Platforms
BP operates Thunder Horse, a semi-submersible in about 1,840 m of water with first oil in 2008. Shell operates Perdido, a spar in about 2,450 m of water, with Chevron and BP as partners.
Gulf of Mexico Rigs · Ex-proof
Ex-Proof Smartphone Distributor in Gulf of Mexico Rigs
The US Gulf of Mexico, which US agencies now call the Gulf of America, is a mature offshore region with deepwater platforms working off Louisiana and Texas. Hazardous-area work covers well bays, process decks and drill floors, regulated offshore by the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement. Distribution partners for US Gulf of Mexico offshore platforms and rigs are being identified ahead of the Q4 2026 launch of the IS-04Z1.
Pre-launch · certification in progress · Launching Q4 2026
Marking targetEx ib IIC T4Intrinsic safety, Zone 1 / 21 design target · certification in progress
AvailabilityQ4 2026via authorised distributors
Search topicEx-proof
DeviceSmartphone
RouteDistribution
WhereGulf of Mexico Rigs
Short answer. US Gulf of Mexico offshore platforms and rigs has no appointed SAMS distributor yet: the IS-04Z1 is pre-launch (certification in progress, no certificate issued, launch planned for Q4 2026), and distributor applications are open.
Current position: certification in progress, nothing issued, launch targeted for Q4 2026. A buyer's engineering review is separate from the certificate. Certification status. Place facts reviewed October 2026.
At a glance · Ex-proof
Checklist: Ex-proof smartphone for US Gulf of Mexico offshore platforms and rigs
| Check | What to look for | IS-04Z1 today |
|---|---|---|
| Ex marking | Group, category, protection concept, gas group, temperature class | II 2 G Ex ib IIC T4 (target) |
| Gas group | IIA, IIB or IIC matched to the area drawing | IIC (target) |
| Temperature class | T-class below the ignition temperature of the gas | T4, 135 °C (target) |
| Where it applies | US Gulf of Mexico offshore platforms and rigs: Wellhead areas, Utility and compression areas, Drill floors and well bays | Classified by the site operator |
Product · Gulf of Mexico Rigs
The product behind this search: the SAMS IS-04Z1.
SAMS IS-04Z1
An intrinsically safe Android smartphone designed for Zone 1 and Zone 21 hazardous areas in Gulf of Mexico Rigs. It is pre-launch: IECEx, ATEX and NEC 500 certification is in progress ahead of the Q4 2026 launch.
- IP68 sealed
- 4,000 mAh battery
- 50 MP camera
- Android 16
- Zone 1 / Zone 21 design target
The site · US Gulf of Mexico offshore platforms and rigs
US Gulf of Mexico offshore platforms and rigs: where the IS-04Z1 would work
Who operates there and which kinds of classified area a handset would meet, from the SAMS site research.
Operators and companies on site
- BP
- Shell
- Chevron
- ExxonMobil
Classified areas to expect
- Drill floors and well bays
- Production process decks
- Wellhead areas
- Utility and compression areas
Local conditions · US Gulf of Mexico offshore platforms and rigs
Conditions in US Gulf of Mexico offshore platforms and rigs that affect handheld equipment
Regulation
BSEE is the lead federal agency for safety and environmental oversight on the Outer Continental Shelf.
Field notes · US Gulf of Mexico offshore platforms and rigs
More about US Gulf of Mexico offshore platforms and rigs that matters for portable equipment
US Gulf of Mexico offshore platforms and rigs: projects and investment
About 27,000 abandoned oil and gas wells lie beneath the Gulf, so well plugging and decommissioning is a continuing source of offshore work alongside production.
US Gulf of Mexico offshore platforms and rigs: industry on the ground
The Gulf is one of the largest offshore petroleum regions in the world and accounts for about 14 percent of United States crude oil production, according to the encyclopaedia entry on the Gulf.
US Gulf of Mexico offshore platforms and rigs: rules and approvals
The US Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement is the federal agency responsible for offshore safety and environmental protection and sets decommissioning requirements, including plans for removing platforms and plugging wells.
US Gulf of Mexico offshore platforms and rigs: people and language
By 1975 around 400 rigs in the Gulf hosted a temporary population of more than 10,000 workers, rotated on staggered weekly schedules, and automation has since reduced the offshore headcount.
The term · Ex-proof
What “Ex-proof” means for a smartphone
“Ex-proof” is shorthand for equipment carrying an explosion-protection marking (the Ex mark) that matches the area it enters. The marking states the protection concept, gas or dust group and temperature class, and it must be backed by a certificate issued by a recognised body, so a phone described as Ex-proof should come with a certificate number you can check.
The IS-04Z1 is designed to carry the marking II 2 G Ex ib IIC T4. That is a target: certification is in progress, no certificate has been issued, and SAMS will publish the certificate numbers when they exist.
In US Gulf of Mexico offshore platforms and rigs. A marking check on a platform would compare the area classification drawings with the label, covering zone or division, gas group and temperature class. Wellhead and process areas handle hydrocarbon gas, and IIC marking gives margin. The IS-04Z1 target marking is II 2 G Ex ib IIC T4, pending certification.
The route · distribution
Distributing the IS-04Z1 in Gulf of Mexico Rigs
Distribution of the IS-04Z1 is by authorised partners only, and SAMS has not yet granted a territory for US Gulf of Mexico offshore platforms and rigs. Each application is reviewed on its merits. Because opening a certified Ex handset in an ordinary workshop invalidates its certificate, the partner must be able to support and service the device locally.
What SAMS looks for in a partner
- Operator relationships
- Existing supplier registrations or a clear route to them with the main operators and contractors in US Gulf of Mexico offshore platforms and rigs.
- Ex-competent staff
- People who understand zone classification, markings and the conditions of a certificate.
And equally important
- Local-language support
- Documentation, training and helpdesk in the languages the workforce uses.
- Service capability
- Spares, battery replacement and repair routed through SAMS-approved channels.
Questions · Gulf of Mexico Rigs
Frequently asked questions
Can we buy an Ex-proof smartphone in Gulf of Mexico Rigs today?
Not today. Until the certificates are issued the IS-04Z1 stays out of classified areas, and until launch there is nothing to purchase. You can ask for the datasheet and the certification schedule, or book a safe-area evaluation unit.
What does an Ex-proof smartphone in Gulf of Mexico Rigs cost?
There is no list price yet. SAMS gives indicative pre-launch pricing in writing, against a stated quantity and site, and does not commit to a lead time before certification completes.
What Ex marking will the IS-04Z1 carry?
The marking target is II 2 G Ex ib IIC T4. It becomes a marking only when the certificate is issued; until then it is a design target.
Which areas at US Gulf of Mexico offshore platforms and rigs would use it?
Likely candidates are drill floors and well bays, production process decks, wellhead areas, utility and compression areas. Which areas are classified, and to what zone, is set by the site operator's own area classification drawings.
How do I become a SAMS distributor for US Gulf of Mexico offshore platforms and rigs?
Apply through the distributor page with your company details and the territory you cover. SAMS reviews applications company by company and has not yet granted a territory for US Gulf of Mexico offshore platforms and rigs.
How does the Gulf's lightning and storm season affect equipment planning?
The Gulf has frequent lightning and a hurricane season, and operators routinely shut in and evacuate platforms ahead of storms. Keep devices stowed and charged when weather is forecast, and follow the platform's procedures for electronics during storm warnings.
Who sets the safety rules for equipment on US Gulf platforms?
Federal offshore safety is overseen by the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, and each operator adds its own electrical and area-classification requirements. Before bringing any portable device offshore, confirm with the operator what approvals and markings they accept.
Who regulates safety on Gulf platforms?
The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement is the lead federal agency for safety and environmental oversight on the Outer Continental Shelf. Operators and rig contractors also approve equipment against their own safety case. Confirm requirements with the operator before sending any device offshore.
Related guides
Keep exploring
Related guides for Gulf of Mexico Rigs and for United States.
Industrial Mobile Phone in Gulf of Mexico RigsSame place, different guide
Hazardous Area Mobile Phone in Gulf of Mexico RigsSame place, different guide
Intrinsically Safe Mobile Phone in Gulf of Mexico RigsSame place, different guide
Explosion-Proof Mobile Phone Distributor in Gulf of Mexico RigsSame place, different guide
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone Distributor in Gulf of Mexico RigsSame place, different guide
Rugged Mobile Phone in Gulf of Mexico RigsSame place, different guide
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone Distributor in US Shale Oil OperationsElsewhere in United States
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone Distributor in HoustonElsewhere in United States
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone Distributor in Permian BasinElsewhere in United States
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone Distributor in Lake Charles LouisianaElsewhere in United States
United States market guideCertification route and regulators
All guides for United StatesEvery route we cover
Certification statusWhat is in progress
Enquiry · US Gulf of Mexico offshore platforms and rigs
Ask about the IS-04Z1 for US Gulf of Mexico offshore platforms and rigs, United States
Send the site, zone and gas group and roughly how many handsets. We reply by email with the datasheet and the certification schedule.
Enquiry · US Gulf of Mexico offshore platforms and rigs
Launching Q4 2026
Planning for Gulf of Mexico Rigs?
Tell us the zone, gas group and operator. We will send the datasheet and the certification schedule.