We present an energy dissipation model that can easily be applied to oblique transform faults as well as to oblique spreading ridges. By using a simple model of a rising incompressible Newtonian fluid in a vertical conduit of the ridge--transform fault system, the energy dissipation rates of the ridge and transform fault segments are calculated as a function of the angles between the strikes of segments and the spreading directions, and the spreading rates. The stability is estimated for about 400 present-day segments from the energy dissipation rates of ridge and transform fault segments. It is concluded that most of the present-day configurations of the ridge--transform fault system are nearly stable, even though the strikes of ridge and transform fault segments are oblique to the spreading directions. Several exceptions seem to be associated with extraordinary phenomena, such as the occurrence of an extremely large earthquake and and overlapping spreading centers. ¿ American Geophysical Union 1991