Just been asked a question which maybe you can help with

When the big exploration vessels go out and drill for new sources of oil, do they need to be positioned directly over the potential source (ie does the risewr need to be straight?) or can they deploy submersibles to drop down and move around on the seabed?

ta

normaly a template is droped into the position the start of the hole wants to be then the rig has to be more or less directly over the template to start drilling. With directional drilling heads the hole can be drilled in any direction from the start point.

The vessel runs a template to the seabed then the BOP/Riser are conected to the vessel (there is some movement in the riser to allow for the vessel moving).
As oblique says, the actual oil/gas can be some distance away and the drill bit is steered using directional drilling techniques.

Quite often they’ll start drilling within one nations land and drill into a neighbouring nations supply! SHOCK HORROR!

They drink someone elses milkshake? Shocking.