It was part of a series of buckles that depicted different aspects of the oil and gas industry, such as pipelines, refineries, and rigs. The series was likely inspired by the oil boom of the late 1970s and early 1980s, when the demand and price of oil increased dramatically due to geopolitical events and supply shocks. The offshore drilling buckle reflects the technological advancements and challenges of extracting oil from the ocean floor, as well at the environmental and economic impacts of the industry.