In shallow waters, it is physically possible to fix a platform to the sea floor. This is what is called a fixed platform rig. The 'legs' are structures made of concrete or steel, extending down from the platform, and fixed to the seafbed with piles. With some of the concrete fixed platform structures, the weight of the legs and seafloor platform is so great, that they do not have to be physically attached to the seafloor, but instead simply rest on their own mass. These are called gravity based fixed platforms.  There are many possible designs for these fixed, permanent platforms. The advantages of these types of fixed platforms are their good stability, as they are permanantly fixed to the sea floor there is no  movement due to wind and water forces. These platforms cannot be used in very deep water, it is not economical or practical to build legs that long.

Compliant towers constructed similar as fixed platforms. They consist of a narrow tower, mounted to a foundation on the seafbed extended up to the platform. These offshore compliant towers are flexible, as opposed to the relatively rigid legs of a fixed production platform. This structural flexibility allows it to operate in much deeper water, as the construction can take much of the loads exerted on it by the wind and waves. Despite its flexibility, the compliant tower platforms are strong enough to withstand even hurricane conditions.

Seastar platforms are basically smaller tension leg platforms. The Seastar platform consists of a floating rig, as for the semisubmersible drilling rigs. A lower hull is ballasted with water when drilling, which increases the stability of the platform movement from environmental loads. In addition to this semisubmersible rig type of features, Seastar platforms also incorporate the tension leg system found in larger platforms. The tension legs are long and hollow and extend from the seafloor to the floating seastar platform. These legs are kept under constant tension, and prevent any vertical movement of the platform. Their flexibility does however allow for horizontal motion, which allows the platform to withstand the loads of the sea and wind, without breaking the tension legs off. Seastar platforms are typically used for smaller deep-water reservoirs, were it is not economical or practical to develop a larger platform. They can operate in water depths of up to 1000 meters.

FPS or floating production systems are much like the semisubmersible drilling rigs, with the exception that they also host petroleum production equipment, as well as oil drilling equipment.

These boats can also be used as floating production systems. The FPS platforms can be kept in place through large, heavy anchors, or through dynamic positioning similar as used by drillships rigs.

With a floating production system, FPS, once the drilling has been completed, the wellhead eqipment is actually on the seabed, instead of up on the platform as for fixed platforms.

The produced oil and gas ( petroleum) is theb transported by rigid or flexible risers from the wellhead on the seabed to the production facilities on the semisubmersible platform. These floating production systems can operate in water depths of up to 2,000 meters.

Tension leg platforms are much like the Seastar platform described earlier. The tensioned flexible legs are permanently fixed to the seafloor, and run up to the Tension leg platform itself. As for the Seastar platform, these tension legs allow for significant side to side movement of the platform with no or little vertical movement. Tension leg platforms can operate as deep as 2,500 meters to produce from deep or ultra deep waters. 

The Spar platforms are among the largest offshore platforms or constructions in use today. The massive Spar platforms consist of a large cylinder supporting a typical fixed rig platform.

The large cylinder does not extend all the way to the seafbed, but instead is hold to the bottom by several big cables and lines. The large cylinder stabilize the Spar platforms in the water, and allows for horizontal and vertical movement to absorb the force of extreme weather conditions as hurricanes.