Offshore Career

[VB]

A good mate of mine contacted me recently about a career in Rig work. I've been looking around for a while now & boast no specific qualifications with any particular weight, so would be going in as a Roustabout.

I've got to do BOSIET (which I think includes HUET), MIST training + a Banksman course before I can even step on a Rig, then I've got to do 3 months 'on Rig' training & I suppose to see if I can do the job, before being offered a contract.

I know nothing of Rig work, other than the rotational shifts. I don't know what type of work it'll be, we both worked in the Military together & he mentioned nothing about how labour intensive it would be, so i'm guessing it's not too bad apart from working in the elements which i'm failry used to... ?


For those that have careers in this field, can you offer any advice for those starting out, or places I can get my training done in the South of England?

[Pete102]

ok I'll tell you what I know...

As far as Im aware only a BOSIET, medical and MIST course is required to get on a rig, a banksman course etc is obviously job specific.

There is literally a myriad of jobs available offshore, ranging from stewards (cleaning etc) to painting, scaffolding, crane operations, maintenance, management, operations etc. - Id ask your mate what job he's lining you up for....

Usually its 2 on 2 off or in some staff cases 2 on 3 off or 3 on 3 off. You dont usually have a rest day when your out there but to be honest the weekends and weekdays tend to merge into one.

If your fit enough and can stand being away from your family or any dependants for a period of time - go for it, the moneys pretty good and it always looks good on a CV

[VB]

Pete102 said:

ok I'll tell you what I know...

As far as Im aware only a BOSIET, medical and MIST course is required to get on a rig, a banksman course etc is obviously job specific.

There is literally a myriad of jobs available offshore, ranging from stewards (cleaning etc) to painting, scaffolding, crane operations, maintenance, management, operations etc. - Id ask your mate what job he's lining you up for....

Usually its 2 on 2 off or in some staff cases 2 on 3 off or 3 on 3 off. You dont usually have a rest day when your out there but to be honest the weekends and weekdays tend to merge into one.

If your fit enough and can stand being away from your family or any dependants for a period of time - go for it, the moneys pretty good and it always looks good on a CV

He said just get onboard & then you ask the Foreman (Roughneck? ) to specify once you've got a contract, Logistics is my favoured career as it follows on from my job in the Forces. That's what he's doing at the moment, but I guess i'll have to see when I get out there.



Just how fit are we talking? :worried: It's been a while

[Jimslips]

VB said:

He said just get onboard & then you ask the Foreman (Roughneck? ) to specify once you've got a contract, Logistics is my favoured career as it follows on from my job in the Forces. That's what he's doing at the moment, but I guess i'll have to see when I get out there.



Just how fit are we talking? :worried: It's been a while

You do not need to be super fit to work on a rig. A bit of stamina and ability to graft is important though.

[VB]

Sounds good, I don't mind hard work at all.

This Stamina part worries me though, the only Stamina I have these days is for drinking! Worth hitting the gym before hand? Like I said I worked in the Forces beforehand on Field Equiptment (heavy lifting, construction of tenting) lived in the Field (on exercises), done the odd Detachment, Operations & Exercises. I've done 4 month Dets on 12on/12off rotations in 50+oC heat to friking cold at night, is it likely to harder than that? Just so I know what i'm letting myself in for

[Jimslips]

VB said:

Sounds good, I don't mind hard work at all.

This Stamina part worries me though, the only Stamina I have these days is for drinking! Worth hitting the gym before hand? Like I said I worked in the Forces beforehand on Field Equiptment (heavy lifting, construction of tenting) lived in the Field (on exercises), done the odd Detachment, Operations & Exercises. I've done 4 month Dets on 12on/12off rotations in 50+oC heat to friking cold at night, is it likely to harder than that? Just so I know what i'm letting myself in for

Hardest on the body is probably 12hr shifts (sometimes more) on the drill floor, on nightshift, big winds, in the North Sea (yes, there are plenty more extreme places to work, -25 etc). Sounds like you will be fine. Like everything else, helps if you are fighting fit.

Depends, if you go into logistics (not sure if you will need some onshore oil and gas logistic experience) as it is quite a pivotal role, then you will only need enough fitness to pass your 2 year medical.

[VB]

What's included in the Medical? Is it easy to pass? Diabetics included- it runs in the family so I have to be mindful that I may get it in the future, I'm doing everything I can to minimise that for the future.

The only Logs experience I have with fuels is storage, issue & receipt into BFIs for Avtur, Petrol & Diesel, Blending AL48 to F34 Jet Fuel, and the correct storage of Oils & Lubes. I don't think that would count?



Thanks for all the advice & help so far, it's much appreciated.

Edited by VB on Friday 28th October 13:53

[Jimslips]

VB said:

What's included in the Medical? Is it easy to pass? Diabetics included- it runs in the family so I have to be mindful that I may get it in the future, I'm doing everything I can to minimise that for the future.

The only Logs experience I have with fuels is storage, issue & receipt into BFIs for Avtur, Petrol & Diesel, Blending AL48 to F34 Jet Fuel, and the correct storage of Oils & Lubes. I don't think that would count?



Thanks for all the advice & help so far, it's much appreciated.

Edited by VB on Friday 28th October 13:53

Yes, easy to pass. You should see some of the states at heliports, it's a wonder they are not slipping them a brown envelope.

http://www.abermed.com/index.php/en/oil-and-gas-in...

Lots of info: http://www.oilandgasuk.co.uk/faqs.cfm

Let us know how it goes. 3 trip(2/3weeks a time) (3 month) - is typical for rig crew to then get a staff contract. ie, 3 trips through agency then get a job if you keep your head down.

[VB]

Jimslips said:

VB said:

What's included in the Medical? Is it easy to pass? Diabetics included- it runs in the family so I have to be mindful that I may get it in the future, I'm doing everything I can to minimise that for the future.

The only Logs experience I have with fuels is storage, issue & receipt into BFIs for Avtur, Petrol & Diesel, Blending AL48 to F34 Jet Fuel, and the correct storage of Oils & Lubes. I don't think that would count?



Thanks for all the advice & help so far, it's much appreciated.

Edited by VB on Friday 28th October 13:53

Yes, easy to pass. You should see some of the states at heliports, it's a wonder they are not slipping them a brown envelope.

http://www.abermed.com/index.php/en/oil-and-gas-in...

Lots of info: http://www.oilandgasuk.co.uk/faqs.cfm

Let us know how it goes. 3 trip(2/3weeks a time) (3 month) - is typical for rig crew to then get a staff contract. ie, 3 trips through agency then get a job if you keep your head down.

Funnily enough I've just got off the phone to Abermed, appears I've got no worries on the face of it! I'll take a look at the links. Thanks, Jim

[Du1point8]

VB said:

Jimslips said:

VB said:

What's included in the Medical? Is it easy to pass? Diabetics included- it runs in the family so I have to be mindful that I may get it in the future, I'm doing everything I can to minimise that for the future.

The only Logs experience I have with fuels is storage, issue & receipt into BFIs for Avtur, Petrol & Diesel, Blending AL48 to F34 Jet Fuel, and the correct storage of Oils & Lubes. I don't think that would count?



Thanks for all the advice & help so far, it's much appreciated.

Edited by VB on Friday 28th October 13:53

Yes, easy to pass. You should see some of the states at heliports, it's a wonder they are not slipping them a brown envelope.

http://www.abermed.com/index.php/en/oil-and-gas-in...

Lots of info: http://www.oilandgasuk.co.uk/faqs.cfm

Let us know how it goes. 3 trip(2/3weeks a time) (3 month) - is typical for rig crew to then get a staff contract. ie, 3 trips through agency then get a job if you keep your head down.

Funnily enough I've just got off the phone to Abermed, appears I've got no worries on the face of it! I'll take a look at the links. Thanks, Jim

Fitness and health checks... pfft dont make me laugh.

My father does 12 hours on 12 hours off and has done for 35+ years and he is not the fittest (42+ inch waist and 5 ft 8) and he has had a platinum stent put in one of his arteries and he can pass most medicals...

Except for maybe the last one but when hes on the rig the oil companies offer work to his company as he is well known and if hes on they know it will get done, so they may have bribed/smuggled him onto the rig in a nice warm country recently.

If he can get past the tests including the helicopter capsize test then Im pretty certain most people can do it.

[richysafc]

Hi VB, i am in exactly the same boat as you however i have completed the MIST, medical and survival training and i am hoping to do the banksman course in December.

I have been been qualified since may for the rigs and have been trying ever since. It is proving to be a very difficult industry to break into as i have no direct qualifications related to the rigs, nearest thing i have is that i am a time served plumber but that doesn't mean to much on the rigs. I am hopeing to get on as a roustabout and work my way up however i have been told its case of "who you know, not what you know" when its comes to getting a roustabout job.

Anyways mate all i can advice is get the 3 courses done then start some serious job hunting, also whiles't on your courses listen to what the other lads on the course do as alot of them are been sent there by offshore companies and alot of them are the right people or know the right people. I made mates with a bloke on my course and it turned out he knew the right people and managed to get me a phone interview for a roustabout job for a big drilling company so just keep an a keen ears listening to what people are saying on course.

Hope this helps mate and feel free to get in touch with any more questions.

P.s. the medical is the easiest medical i have done, however make sure you don't need any fillings in your teeth as i failed on mine for this reason and had to get it done again once i had seen a dentist, DOH!

[jshell]

Might be worth a post on this thread: http://www.pistonheads.com/xforums/topic.asp?h=0&a... which is all offshore guys who may give some good advice. I only visit DSVs and Installation vessels these days so am out of touch with platform or rig life.

Best of luck!

Oh, might be worth lookng at Norwegian jobs offshore as they can be 2 weeks on and 4 weeks off rotation, with plenty work on the go.

Good idea to look at the Fircroft website, S1jobs.com, oilcareers etc... There're heaps of oilfield agencies on the web.

[Jimslips]

richysafc said:

Hi VB, i am in exactly the same boat as you however i have completed the MIST, medical and survival training and i am hoping to do the banksman course in December.

I have been been qualified since may for the rigs and have been trying ever since. It is proving to be a very difficult industry to break into as i have no direct qualifications related to the rigs, nearest thing i have is that i am a time served plumber but that doesn't mean to much on the rigs. I am hopeing to get on as a roustabout and work my way up however i have been told its case of "who you know, not what you know" when its comes to getting a roustabout job.

Anyways mate all i can advice is get the 3 courses done then start some serious job hunting, also whiles't on your courses listen to what the other lads on the course do as alot of them are been sent there by offshore companies and alot of them are the right people or know the right people. I made mates with a bloke on my course and it turned out he knew the right people and managed to get me a phone interview for a roustabout job for a big drilling company so just keep an a keen ears listening to what people are saying on course.

Hope this helps mate and feel free to get in touch with any more questions.

P.s. the medical is the easiest medical i have done, however make sure you don't need any fillings in your teeth as i failed on mine for this reason and had to get it done again once i had seen a dentist, DOH!

Do you know why you want to be a roustabout or do you just see that as 'entry'? Yes that is entry and you should get a regular rotation but it limits the paths in which you can take, largely. Since you have a trade and are skilled you may be more suited to an entry level field engineer for a service company for 'fishing', 'waste management'/'tank cleaning' (SCOMI, TWMA), and thousands of other positions such as wireline, COATTES (generators) the list goes on.

[VB]

Jimslips said:

Do you know why you want to be a roustabout or do you just see that as 'entry'? Yes that is entry and you should get a regular rotation but it limits the paths in which you can take, largely. Since you have a trade and are skilled you may be more suited to an entry level field engineer for a service company for 'fishing', 'waste management'/'tank cleaning' (SCOMI, TWMA), and thousands of other positions such as wireline, COATTES (generators) the list goes on.

Jim, Richy, interesting info there (thanks for the tip on fillings, will get that sorted beforehand) How the fook did the Doc spot that? At the very worst Annual medical in the Military I've had my ball-bag very roughly rifled through, but never been asked to 'open wide'.

Jim, why does going in as a Roustie (I use the term my mate used ) limit your career path? I'm comming from a Logs background so would I be better off hanging on for a position in that? I'm going to be having a chat with some agencies on Tuesday to find out the best way to go about this. Can you offer any more info on the above?


Thanks again.

[richysafc]

Jimslips said:

Do you know why you want to be a roustabout or do you just see that as 'entry'? Yes that is entry and you should get a regular rotation but it limits the paths in which you can take, largely. Since you have a trade and are skilled you may be more suited to an entry level field engineer for a service company for 'fishing', 'waste management'/'tank cleaning' (SCOMI, TWMA), and thousands of other positions such as wireline, COATTES (generators) the list goes on.

2 reasons i have picked roustabout mate and they are:

1) I would be very keen on becoming a driller one day and working on the drill deck, done alot of research about becoming a driller and it is defiantly a job I can see myself doing so would be quite happy to be a roustabout and work my way up that way.

2) Basically i have been told from a few people i know on the rigs (mainly pipe fitters) that my domestic plumbing qualification means basically nothing on the rigs so most engineering jobs I would not stand a chance at. They have also told me that i should just lie on my CV and say i am a pipe fitter as the 2 trades are similar in some ways and then once i am on the rigs just pick up the pipe fitting trade out there which i have done alot of research in to doing however I wouldn't really feel comfortable lieing my way onto the rigs and would almost defiantly get found out.

If i am been honest with you mate i haven't even heard of tank cleaning jobs, and i have heard of wireline operators and jobs with generators, etc but I was under the impression that I would need some form of back ground working working in that field but I will defiantly check these areas out as i am open to consideration for most jobs on the rigs. I served in the Royal Navy for a couple years as an aircraft engineer so hoping it will work in my favour and make me look slightly more appealing to employers but so far it doesn't seem to be working :-(

My areas of work are plumbing and heating (domestic), and air craft engineering in the RN so what jobs on the rigs would you advice i should be looking at mate? I definatly wouldn't mind waste management or anything like that, i get upto my elbows in human waste most days been a plumber lol.


VB: I didn't expect the doc to look in my mouth however he was saying that in the last year they have had to get really tough on dental work as people have been getting sent back from the rigs due to problems with there teeth so defiantly make sure your nashers are all good.

[Jimslips]

VB said:

Jim, Richy, interesting info there (thanks for the tip on fillings, will get that sorted beforehand) How the fook did the Doc spot that? At the very worst Annual medical in the Military I've had my ball-bag very roughly rifled through, but never been asked to 'open wide'.

Jim, why does going in as a Roustie (I use the term my mate used ) limit your career path? I'm comming from a Logs background so would I be better off hanging on for a position in that? I'm going to be having a chat with some agencies on Tuesday to find out the best way to go about this. Can you offer any more info on the above?


Thanks again.

It only sets your path offshore as going down the drilling contractor route, ie in 10-20years end up driller / toolpusher if you are good enough. Once you are at AD (assistant driller) stage you are very employable in many positions doing it. There are a couple of options on the way, ie stay deck route to be a crane op / possible barge engineer then OIM once you have tickets. The work will be different month to month as well compared to most service jobs in that you will be dealing with the same people week in, week out and likely going to the same rig every fortnight or 3 weeks if north sea. Some contractors are away from equal time now, I know KCA are so it might be 2 on 3 off. If you get a really good crew it might be 'bearable'. I certainly do not know many rousties to derrickman who LOVE their job, it is a job that pays well for their skill level so bear that in mind.

[frank hovis]

As Jim says , making to driller from roustie is rare -

can be done but isn't as common , a better career progression is through the wellservices side , loads of opportunity to advance and decent enough pay with very varied work

Dont limit yourself to thinking drilling is where you want to be

[VB]

Right so from what you're saying, going in as a Roustie is the wrong way to do it if I want to choose my trade. I'll speak to the agencies and see what the crack is with regards to getting into Logs.



Thanks again.

[Jimslips]

frank hovis said:

As Jim says , making to driller from roustie is rare -

can be done but isn't as common , a better career progression is through the wellservices side , loads of opportunity to advance and decent enough pay with very varied work

Dont limit yourself to thinking drilling is where you want to be

Agree.
It is not common because roustie/roughneck is the maximum responsibility at which many of them can stand. Not knocking them, but everyone has different limits. They may be quite difficult to deal with if it is clear from the offset you have lots higher potential. ADTI etc do fast track to AD / Drilling manager fast-track (with KCA) if you really want to have that hot seat.

Also, there are many many jobs on platforms for operators that I am not up to speed on buy pay very well. If you were doing electrical work / mechanical for a well service company, scumberger, for examample, then your skills may be more transferrable to a cushy number.

As I said, I don't know many who love being rig crew in the beginnging until they get some responsibility - eg, crane op, AD and that can take a little while. Well services side could see you being 'lead' engineer in a few years depending on the dicipline.

[frank hovis]

A roustie is a good foot in the door and can be used a jump in other things but try and keep your options open as its easier to move around once you have had a bit of experience behind you