Thread: Rig Work

Im looking for some info for a mate who's looking at starting in the offshore rig industry. He's in the UK done the obligatory google search and come up with nothing apart from sites that want you to pay some sort of fee for info on jobs.
Has anyone here worked or currently working offshore?
Are there are any sites he can go to without being stiffed for £100 just to get some basic info?

As has been noted on another thread, you always hear that there is a shortage of people in the O&G business. What this really means is that there is a shortage of experienced people.
Unfortunately, it's the old chicken and egg thing. Companies only want to hire experienced people, but, how do you get experience without getting a job?

Most of the job web-sites also need experience.

Unless your mate has a needed trade, mechanic, or some specialty, the most common way to break in is through a recommendation from someone that is already on the inside.

I'll PM you some names of Seismic Survey companies that he can contact directly. He will have to look up their addresses on the net. The work is on ships, not rigs, but, it is even time (5 weeks on - 5 weeks off with pay + airticket to your home anywhere in the world).

Originally Posted by melvbot

Im looking for some info for a mate who's looking at starting in the offshore rig industry. He's in the UK done the obligatory google search and come up with nothing apart from sites that want you to pay some sort of fee for info on jobs.
Has anyone here worked or currently working offshore?
Are there are any sites he can go to without being stiffed for £100 just to get some basic info?

How experienced are you/your mate in the construction industry?
What is his line of experience/skills?

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Can you work 12 hour nightshifts to dayshifts and back again on the same trip?

Can you work in close proximity for up to and beyond 2 weeks (right up to 10) with a bunch of salty brutal types who will rip the piss and have a right old chuckle if you let them wind you up

Do you have an attitude or shoot your mouth off, are unreliable? Any arrogant prats etc (typically) don't last a heartbeat offshore.

If you've answered yes to any of the above then re-consider even going offshore.

It's a case of getting your offshore certs (survival, medical)firing off your CV to the agencies and seeing how many bites you get.
If you get bites then go for it and see how you do.
Offshore lifes not for everyone, some people come out and hate the lifestyle. Married or got a girlfriend? Watch out cause this can be a relationship breaker my friend.
I love it the offshore lifestyle, but then I'm a single workaholic who loves living like a roving prince in LOS

Oil and Gas Rigs:

Your choices:

Drill crew
Arguably the easiest way of getting offshore for a total greenhorn with no experience or skills, however the work is pure savage for the money you get and you will almost undoubtably get injured. (second only to Deck Crew and Riggers etc).
Promotion is slow and Drill Crew are some of the toughest hombres offshore. You don't fck with them and will be shouted at like something out of the army during drill ops.
They are in demand all over the world so jobs can really open up once you climb the Drill Crew ladder.
If you are young and keen then make enquiries for a GREEN HAND Course (Aberdeen does loads of these)
It all depends how hungry you are, your age and how thick-skinned you are.

Other positions are deckcrew, rope access tech. (you need NDT tickets as well).
You can get courses for this, but they cost money and it does not mean you'll get work. It's all up to the agency's and companies you fire off your cv to.

'Black Hat/Hand' Trades - Pipefitters, Platers, Riggers etc - 4 years experience (apprenticeship) in heavy industry like powerstations/shipyards/welding before you give this a shot. One fck up is all it takes to destroy a career and end offshore aspirations so make sure you are at the top of your game for this one.

Production Operative - If you're a geek and like the techie aspects of offshore oil production/extraction (they usually play at tapping gauges half the time ) etc then there are self-sponsered study courses on the net (see the UKOOA website for more details).
You can get taken on direct as a newbie as a Production but this is usually reserved for the university boffins / merchant navy types. This is a very cushy number to be in offshore, but is boring as feck being stuck on one rig for the rest of your career (an exagerration but you get the picture) with the same grinding routine.

Trying to get work direct from Thailand is a toughie, unless you get lucky and meet the right person who is in tight with an offshore firm.
You CAN work the North Sea and commute from Thailand BUT you need a core crew job (regular slot and on a companies books for guarenteed work, forget this, you need oodles of experience first).
Doing this with from a contract job position is risky as work doesn't last too long (usually for shutdowns only, which are in the summer).

You may have to consider relocating to the UK (If you're a Brit) and getting experience/qualified first onshore before going offshore.

You can try the vessels as well but these are even tougher to get work on than the rigs in some ways (like Sir Burr said) as you normally need to know someone.

Offshore work is a funny game, it's easy some days as you watch the money role in and count the days and live the dream. Your crew mates are princes amongst men who crack jokes and the banter is on top form.
Other times it's blowing horizontal rain while you're working the deck while freezing your tits off wondering what the fck you're doing. The crew mates are gutter trash mental cases who may drive you to the edge of control and beyond.
Both ends of the spectrum really.
Season starts in March/April and ends October time.

Forget these 'pay me and I'll tell' merchants. Rip-off merchants everyone of them.
All what I told you the rip-off merchants would likely charge you for, but years back a wise old head told me the ways, so I pass a few your way now like he did to me.
The old hands may not like me divulging some of the 'secrets' so to speak but without new blood coming in the North Sea etc would grind to a halt and everyone will end up going into office land for work in years to come

Besides which, if your mate is sht he'll soon get rumbled and binned off the platform/vessel.

Good luck!

I can back up what Slipstream is saying. I am offshore at present in Libya. I am employed by a major French oil and gas company. What he is saying concerning experience is really important. All the major companies are looking for experienced personnel! its the old addage the only way to get experience is to do the job. Its very rare for a company to take you offshore without some specific training,Offshore Survival, HUET (Helicopter Underwater Escape Training) as part of your offshore course you will cover Fire fighting and First Aid this will stand you in good stead if you think this is the life for you. My rotation is three weeks Libya and three weeks Thailand. I am core crew on the field.
All the courses mentioned above are available in Aberdeen Scotland. if you have completed an apprenticeship and have the engineering qualifications this will help welding, fitting, plating, Pipe Fitting, Instrument Pipe Fitting (small bore pipes) and Instrument Technicians, these are the main trade bands offshore in the engineering side. Scaffolding, Rigging, or as part of a drilling team Roustabout, assistant driller,are all trades that are used in the offshore environment if you think this is for you, I suggest you get in contact with the training establishments in Aberdeen in whichever sphere of offshore operations you want to work in, get as much information as possible.Complete the training if required,get your offshore survival and HUET completed. And then start the ball rolling by getting as many CV,s off as possible to the Oil and Gas companies and offshore contractors and see if you get a bite.Wages when you start are not great the more you prove yourself the better it gets and the terms and conditions improve hopefully. Its not easy to get into but it can be done, it needs perseverance and patience. But the rewards are there if you work hard enough. BEST OF LUCK TO YOU!!

Do any of you guy's know about what experience electricians need? I am an Electrical Fitter (Australia) but I think they would employ Instrument (Electrical) Fitters, or both types work? Any ideas on shore based work (as I have no offshore experience)? What about age? (I am 44-too old?)

Originally Posted by Bung

Do any of you guy's know about what experience electricians need? I am an Electrical Fitter (Australia) but I think they would employ Instrument (Electrical) Fitters, or both types work? Any ideas on shore based work (as I have no offshore experience)? What about age? (I am 44-too old?)

what sort of Electrical work have you done ? mining / powergen / oil and gas ?
I presume you are an Industrial lectriks man as you know what instrumentation is

so much of it is knowing somebody on a job who can get you in.

don't just concentrate on offshore drilling - there is offshore production , look into working as an operator maintainer on an FPSO / production platform.

and don't forget the construction / commissioning side - In my opinion this is the best option as you live in a city in a serviced apartment or hotel and get paid well without having the offshore problems. Construction Jobs can last up to 3 years

You can do all your offshore courses in Jahor Bahru. Cheap too. It cost me US$610 for all the necesary courses about a year ago.

Here is the contact info:-

Training Centre:
Landing Craft Jetty
Kawasan Pelabuhan Johor
81700 Pasir Gudang Johor
Tel : +607 2522108
Fax : +607 2522081
Email: info.jb[at]msts-my.org



Booking Office:
MSTS Asia Sdn. Bhd.
539 A Taman Melaka Raya
75000 Melaka
Tel : +606 2922069
Fax : +606 2922067
Email: info[at]msts-my.org