Analysis of Legal Status of Offshore Drilling Units

Drilling unit is the main asset of upstream oil and gas industry which is utilized for the drilling or well work over in exploration, development and enhanced oil recovery operations. The issues concerning Offshore Drilling Units have more complexities due to their locations which are at sea and the requirements governing them; hence, from legal point of view, the status of the mentioned Units is controversial issue which is ambiguous not only in international law but also in Iran law. The legal status of Offshore Drilling Units may impact on the jurisdiction that states exercise over them. This issue emphasizes the importance of analysis of their legal status. Therefore, this article aims to analyze the different developed theories whether Offshore Drilling Units can be regarded as ship or artificial island or whether they have dual status or specific and separate status (category) and then it determine the best legal status of Offshore Drilling Units that can be responsive to the needs of oil and gas industry.