Abstract: System for drilling from a water surface, of the type having means for exerting and maintaining on the drilling tool a bearing stress, which is constant and normal to the surface to be perforated, no matter what the effect of the swell, wherein it comprises in combination: a base having a central passage for the drill pipe string of a drilling apparatus, which is intended to rest on the sea bed and is elastically connected to means for receiving a cylindrical box; a column formed by a cylindrical tubular central guide, for permitting the passage and guidance of the drill pipe string of the drilling apparatus, the column being surrounded by an external cylindrical tubular envelope, the hollow annular space formed between the central guide and the envelope being subdivided into a tight member constituting the lower ballast, a tight intermediate member of variable length determined as a function of the mean value of the section of water under which drilling takes place, a tight member constituting an upper balla