Scots workers are at the heart of an escalating row with Argentina over new controls on ships passing through its water to the Falkland Islands.
The workers are part of a crew of 72 on board a rig that is searching for oil off the islands.
The Ocean Guardian rig left Invergordon in November and has taken three months to reach the Falklands.
Its crew are now searching for an estimated 60billion barrels of oil.
Argentina is angry at the move, which comes 28 years after it invaded the UK-controlled islands.
The British Government has given approval to drill near the Falklands despite opposition from Argentina, which still claims sovereignty over the islands and its waters.
On Tuesday 32 Latin American and Caribbean countries backed Argentina at a summit in Mexico, including Venezuela, over the issue.
Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez was one of the most vocal against Britain.
He said: "Queen of England I'm talking to you. Queen of England the times of Empires are over, didn't you hear? Give the Falklands back to the Argentine people, Queen of England.
"The English continue to threaten Argentina but times have changed dear Queen - it is no longer 1982. If Argentina is attacked you can bet on it you will not be alone like it was before. "
The Falklands' conflict lasted 78 days when UK forces regained control of the Falklands when the Argentineans invaded. But more than 250 British servicemen died.
This time around the row remains diplomatic.
Argentinean president Cristina Fernadez de Kirchner, said: "I think the important thing is that we achieved a very strong support for the legitimacy of our claims and fundamentally in reference to the new petroleum activity taking place since the installation of the newly installed platform."
The UK Foreign Office said the Falkland Islands' waters were controlled by its authorities and would not be affected by the drilling.
Jake Malloy, Oil Industry Liaison Committee (OILC), admitted that here in Scotland families would have reservations.
He said: "There will be some concerns among the families here and I would hope that the companies are able to reassure them that their loved ones will not be caught up in a diplomatic row over oil and gas."
The Government insists it will do whatever is necessary to protect the islands.
Labour's Inverclyde MP David Cairns, whose constituents built the Ocean Guardian, said ministers should closely monitor Britain's military presence.
He said: "We need to keep an eye on that, any more of the sabre-rattling seen today from the likes of Hugo Chavez, and I hope the Government is keeping that under review."
On Tuesday Defence Minister Bill Rammell told the Commons that Britain will take "whatever steps are necessary" to protect the islands and the oil workers.
