[teekert]

If it helps species cross oceans where previously they could not, it is also going to be bad for a bunch of species (those that see their niches invaded at the other side of the ocean, or whatever barrier the rigs help cross).

If so, I'd say that overall, this is bad.

[marcosdumay]

There's plenty of space not touched by oil-rigs for the open ocean species to live.

[dhosek]

Read the post again, it’s not about the species along the way, but the species living in places that have become open for colonization by the creatures taking advantage of oil rigs for cross-oceanic migration that wasn’t possible before. Kind of like how trans-oceanic navigation turned out great for the Europeans and not so much great for the Native Americans.

[marcosdumay]

Ouch, yes. I've read the OP completely wrong.