas. 

In this article, you'll find a complete guide to the jack up rig unit and how it's helping extract the reservoirs of oil at sea.

What is a Jack Up Rig?

A Jack Up Rig is a specialized type of mobile offshore drilling platform built predominantly in shallow waters for oil and gas drill and exploration. These jackup systems have a floating hull, which allows them to be propelled as one bulk package to the desired location, and extendable legs that anchor them to the seafloor. 

Once the legs are deployed and set in place, the platform is "jacked up" above the surface, providing a stable environment for drilling operations. Their stability is what makes them  especially perfect for operations in locations where water depths are typically up to 400 ft (approx. 122 metres).

What’s so special about them?

Jack Up Rigs have been in operation since the 1950s and this technique remains strong, reliable, flexible, and cost-effective for offshore exploratory drilling today. Their best quality is that they're retractable and can be reused across various oilfield locations, making them a strong asset in the future of naval architecture and marine engineering.

How Does a Jack Up Rig System Work?

A Jack Up Rig system consists of three key units: a floating hull, extendable legs, and a jacking system. Picture it like a ship with legs—one that can float to a destination and then lift itself out of the water to become a stable platform.

When the rig reaches its drilling location, the legs are lowered until they make contact with the seafloor. The jacking system is then engaged to push the movable legs down while simultaneously raising the hull above the water. 

This process is powered by hydraulic or electric motors. Once in position, the rig becomes a steady, elevated structure that is safe from waves and adverse weather, allowing for precise drilling.

What sets Jack Up Rigs apart from other offshore platforms is their mobility and ease of deployment. Since they float to the drilling site and are self-elevating, they offer a quicker setup than many other types of rigs, which require more extensive preparation. In addition to that, a jack up rig's design is equipped with a cantilever as an extendable arm that allows the drilling equipment to be moved and raised over the edge of the rig’s platform.



Types of Jack Up Rigs

Jack Up Rigs come in different configurations based on the depth of water they operate in, the type of drilling required, and their jacking mechanism. Here are the most common types:

Independent Leg Jack Up Rig

As simple as it sounds, these rigs have legs that operate independently of each other, giving them more stability on uneven seabeds. Marine companies commonly use them in harsh environments where the ocean floor may vary and accidents are likely to happen.

Mat-Supported Jack Up Rig

In contrast with the first type, these rigs have a mat-like structure connecting the legs. This type is designed for soft seabeds, where the rig needs to stay firmly in place during drilling operations.

High-Specification Jack Up Rig

These are advanced rigs designed to operate in deeper waters and more extreme conditions. They feature enhanced jacking systems and stronger steel legs that can handle harsher environments.

Advantages of Using Jack Up Rigs

Why makes these drilling systems so popular across oil and gas companies that they’re a part of Maritime engineering courses in Dubai? Let’s find out

• Mobility and Reusability: The simple fact that they're capable of floating and self-elevation makes them highly flexible. You can tow them from one drilling site to another and quickly set up, which gives you less time and cost.
• Cost-Effectiveness: Jack Up Rigs are typically more cost-efficient options to operate compared to standard types of offshore rigs, particularly in shallow water locations. They also require fewer support vessel numbers, which makes their management and accommodations a lot easier.
• Weather Durability: The core of a jack up rig design is its ability to withstand harsh natural conditions. Although they are static, they are fitted on a shelf above the water, they avoid the constant battering of waves. This way, you can set them up and not worry about the chances of them falling over or being destroyed by a storm. 

Oil drilling activities require the most premium tools in the market,  and Jack Up Rig stand at the forefront of this demand. Their robust design, mobility, and efficiency provide the best drilling services in shallow waters.  Whether it's their current role or future innovations, these rigs will remain a cornerstone of oil exploration and production.