m4ttyrs

Anyone on here work or worked on an oil rig? Im looking for a career change and have been thinking about this for a while and would like to know peoples experiences. Thanks.

Lambchop

iTrader: (1)

In short, you have no hope at the moment. VERY VERY difficult to start a career offshore just now.

Not saying you necessarily but people in general think they canjust decide when they'd like to work offshore and off they go.

Trust me it's HARD to get a start...unless you're bumming someone high up

What do you want to do?

Anouchka

search...covered in detail if you look, lots of good info.

Red16

I'm on a rig while typing this reply, the Sedco Express docked in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria for overhaul/repair work.

What kind of job are you wanting to get offshore? Do you have a trade?

Allegedly it's hard getting into the offshore game unless you know someone who can pull a few strings or you have previous offshore experience.

I served my time and worked as a mechanical/electrical maintenance technician at the Nissan car factory, then recently moved into the offshore industry as a mechanical service engineer with a company called National Oilwell Varco.

rabmc

Get in the que.

NEIL A

iTrader: (6)

As said above this realy is a bad time for it.
Things are slowly starting to pick up but there has been alot of experianced guys paid off over the last year , so when it does pick up there is a good chance they will be the first to get offered the jobs back.

vaughant

iTrader: (1)

There was a really good thread on here about it a few months back but it wasn't very informative about how to get in,more about what the boys did on the rigs.

I'd be very interested myself if for some reason Canada dosent come off,I'm an industrial spark but also with masses of mechanical experience.I did my apprenticeship with ford,not sure that's a good or bad thing!!

Cobs1808

HOW WEIRD I was talking to some my work M8s about working on oil rigs !
(I am a FireMan ) one of the boys was trying to find out if you could sercond
on to the Oil Rigs from the Fire Brigade, but had no joy does any 1 know ?

NEIL A

iTrader: (6)

What do you want to do and do you have any skill that would help you join higher up, rather than a roustabout. Agency or service company work would be your best bet but you may have to pay out for your own survival, medical and mist training so budget Ł2000 before you start.

Cobs1808

Hi Neil,
My m8 @ the fire station was wanting to find out! (just got devorced), I thought that oil rigs had their own fire crews?
not sure about skills that would help spose other than fire fighting, we do line rescue & water rescue, hasmat, that sort of thing!

NEIL A

iTrader: (6)

I can only speak for drilling rigs not platforms , but we dont have a fire crew as such. Members of the deck and drill crew have done the fire fighting course, so they form the fire team but that is not there main role on the rig. Even though he is in the fire bregade im sure he would still have to do the course as its set industry standard , its the same with the helicopter landing team.

Cobs1808

Cheers Niel,
so is there an agency to contact or do the agencys only want experienced blokes?