Witold Zglenicki (1850-1904) was a Polish mining engineer, geologist, inventor and philanthropist, known as the "father of Baku oil" and the "Polish Nobel" for his pioneering work in oil production in Baku and his generous support of Polish science. A disciple of Dmitry Mendeleev, he designed the first drilling rig for offshore oil production, developed equipment for measuring well curvature and perpendicularity of wells, and delineated oil fields in Azerbaijan. He collaborated with the Nobel brothers and the Rothschild family, helping to transform Baku into an oil hub. Witold Zglenicki is credited with several key inventions in the field of oil mining, mostly related to oil production in Baku, which made him a pioneer of offshore drilling. The most famous is the world's first offshore oil drilling platform, designed in 1896 as a metal platform on piles driven into the sea floor, projecting 5 meters above the water, with drilling equipment and tanks, protected by breakwaters. Other inventions A device for measuring the curvature of drilling shafts, which reduced failures, explosions and accidents during drilling operations. An instrument for measuring the perpendicularity of mine shafts, improving safety and mining efficiency. These innovations, developed between 1890 and 1904, supported Baku's development as an oil hub and were appreciated by contemporaries, although the platform did not come to fruition until after his death