The Aquatic City, Post-Oil Phase of the Caspian Sea

In the midst of all the political struggles in the Caspian region the only thing that is certain is that the resources will be exploited one day. All regional countries are hoping for a secure access to a largely untapped reservoir of oil. Rigs will be installed, pipelines will flow, and the oil will be sold. Yet as this process moves inevitably forward, it is also becoming clear that the petroleum economy and its associated operations will have a limited lifespan. Beyond that moment when the last barrel of oil leaves the seabed, the Caspian will remain. A wasteland of what once was a unique eco-system. This thesis proposes to develop a strategy for post-oil reactivation of the Caspian Sea (specifically in Iran) by reviving abandoned offshore platforms; a plan that identifies potential new resources and establishes activities that will form the basis for ongoing occupation of the sea.