How to get a job on an oil rig...

[cps13]

Hi all,

is there anybody out there with experience in breaking into the O&G industry? I would like to work as an instrumentation tech/engineer on oil rigs.

I have over 5 years experience working aboard cable/pipe laying vessels as a service engineer (electrical), so this is like 50% office 50% on site working, on site is 1-2 day visits typically and up to 2 weeks maximum. I have the following qualifications:

- OPITO BOSIET + Escape Chute
- OPITO Basic H2S
- ENG1 Medical
- OGUK Medical
- Siemens PLC training
- HNC Electronic Engineering
- Currently completing HND in Control and Instrumentation Engineering

I have applied for a few jobs on rigs but either don't hear back or get the standard "Thanks but no thanks" responses.

I was wondering what the best way is to try and break into the industry? Are there any courses which would be good to do and look good on an application? Or is there specific training routes into the industry?

I'm currently 29.

Thanks

[anonymous-user]

Wait another year is probably good advise.

The industry is still on it's arse and new starts won't get a look in with all the muchos experienced old hands sitting on the bench (read other employment) waiting for it to pick up so they can get back to the oil patch.

It isn't the worst time to be considering entering the O&G industry but it's arguably only 2 years down the line from it and they haven't been hiring much offshore or international workers since then, however it is slowly picking up so you might get lucky.

Know anyone who can vouch for you? That might help.

Starting with offshore windfarms or alternatives such as nuclear might be a step in the right direction.

Good luck.

[Scottishlad]

cps13 said:

Hi all,

is there anybody out there with experience in breaking into the O&G industry? I would like to work as an instrumentation tech/engineer on oil rigs.

I have over 5 years experience working aboard cable/pipe laying vessels as a service engineer (electrical), so this is like 50% office 50% on site working, on site is 1-2 day visits typically and up to 2 weeks maximum. I have the following qualifications:

- OPITO BOSIET + Escape Chute
- OPITO Basic H2S
- ENG1 Medical
- OGUK Medical
- Siemens PLC training
- HNC Electronic Engineering
- Currently completing HND in Control and Instrumentation Engineering

I have applied for a few jobs on rigs but either don't hear back or get the standard "Thanks but no thanks" responses.

I was wondering what the best way is to try and break into the industry? Are there any courses which would be good to do and look good on an application? Or is there specific training routes into the industry?

I'm currently 29.

Thanks

I was in a pretty similar position as yourself and spent the best part of 3 years trying to get into the industry as an apprentice/trainee tech.

I eventually got lucky and got a job right before the downturn after seeing a trainee position advertised for an office based role with offshore surveys. I was going to use this to bridge over into a tech role but, I've now decided to stay in my current role as the offshore life isn't for me although I have had the opportunity to work offshore as a production tech/operator.

I think you will really struggle just now with no experience when there is so much competition for jobs.They either look for you having completed a time served apprenticeship and/or decent experience

You will also need your COMPEX, SBT & PTW training (this may be supplied by the employer).

Did you have to do the HNC measurement & control before moving on to the HND? I assume you're doing this at teeside uni?

Your best bet is through the OPITO scheme or to get a instrument tech role onshore and gain some experience while waiting for things to (hopefully) pick up.

[Brads67]

No one is taking on because they have just managed to sack most of their workforces, ergo there are thousands of unemployed experienced offshore workers waiting in a line to fill any position that arises.

No experience will make it nigh on impossible to get a foot in the door.

I`ve just quit an offshore job to get a proper life back and I won`t miss it one little bit. It would be my last resort now.
They have slashed workers rights and conditions so basically treat people like trash with impunity, so expect to be able to take that as well.

[Hainey]

I totally agree with Brads above. I work in a role closely connected to the industry and everyone in an offshore role I deal with (and its a lot) is trying to get onshore, not off, for exactly the reasons he states. The incentives are evaporating at a rate of knots.

Sadly, it's going to get a lot worse I fear going forward. I sit in maintenance planning talks with some big operators at a fairly senior level and they know they dont have to pay the money they used to just to get bodies on that helicopter or supply boat.

As an exampe the 75k trades (spark/fitter etc.) position will turn into a 45k role within a very few years. Just watch.

Lousy deal for the lads, but there are too many people and not enough roles. The opposite of the 1970s and 1980s situation.

[thainy77]

Hainey said:

Sadly, it's going to get a lot worse I fear going forward. I sit in maintenance planning talks with some big operators at a fairly senior level and they know they dont have to pay the money they used to just to get bodies on that helicopter or supply boat.

As an exampe the 75k trades (spark/fitter etc.) position will turn into a 45k role within a very few years. Just watch.

I agree with a some of your post but not the above two points.

I work in a niche role for an ultra deep water rig contractor, we are already seeing a lot of tenders coming in looking at Q4 2018 through to 2019 for multi well contracts. UDW is always the last market to pick up after a slump due to the costs involved in this type of drilling. I think it's relatively safe to say we have seen the worst of it, two conferences i have been at lately, including the OTC, where all major players have attended from service providers, contractors and operators all back this up.

Oil prices dictate salaries, as soon as the oil price and demand increases enough to make anything other than land drilling more viable we will see an increase in wages again.

Hopefully the oil industry will learn from previous downturns this time around and maintain a happy medium rather than costs and expenditure going through the roof.

[johnwilliams77]

DoubleTime said:

Wait another year is probably good advise.

The industry is still on it's arse and new starts won't get a look in with all the muchos experienced old hands sitting on the bench (read other employment) waiting for it to pick up so they can get back to the oil patch.

It isn't the worst time to be considering entering the O&G industry but it's arguably only 2 years down the line from it and they haven't been hiring much offshore or international workers since then, however it is slowly picking up so you might get lucky.

Know anyone who can vouch for you? That might help.

Starting with offshore windfarms or alternatives such as nuclear might be a step in the right direction.

Good luck.

The only exception being graduate intake.

[K50 DEL]

I've been trying for 2 years to get back into O+G (I'm an IT Manager by trade, history of Africa and Middle East on/offshore etc etc) but have had 2 offers in the last year, both of which offering less money than a "normal" job in the UK.

Unfortunately there are many nationalities who will work for a lot less money than Brits and whilst the industry is in such a downturn there's little incentive for salaries to go back to a sensible level.

[PW555]

I can confirm what most have said above, I have a really good friend who has worked Off and On Shore O&G for years, very talented guy, masses of experience, worked some very prestigious projects, his last contract in Angola came to an end 8 months ago and he hasn't been able to find anything since, lots of promises for 2018 etc but nothing concrete. Seems the industry is in flux at the moment.

[johnwilliams77]

thainy77 said:

Hopefully the oil industry will learn from previous downturns this time around and maintain a happy medium rather than costs and expenditure going through the roof.

Quite difficult when many companies are short term thinking and don't do much to retain talent then need to re-hire them back at stupid day rates then the snowball effect starts on costs of services and suppliers for the operators...

I wish I had a crystal ball for the future but I am currently working on making myself as employable as possible outside O+G in my free time.

[AbzST64]

K50 DEL said:

Unfortunately there are many nationalities who will work for a lot less money than Brits and whilst the industry is in such a downturn there's little incentive for salaries to go back to a sensible level.

This really..! I work in tenders for huge O&G project around the world and the one thing we are finding is there are other nationalities willing to work for a much lesser rate than UK personnel with relative experience, an example is a Brit requesting $1000 day for Middle east...Italian guy happy with $300 a day. Guess which option the client is taking?

We are being told at the moment it's cost before quality unfortunately.

[K50 DEL]

AbzST64 said:

K50 DEL said:

Unfortunately there are many nationalities who will work for a lot less money than Brits and whilst the industry is in such a downturn there's little incentive for salaries to go back to a sensible level.

This really..! I work in tenders for huge O&G project around the world and the one thing we are finding is there are other nationalities willing to work for a much lesser rate than UK personnel with relative experience, an example is a Brit requesting $1000 day for Middle east...Italian guy happy with $300 a day. Guess which option the client is taking?

We are being told at the moment it's cost before quality unfortunately.

Without getting too deeply involved, take your Brit at $1k a day, your Italian at $300 a day and then add in Filipinos at $200 a day and Indians / Bangladeshi at $100 a day and the difference in cost for a project can be huge.

Personally, ten years ago I was on $830 a day in Angola then a bit less than that when I moved to the UAE / Iraq.... right now, I'd be happy with closer to your Italian's figures just to get back in the door!

[AbzST64]

K50 DEL said:

Without getting too deeply involved, take your Brit at $1k a day, your Italian at $300 a day and then add in Filipinos at $200 a day and Indians / Bangladeshi at $100 a day and the difference in cost for a project can be huge.

Personally, ten years ago I was on $830 a day in Angola then a bit less than that when I moved to the UAE / Iraq.... right now, I'd be happy with closer to your Italian's figures just to get back in the door!

Yes agree 100%, Indian's are very cheap but unfortunately some country's still stipulate certain nationalities and won't accept others....!

I find the mindset of some Brit's crazy, they are on huge day rates and then go oh you won't get anyone to replace me etc for cheaper when we can find people more than willing to work for $500 less. It's either take a cut or as you say we have a que of guys willing to work for a much lesser rate with same experience!

[K50 DEL]

AbzST64 said:

K50 DEL said:

Without getting too deeply involved, take your Brit at $1k a day, your Italian at $300 a day and then add in Filipinos at $200 a day and Indians / Bangladeshi at $100 a day and the difference in cost for a project can be huge.

Personally, ten years ago I was on $830 a day in Angola then a bit less than that when I moved to the UAE / Iraq.... right now, I'd be happy with closer to your Italian's figures just to get back in the door!

Yes agree 100%, Indian's are very cheap but unfortunately some country's still stipulate certain nationalities and won't accept others....!

I find the mindset of some Brit's crazy, they are on huge day rates and then go oh you won't get anyone to replace me etc for cheaper when we can find people more than willing to work for $500 less. It's either take a cut or as you say we have a que of guys willing to work for a much lesser rate with same experience!

Well without derailing this thread too much, feel free to message me if any of your projects need an IT / Comms bod!

[GT03ROB]

thainy77 said:

Hopefully the oil industry will learn from previous downturns this time around and maintain a happy medium rather than costs and expenditure going through the roof.

Not a hope this is the way it's always been.

[GT03ROB]

K50 DEL said:

Without getting too deeply involved, take your Brit at $1k a day, your Italian at $300 a day and then add in Filipinos at $200 a day and Indians / Bangladeshi at $100 a day and the difference in cost for a project can be huge.

....and quality is not a function of nationality or cost.......

[thainy77]

GT03ROB said:

Not a hope this is the way it's always been.

No doubt!

[GT03ROB]

thainy77 said:

GT03ROB said:

Not a hope this is the way it's always been.

No doubt!

.......& with less & less talent in the business it's only going to get worse.

[cps13]

Hi all,

Thanks for the responses! Not the response I was hoping for but the suggestion of wind farm experience sounds sensible. I suppose I will continue with what I am doing for the time being and just get myself as experienced and qualified as I can in the meantime.

Just as a side note, how does salary work in offshore work? I have seen it stated as £350p/d and £60,000 per year for example Is this just the difference between permanent staff and contractors?

I assume contractors are paid for the days offshore and that's it, so on a 2:2 rotation you would only get paid for the two weeks you actually worked. Whereas permanent staff would be salaried?

thanks

[thainy77]

cps13 said:

Hi all,

Thanks for the responses! Not the response I was hoping for but the suggestion of wind farm experience sounds sensible. I suppose I will continue with what I am doing for the time being and just get myself as experienced and qualified as I can in the meantime.

Just as a side note, how does salary work in offshore work? I have seen it stated as £350p/d and £60,000 per year for example Is this just the difference between permanent staff and contractors?

I assume contractors are paid for the days offshore and that's it, so on a 2:2 rotation you would only get paid for the two weeks you actually worked. Whereas permanent staff would be salaried?

thanks

It's pretty much as you describe with contractors only being paid for the days they work. As a permanent employee i have been paid in various ways but primarily a base salary plus a day rate for the days you are away in my experience.