Mr. Louie is a former self-elevating drilling barge (jackup rig) converted into an oil platform.
[7][6] In 1958, Mr. Louie became the first self-elevating drilling barge classed by the American Bureau of Shipping.
In 1963, while drilling on the German Bight, a pocket of very high pressure carbon dioxide[11] struck the well, causing a blowout.
[11][12][13] In May 1964, Mr. Louie drilled the first offshore hole in the North Sea, 30 miles (48 km) off of Juist island.
[16] After the structural repairs and maintenance work at Bremerhaven, Mr. Louie continued drilling at the North Sea for the Gas Council – Amoco group.
Temporary moorings were needed and their setting into the rocky floor of Gibraltar Bay required the use of the Edwardian air lock diving-bell plant to work at depth.