Work on an Oil Rig

shaz00 · 24-01-2009 09:19PM #1

Hi Guys, hoping ye can help me out - Im an electrician and Ive decided to look for work on an oil rig. I seem to be going around in circles on the net looking for agencies and those i've seen want to charge.Just wondering do you, or do you know of anyone working on a rig and how they went about getting their job.i'd really appreciate any info you can give me.

experiMental · 24-01-2009 10:44PM

Work like that spreads by word of mouth in the engineering community. I heard of some person who was offered work on an oil rig in Kazakhstan while working in IBM.

shaz00 · 25-01-2009 09:51PM

Tnx. Unfortunatley could be waiting a long time to hear word of mouth. do you know of any agencies in ireland who specialise in it?

Jarren · 25-01-2009 09:54PM

shaz00 wrote: »

Tnx. Unfortunatley could be waiting a long time to hear word of mouth. do you know of any agencies in ireland who specialise in it?

Will this help?

http://www.oilcareers.com/content/jobsearch/job_search.asp?from=topnav

Good luck

Tabnabs · 26-01-2009 10:50AM

Two bits of bad news, job cuts in the industry and also you will need safety and survival certification. In this economic climate, it's unlikely they will be taking on newbies. I would look instead at the Corrib installation as a way into the industry.

Vadrefjorde · 26-01-2009 11:16AM

Corrib Installation has already caused uproar among irish offshore workers by not actually employing any of them.

The job cuts article is the usual RMT sabre rattling :-)

You will need the BOSIET (if working in the UK sector), for Norwegian sector you need seperate certification. Most of the UK colleges that do this training offer courses in either. Working further afield involves even more bits of paper..
www.rigzone.com is a more realistic approach than the many rip off sites that just want your money and don't actually have any jobs..
Consider doing these courses in Aberdeen and spend a week there, you'll need to do some legwork around the place, find employer's offices etc.. A Previous post pointed to it being a "word of mouth" industry and in some respects it is, but you'll find after a few days in Aberdeen that there isn't a limitless supply of Scots who are willing and qualified for the amount of jobs on offer :-)
There is one or two drilling companies that are Irish owned/ managed but can't remember their names now.
Also go through the jobs on rigzone and get the companie's webpages etc.. the ones that look like they might have a position suitable for you, then send them a C.V. every month. They get loads and usually only look when they need someone, hence why people usually send them once a month.
And good luck!! I hope you get sorted. Be prepared to go anywhere, i know dozen's of Irish working for Petrobras (Brazil) ATM 3 weeks on and 3 weeks off and they live in Ireland still and fly down all expenses paid :-)

Ginger · 27-01-2009 06:12PM

If you consider relocation have a look in Norway

http://www.finn.no/finn/job/fulltime/result?JOB_CATEGORY/CATEGORY=5414&WT.svl=maincategory

That is the main off and on shore work category. Gives you an idea of the hiring companies etc etc..

You do need certification to work offshore but that is probably covered as part of the training

jimmycrackcorm · 27-01-2009 11:20PM

Read in the local rag about this crowd doing training for oil rig jobs in Donegal. They help place people in jobs after the training.

http://www.effectiveoffshore.com

haven27 · 28-01-2009 01:28AM

You could try Schlumberger, http://www.slb.com/content/careers/index.asp? they have workers on rigs/vessels etc all over the world but they also did cut staff by about 5000 recently as their profits were down.

badboyblast · 28-01-2009 03:41PM

Aberdeen is the place to base yourself, I have a freind from Limerick who lives and works there on the rigs, the place is expensive because of the oil but all the major companies are based there.

Tabnabs · 28-01-2009 03:58PM

Plenty of cheap accommodation in Aberdeen, the various oil & shipping companies don't like to part with their cash

Also it's a big university town so has a good night life and plenty of cheap pubs etc. It's a good place once you don't stray into the wrong parts.

steifanc · 29-01-2009 09:31PM

i served my time as an electrician and went on to be an engineer , i worked and still work in the oil and gas sector and have been all over the world doing it, first off dont pay any of theis companys that say they will get you in ,because you dont have to and they are normally recruiting for are american or canadain, to work for these you will need your red seal, its a lience that will let you work your trade, i done mine in boston ,to sit this exam you need a work permit and your company has to sponcer you to do it.
to work in any petro chemical envoirment as a spark you will need a compex cert its usless applying with out one , it certs you to work with ex equipment rgit montrose in aderdeen is the closest place to do it costs about 1500stg and lasts 3/5 days ,after that you will need a survial ticket you can do that in the same place costs about 800stg lasts for 1 yr your first time and covers you for the north sea ,to work in the norweign sector you will need a different survail ticket can do it in the same place also you will need lv/hv certs to work in the norweign sectors, with out these you wont be concsidered for the jobs ,
its not a very easy thing to get into , your best option is to find work on a land rig then progress into the off shore , or find a vender that contracts to the oil companys, what kinda electrician are you , if you know generators ups systems , controlls , instruments , esds , this will all help you , i can give you any info you need ,

Vampireskiss · 29-01-2009 09:50PM

In Generla how good is the money for working on these rigs?

steifanc · 30-01-2009 01:08PM

like every thing else you get made an offer form what the company think you worth

Vampireskiss · 30-01-2009 05:29PM

Im asking in terms of comparing to the same jobs that are on land

steifanc · 30-01-2009 05:52PM

3/4 times as much , but there not the same jobs, and there is a lot more training involved

Vampireskiss · 31-01-2009 12:06AM

steifanc wrote: »

3/4 times as much , but there not the same jobs, and there is a lot more training involved

So basically if someone earns 40k on land they will get 70k on a rig

Is it high risk working conditions? How dangerous is it?

shaz00 · 31-01-2009 01:22PM

jarecki1976 wrote: »

Will this help?

http://www.oilcareers.com/content/jobsearch/job_search.asp?from=topnav

Good luck

Hi Jarecki, thanks for the link, have been on and registered and has given me alot of info. Cheers

shaz00 · 31-01-2009 01:24PM

Dyflin wrote: »

Two bits of bad news, job cuts in the industry and also you will need safety and survival certification. In this economic climate, it's unlikely they will be taking on newbies. I would look instead at the Corrib installation as a way into the industry.

Hi Dyflin, would you believe got talking to an employee on the corrib and he is looking into a postition for me - said there have been cuts alright but with him been in he might be able to put in a good word. unbelievably hard to find any kind of work. Thanks for the heads up!

shaz00 · 31-01-2009 01:27PM

Vadrefjorde wrote: »

Corrib Installation has already caused uproar among irish offshore workers by not actually employing any of them.

The job cuts article is the usual RMT sabre rattling :-)

You will need the BOSIET (if working in the UK sector), for Norwegian sector you need seperate certification. Most of the UK colleges that do this training offer courses in either. Working further afield involves even more bits of paper..
www.rigzone.com is a more realistic approach than the many rip off sites that just want your money and don't actually have any jobs..
Consider doing these courses in Aberdeen and spend a week there, you'll need to do some legwork around the place, find employer's offices etc.. A Previous post pointed to it being a "word of mouth" industry and in some respects it is, but you'll find after a few days in Aberdeen that there isn't a limitless supply of Scots who are willing and qualified for the amount of jobs on offer :-)
There is one or two drilling companies that are Irish owned/ managed but can't remember their names now.
Also go through the jobs on rigzone and get the companie's webpages etc.. the ones that look like they might have a position suitable for you, then send them a C.V. every month. They get loads and usually only look when they need someone, hence why people usually send them once a month.
And good luck!! I hope you get sorted. Be prepared to go anywhere, i know dozen's of Irish working for Petrobras (Brazil) ATM 3 weeks on and 3 weeks off and they live in Ireland still and fly down all expenses paid :-)

Excellent thanks a million for all dat info, will do some searching this wkend so on aberdeen, see a good few electrician jobs advertised for scotland alright on various sites. Could def be the way to go, to get a leg in the door. At this stage both myself and the OH have agreed ill take a job whereever to get a foot in the door and start bringing in money to support the family. Cheers again for the info really helpful

shaz00 · 31-01-2009 01:34PM

steifanc wrote: »

i served my time as an electrician and went on to be an engineer , i worked and still work in the oil and gas sector and have been all over the world doing it, first off dont pay any of theis companys that say they will get you in ,because you dont have to and they are normally recruiting for are american or canadain, to work for these you will need your red seal, its a lience that will let you work your trade, i done mine in boston ,to sit this exam you need a work permit and your company has to sponcer you to do it.

to work in any petro chemical envoirment as a spark you will need a compex cert its usless applying with out one , it certs you to work with ex equipment rgit montrose in aderdeen is the closest place to do it costs about 1500stg and lasts 3/5 days ,after that you will need a survial ticket you can do that in the same place costs about 800stg lasts for 1 yr your first time and covers you for the north sea ,to work in the norweign sector you will need a different survail ticket can do it in the same place also you will need lv/hv certs to work in the norweign sectors, with out these you wont be concsidered for the jobs ,
its not a very easy thing to get into , your best option is to find work on a land rig then progress into the off shore , or find a vender that contracts to the oil companys, what kinda electrician are you , if you know generators ups systems , controlls , instruments , esds , this will all help you , i can give you any info you need ,

Hi thanks a million for all dat, have 12 years experience but in industrial, commercial and domestic wiring. Work has just dried up and finding it impossible to get anything, a few possible leads but the more i learn about the rigs the pay and then having time at home with the kids has me very interested. Have already applied for a few jobs but nothing back. have no experience so I guess I may start looking into these courses. Did you do them before you started applying for jobs? I also have my name on a reserve list to do an instrumentation and calibration course in a local college - If I don't get in on this course may wait till the next round.

steifanc · 31-01-2009 06:11PM

there isnt much out there at all , even in the oil , with the price of oil falling all is quite every where , you will need your compex and survival to be even considered for petro work , your best optin if your heart set is to get a compex and try and find somthing in the land refinerys ,get to know the workings of the plants and all there equipment , the work is very different to what you would of worked on here , even cable and glands are very different , a lot of the cables being used would be lead lined swas and then using ex glands and equipment , somtimes you can get a big push on a project and they will be recruiting 200/500 sparks at the one time , watch for stuff like that , they will send you out if there stuck and train you there or you will be on cable crews , not gerat work but you have your foot in the door, land rigs a normal shift patteren would be 4/8 weeks on 2 weeks off depending on where in the world you are , all flights , digs , and food is always paid for ,look around north alberta in canada , there is always lots going on out there , harsh weather conditions -30 in the winter , but its the first step into the refinerys is the hardest , it took me about 2 years to get in , look for companys like suncor, suncrude , crnl petrofab theis operate in canada , sun core have a new up grade going to start this year and i heard there looking in the region of 2000 sparks , you will need to get your trade papers evaulated by the alberta goverment before you can work in the country. and then six your seal exam with in six mounts and pass it , or you will loose your visa, take note that all us / canadain oil companys drug and alcohal test you before you start work and then you can be randomly test on site ,

cadete · 13-03-2009 12:06PM

Hi i know this is 6 weeks old but im 27 and have been offshore since september it will cost you between 3 and 5 grand sterling for the courses but you should have a start fairly quickly with them, money is about 250 to 300 per day sterling before tax so that actually works out 165/200 after tax. your first job is the hardest but after that your flyin i usually have at least 1 job offer every week. you will be ad-hoc for maybe 2/3 years cause core positions are hard to come by but work is work, if you need more info eg names courses etc pm me and i can fill you in, work will be picking up now for the shutdowns aswell so you should have no hassle

steifanc · 15-03-2009 08:45PM

fair play , where you workin ?

cadete · 15-03-2009 09:05PM

ive been in the brae field now since october, was on bravo till january and im on alpha now for a while, finished on bravo as the buget for the year was used up (new 1 in april) and im doing sick cover on alpha now for maybe 6 months on a 2/3 but who knows how long ill be there, thats just the nature of the game. I personally have seen no cutbacks because of the ressession as most of the work has to be done to apply with insurance and HSE rules, so as long as the platform is operational work will remain more or less the same. with the current value of sterling though if i could work at home i would probably make close to the same money but without the time off,

steifanc · 16-03-2009 09:45AM

ive found it slowing , alto i havnt been off shore in many years ,iv been on the land rigs , that has slowed a bit , dosnt seem to be much about at the minute , the last place i was in was mongstad statoilhydros plant in norway ,
was ok and lots to do then there was a stop put on everything

cadete · 16-03-2009 11:19AM

Yeah? i was there in 2007 cant say i liked it much to be honest we were on the VOC project, hours were bad rotation was 10/11, which worked out 12/9 when we travelled, and money was just ok, i hear that job is kickin off again in the next few weeks.

steifanc · 18-03-2009 09:50AM

its surpose to of started in jan , i dont know whats happening , i think the contractor changed to ata im not sure tho , there looking to do a 4/2
thats no fun !! its a shocken expenctive place too

cadete · 18-03-2009 01:23PM

4/2 is long trip but ya know yourself more money, it is expensive but i think ya just have to spend nothin if ya can, I didnt like the mentality of mongstad at all and the weather does tend to be rainy, 2 or 3 trips there would be enough for me, but when i was there there was good net access and the food was ok, which helps alot. I heard ata were looking for guys but ive not worked for them before so dunno what they like but i know a guy who used to be with ESS/Natural resources is there recruiting for this job so it could be dodgy with money/tax

steifanc · 18-03-2009 02:25PM

not sure about ess now, any of the lads i talked to working for them were getting shafted on tax and there rate, messing with flights and the like , there was a lot of rain coming into the winter ,i might see about getting my tickets in order and go on the shutdowns off shore , not sure what to be at any more !

cadete · 18-03-2009 02:32PM

Tax is the big problem, i was offshore last year with aibel on sleipner and although i was gettin nailed for tax at least i knew it was all correct and gettin paid! saw this ad today http://www.orangegroup.no/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=58&Itemid=72 have a look or give them a call dunno how long the ad is on but worth a shout for sure and looks like they are doing reasonable rotations. i would prefer to work for a scandanavian outfit rather that a maybe dodgy uk/irish company ya know yourself like

Work on an Oil Rig

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