Instrumentation Technician, Oil Rigs

OConnoj8

Hi,

Has anybody experience of working in instrumentation off shore.
There seem to be a few threads about electrical work off shore but none relating to instrumentation (correct me if I am wrong).
I have worked in pharmaceutical and biomedical device companies mainly for the last 4/5 years.

I know you have to have mist and compex training done.

What type of work is involved ? What about pay and conditions ?

Thanks for any info

westernventure

it's very hard now to get offshore unless you have previously worked offshore, all the company's and agency's will want you to have at least 2 years offshore experience before they will even consider you.

Bosiet and mist are the certs you need but are very expensive and with the company's not taking on any new starters it could be a waste of money.

OConnoj8

I have heard of a few opportunities in Aberdeen and the oil career site has a couple of shutdown positions available. Without the courses done I am not in a position to go at the moment but there does seem to be work there and everybody needs to get a start some where.

323

With your technical background should have no problem getting started at the moment. Easiest time I have seen to get started in over 15 years.
Would not limit search to rigs, should consider looking at the construction vessel, cable, ROV and Survey companies also, pretty much all are or will be hireing. Conditions and pay usually better also.

If taking a staff position company will sort out survival & medical for you.
If going agency and therefore paying yourself you need your survival (BOSIET) and OGUK medical, costly, yes, but really only a few days pay.
Would not bother with MIST, checked around but have never heard of anyone asked for it, may be a requirement for the rig pig's but don't think so.

OConnoj8

Thanks for the reply and the positive news. I will look into these types of companies.
Are there any agencies that people would recommend contacting for work in this line of business?

RandomUsername

OConnoj8 wrote: »

Hi,

Has anybody experience of working in instrumentation off shore.
There seem to be a few threads about electrical work off shore but none relating to instrumentation (correct me if I am wrong).
I have worked in pharmaceutical and biomedical device companies mainly for the last 4/5 years.

I know you have to have mist and compex training done.

What type of work is involved ? What about pay and conditions ?

Thanks for any info

I'm in the same boat as yourself , E&I tech with experience on power stations , pharmaceutical both in Ireland & UK etc but without offshore experience or the courses .
I don't think it's possible/easy to go straight onto offshore work I think you need oil & gas experience onshore first , I'm regularly applying but rarely get replies .
Try Kentz :http://www.kentz.com/careers/opportunities/
They have a job starting in Madagascar soon & are also looking for techs for Australia in January . I have a friend who went to Oz with them a year ago & is getting onto the Madagascar job now . It seems you just need to get in with them once & you won't have any problem getting work of them again .

Also try Kentech , Randridge , Wood group

P.S. your name isn't Rory is it ?

@ 323 :
You don't have any link to any employers sites . I've tried google but keep getting jobs for building ships etc.


I will be interested to see how this thread develops.

323

Was abroad for almost 5 weeks, just had not looked at this webpage. so sorry for the delay replying kevinfox

However, not sure if it is permitted to list companies on these boards.

For a start though, have a look at these pages

www.oilandgasjobsearch.com/

www.oilcareers.com

Personally removed my CV from each as getting too many phone calls/emails, to the point of being a pain in the ass. 16 years, I've never experienced this before.
There is a lot of work at the moment and demand for personnel seems to he at a high that has not been seen for many years and probably will stay as demographics of the industry means much more than 30% will be retiring in the next few years. Many employers are not being as choosy as they may have been even 6 months ago.