Sean O’Rourke | December 6, 2025 | Maritime Accidents
Texas is the top crude-oil producing state in the country, including onshore and offshore drilling. Offshore drilling for oil involves several stages. The process is tightly regulated under Texas and federal law to ensure safety, environmental protection, and resource management.
Companies must comply with both Texas and federal regulations when engaged in offshore drilling activities, including ensuring worker safety. Legal issues often arise from accidents, environmental damage, and regulatory violations.
In some cases, negligence and regulatory violations can impact a personal injury case.
What Are the Steps for Offshore Drilling for Oil in Texas?
This blog discusses the process of offshore drilling in several key phases, including:
Site Selection and Evaluation
Before drilling can begin, exploration occurs. Companies must locate oil sources for offshore drilling. Geologists use seismic surveys, where sound waves map underground rock formations beneath the seabed to locate oil reservoirs. Using geophysical surveys minimizes unnecessary drilling.
Environmental impact assessments follow. These studies evaluate potential effects on marine ecosystems and the mitigation measures required to comply with state and federal environmental laws.
Obtaining Permits and Lease Rights
Operators must secure drilling permits from the Texas Railroad Commission (RRC). The RRC is the main regulatory body overseeing the drilling, production, and transportation of oil and gas in Texas. The RRC issues permits after evaluating safety, environmental, and technical criteria.
Some offshore drilling platforms are in federally controlled waters. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) governs federal offshore lands and is responsible for permits and leases for offshore drilling on those sites.
Construction and Drilling Process
The choice of an offshore oil rig depends on several factors, including platform mobility, weather conditions, and sea level. Depending on the site, a company may choose a:
- Jack-up rig
- Submersible rig
- Barge rig
- Platform rig
- Floating rig
The rig is stabilized, allowing drilling to begin. The physical drilling starts with lowering a marine riser, a heavy steel pipe, from the platform through the ocean to the seabed. Drilling mud, a thick fluid, is circulated to stabilize the well, control pressure, and remove rock cuttings.
Steel casing is inserted and cemented in place to reinforce the wellbore. This process prevents the well from leaking or collapsing. A blowout preventer is installed on the seafloor to seal the well in case of high pressure or a surge.
Extraction and Processing
Oil and gas are pumped from the well. The mixture is processed to separate the components (e.g., natural gas, crude oil, sediments, water). The processed oil and gas are transported via pipelines or shuttle tankers to onshore facilities.
In some cases, the mixture may be transported to shore for separation and treatment rather than processed on the rig.
Decommissioning
When a well is no longer productive, operators follow a decommissioning process before abandoning the well. The process includes cementing the wellbore and dismantling the infrastructure. Companies must comply with strict environmental regulations to protect marine environments.
Who Governs Offshore Drilling for Oil in Texas?
Offshore drilling in Texas is regulated by a combination of state and federal authorities.
State Oversight
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) oversees aspects of offshore drilling, including:
- Air and water quality protections
- Hazardous and nonhazardous waste management, including produced water and drilling fluids
Operators must comply with stormwater regulations and obtain permits if they disturb land during offshore operations connected to onshore activities. In addition to the TCEQ, the RRC manages permitting, design, well spacing, and operational safety of offshore drilling.
The Texas General Land Office (GLO) manages state-owned submerged lands.
Federal Oversight
The Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) governs operations on federal offshore lands. The OCSLA regulates exploration, drilling, and environmental protection. Several government agencies are involved in regulation, including:
- The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM)
- The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE)
- The Office of Natural Resources Revenue (ONRR)
- The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- The U.S. Coast Guard
Other key federal statutes governing offshore drilling include the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
Staying Protected on Offshore Drilling Rigs
Offshore drilling involves hazardous environments, heavy machinery, and strict technical requirements. To reduce risks, OSHA establishes safety standards for offshore worksites, and federal laws such as the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA) and the Jones Act provide important protections for qualifying offshore workers.
These regulations—combined with the environmental and operational oversight described above—help ensure safer drilling operations and support workers when accidents occur in or around Houston, Texas.
If you or a loved one was hurt on an offshore drilling rig, call Simon & O’Rourke Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers for a free consultation. Our Houston maritime accident lawyers can explain victims’ legal options and rights to help them protect their interests after an oil rig accident.
For more information, please get in touch with the Houston personal injury attorneys at Simon & O’Rourke Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers at our nearest location to schedule a free consultation today.
Simon & O’Rourke Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers
440 Louisiana St Suite 1115, Houston, TX 77002
(281) 667-4081