Oil rig disasters are devastating to the communities, individuals, and ecosystems surrounding them — and often, the effects of these disasters can be felt from afar. It’s no wonder why oil rigs, the impactful structures they are, continue to be frequently featured in films, ranging as far back as Thunder Bay in 1953.
However, oil rigs — especially offshore platforms — are still little understood by the greater public, largely due to the fact that most are located many miles away from heavily populated areas. When people watch movies that feature oil rigs, it’s often the first time they get a close look at them. In disaster movies, audiences get a first-hand view of the damage they can cause. Naturally, this shapes viewers’ perspective of oil rigs immensely, making accurate representation in film extra important.
How accurately do films portray the devastation caused by oil spills? While some of these movies are pure fiction, some provide more accurate depictions than others. We’ll take a look at some of the common themes of movies featuring oil rigs and oil rig disasters and compare them to real-world events.
Oil Rig Disasters Are as Devastating as They Seem
As special effects become more advanced, the disasters featured in movies are becoming more visually grand than ever before. But while films like San Andreas and Armageddon are designed to be over-the-top, recent oil disaster movies have been grounded in realism, showing the devastation that could truly happen when drilling goes wrong.
The Burning Sea — a Norwegian movie that’s a recent addition to the disaster film genre — showcases the massive environmental harm that can occur as a result of oil rigs. The film discusses a realistic fracture in the seabed that resulted from years of drilling, as well as the massive ecological disaster that can ensue if the oil spill isn’t contained quickly. The best solution found isn’t ideal by any means either. The Burning Sea is packed with fiery visuals of a burning offshore platform that’s true to the size of the operation and the disaster it can create.
Visualizing the Toll on Workers
Movies featuring oil rigs rarely have a happy ending. This is because oil field work is notoriously dangerous, especially for the oil workers who are exposed to life on the rigs most days of the week. Along with immediate physical hazards, these workers are also at risk of health hazards caused by diesel particulate matter, hazardous chemicals, hydrocarbon gasses, low-oxygen environments, naturally occurring radioactive materials, and other toxic matters. They also frequently face extreme temperatures and fatigue from being overworked.
Most oil rig films don’t discuss the long-term effects of working in these conditions. However, their representation of worst-case scenarios is often accurate in many ways. Even older films like Maracaibo offer depictions of the life-threatening hazards that can occur when disaster is actively occurring.
Works of Fiction Can Be Symbolic
Movies that take place on oil rigs aren’t always realistic. For example, movies like The Abyss, The Rig, Sector 7, and The Thing Below all feature rig workers who face mysterious underwater life forms during their work. While the plots of these movies certainly don’t represent real-life oil rig disasters, they offer insight into the reputation of this line of work, which is often seen as (and commonly is) dangerous.
These movies are symbolic of the tolls that oil rig workers face and speak to the fear that these structures can spark in the communities most impacted by their operations. Much like horror movies often cater to the fears presently held by society, these films show just how wary we’ve become of oil rigs — and for good reason.
The Role of Human Error
One thing that many films get right is the role of human error in oil rig disasters. These manmade structures are inherently the direct result of human activity, but many modern movies have also shown the mistakes that corporate leaders continue to make in the management of oil rigs. Pioneer, for instance, featured a coverup attempted by authorities and employees.
Oil spills can be caused by accidents but, more often than not, there’s a root cause related to poor equipment maintenance and safety practices within oil rig companies. Even chemical spills and electrical hazards can further damage equipment.
The 2016 disaster film Deepwater Horizon was a realistic depiction of the human error that led to one of the worst environmental disasters in history caused by people. As presented in the movie, BP created a culture in which profit was prioritized over safety, leading to a tragedy for the ecosystem.
Offering an Inside Look
While most of us will never step inside an oil rig, much less get close when disaster is imminent, movies have given us a fairly realistic inside look at the danger that can occur when drilling goes wrong. Despite being fiction, many of these films perfectly showcase the legitimate concerns of the communities that can be affected by oil rigs the most.