Glory hole (petroleum production)

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A glory hole (petroleum production) is an underwater excavation in the seabed that protects wellhead equipment on offshore oil wells from damage caused by icebergs or thick pack ice. Floating platforms are economical for offshore production, but ice can be dangerous. If a large iceberg’s keel reaches the seafloor, it can scour the ground as it moves, potentially harming the wellhead. The glory hole is dug deep enough to keep the top of the equipment clear from the seabed. It can be open or lined with steel casing (cased glory hole). Because digging separate holes for each well is costly, one glory hole often contains several wellheads, enabled by directional drilling. The term likely comes from its mining-era use for excavations.