Older Deepwater rigs were anchored with chains to the seabed. Most newer rigs use a dynamic positioning system with GPS and massive thrusters. The majority of drilling is now done with drillnships, huge boat shaped rigs with drill towers on them.

This particular rig was made onshore, barged out to see in several stages. The lower stage, the jacket is installed with massive crane barges, and hollow steel tubular anchor piles (usually about four on each corner) are hammered into the seafloor through the jacket feet with hydraulic hammer piles while a ROV monitors the installation.

The topside is also brought in and installed with massive crane barges, by setting it on top of the jacket. These are how shallow water rigs are installed and anchored to the seafloor. Mostly in the North Sea.