Neft Daşları, Industrial settlement in Çilov-Neft Daşları, Azerbaijan
Neft Daşları is an industrial settlement on the Caspian Sea consisting of multiple oil platforms connected by roughly 200 kilometers of steel bridges and walkways. The complex spreads across the water like a man-made network, housing residential buildings, work facilities, and support infrastructure.
Construction began in 1949 following the discovery of oil at around 1,100 meters depth, marking the establishment of the world's first offshore oil platform. This pioneering facility opened a new chapter in oil extraction and influenced the industry worldwide.
The settlement operates as a functioning town at sea, with residential blocks, a hospital, and a theater serving its rotating workforce. This isolated community far from shore has developed its own daily life and social rhythms.
Workers reach the settlement by helicopter and typically work 15-day shifts before returning to the mainland for equal rest periods. Travel is organized through scheduled air services tied to the facility's work rotation system.
Seven decommissioned ships were deliberately sunk around the settlement to create an artificial protective bay against the Caspian Sea's strong waves. This unusual construction approach shows the practical creativity required to adapt to the harsh marine environment.
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