An oil platform primarily functions by drilling the seabed to access oil reserves beneath the ocean floor and then pumping the extracted oil to the surface. Therefore, the correct statement is:
It drills the seabed and pumps the oil to the surface.
Here's a brief overview of how an oil platform operates:
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Drilling: The platform employs drilling rigs to create a borehole that reaches the oil reservoirs located deep under the seabed.
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Extraction: Once the oil is reached, various techniques are used to pump the oil to the surface. This often involves the use of pumps, pressure differentials, or gas injection to facilitate the flow of oil.
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Processing: After extraction, the crude oil may undergo initial processing directly on the platform to separate it from water, gas, and other impurities before it is sent to shore for further refining and distribution.
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Transport: The extracted oil is transported, typically through pipelines or tankers, to land-based refineries where it is processed into usable products.
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Environmental Management: Oil platforms are equipped with measures to manage spills and prevent environmental contamination, including containment booms and spill response equipment.
While oil platforms can include systems to manage oil spills and some may recycle oil from different sources, their primary function is indeed to drill and extract oil.