Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie

Now ye're talking - to an off-shore oil rig worker

1235»

Comments

  • Registered Users Posts: 8,247 ✭✭✭Gloomtastic!


    Have you ever been in a situation where you thought you were a goner?

    Do you have colleagues who have survived several ‘**** me’ moments?

    Are there superstitions aboard the rig?


  • Registered Users Posts: 378 ✭✭nlrkjos


    thunderdog wrote: »
    Would you get many geologists on site? In a previous life I worked as a geologist (now in a different field), most of the geologists work is done prior to drilling, but interested to know if you’ve come across any geologists on site

    No, them boys is gone years before us muck savages turn up, I believe most of them work on seismic boats.


  • Registered Users Posts: 378 ✭✭nlrkjos


    circadian wrote: »
    Is car insurance still mental for rig workers?

    Never drove a car in my life, dangerous fecken yokes !!!!! my motorbike insurance is OK, just the same as me brother and he works as a gardener ! so I would presume car would be similar.


  • Registered Users Posts: 50 ✭✭grounderfill


    Have you ever watched the movie Deep Water Horizon? Do you believe that risks, such as the lack of pressure tests on the well of the deepwater horizon not carried out properly, or the lack of for that matter, is something that you believe still occurs, thereby putting you and those on the ground at risk of death just for the sake of profit?
    Have you ever come across where short cuts have been made for the sake of money (on the rig obviouly - plenty off the rig inland)?
    Is there a culture of not squealing if someone sees staff making safety breaches?


  • Registered Users Posts: 378 ✭✭nlrkjos


    Can you give me a bit of actual workers thoughts on the EC225 helicopter?
    I know the north sea unions wont allow their workers to be transferred on them, but are the workers as adamant?



    Elaborate a wee bit. We hate these yokes not just because of safety issues. the seating arrangement is cramped, some guys are facing the "wrong way" which can be disorientating, they rattle like fck, and the actual hover before landing can shake your fillings loose ! in general they are just not comfortable to ride in. I was "shuttling" for a full rotation every day from one rig to another in the 225, and never once felt safe or comfortable.The S92 for whatever reason just feels good, especially when its an hour out and in. Hope this answer your Q?


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users Posts: 378 ✭✭nlrkjos


    Have you ever been in a situation where you thought you were a goner?

    Do you have colleagues who have survived several ‘**** me’ moments?

    Are there superstitions aboard the rig?

    Yes, once, on a floatel in 2012, we were blown 48 miles from where we should have been, I think it was the worst storm in North Sea for years, we were in survival suits and ready for lifeboats for 18 hours !!!! I have a video of it somewhere taken from another platform...must try and root that out.


  • Registered Users Posts: 378 ✭✭nlrkjos


    Have you ever watched the movie Deep Water Horizon? Do you believe that risks, such as the lack of pressure tests on the well of the deepwater horizon not carried out properly, or the lack of for that matter, is something that you believe still occurs, thereby putting you and those on the ground at risk of death just for the sake of profit?
    Have you ever come across where short cuts have been made for the sake of money (on the rig obviouly - plenty off the rig inland)?
    Is there a culture of not squealing if someone sees staff making safety breaches?

    America is a whole different world when it comes to oil/gas, typical U.S, the mighty dollar! No offence to any US citizens on here, but they are full of sh1t.

    No, safety breaches, even minor are reported, and it's never even thought of as "squealing", some people even report their own breaches, if it can be a lesson learned.. accidents hurt, safety don't!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 508 ✭✭✭ Janessa Flaky Wardroom


    What are the chances of you dying and is the money worth it? If there is a real risk of injury/death, would you do it forever? It seems like a job I'd do for a few years, save like hell, then stop taking the risks when I am older


  • Registered Users Posts: 19,587 ✭✭✭✭Muahahaha


    Roughly how far down is the sea bed? I find it kind of unbelievable something like oil rigs exist and function in the middle of the ocean. It's incredible.

    I'm feel the same, oil rigs and the construction of them out in rough seas that are constantly changing is an amazing engineering feat, its absolutely fascinating.


  • Registered Users Posts: 9,167 ✭✭✭Fr_Dougal


    Have you ever lived in a van?


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users Posts: 2,979 ✭✭✭Stovepipe


    The gas "flare" is also burning off toxic gases that come up with the oil or gas and cannot be shipped inland for domestic uses. The flare stack, apart from being on a long boom, is also fenced off at deck level, monitored by CCTV and has several water cannons pointed at it. That area of the deck is also off limits to routine access, it's by permit or special permission only. In the case of all other work, on any deck, no-one goes anywhere or starts any kind of job unless they have a permit issued by their office (welding or electrical work especially) and notified to the deck operator (a person who is the manager of each deck). All the different trades must know who's doing what, so that, for example, if you need a motor or a pump shut off for maintenance, the electricians must know which control box or control panel has to be shut down and padlocked off and it is then not reactivated until all parties are made aware and agree to it. Also, in the case of very large rigs, each person entering a deck had to log in with the operator and then log out as you went off the deck. As an aside, one rig that I was on, all of the deck operators were Pakistani and most of the mechs were Indian, so they wouldnt talk to each other. Several times, I had to intervene to get things done as they were at a standstill, verbally refighting the 1971 war. Ultimately, management shifted people aroudn to get around this but Paks and Indians always stayed apart. as for living together in close proximity, it was an unwritten rule that people made a special effort to get on, because you knew that you could end up in an emergency situation where your life depended on strangers. If there were fights, the parties involved were usually immediately lifted off, at their companies' expense.


  • Registered Users Posts: 5,363 ✭✭✭CalamariFritti


    Interesting AMA thanks a lot. One thing that sounded a bit weird. No mobile phones because of sparks / fire hazard but you're allowed to smoke?

    Edit: LOL never mind, about ten people asked the question since :)


  • Registered Users Posts: 378 ✭✭nlrkjos


    Stovepipe wrote: »
    The gas "flare" is also burning off toxic gases that come up with the oil or gas and cannot be shipped inland for domestic uses. The flare stack, apart from being on a long boom, is also fenced off at deck level, monitored by CCTV and has several water cannons pointed at it. That area of the deck is also off limits to routine access, it's by permit or special permission only. In the case of all other work, on any deck, no-one goes anywhere or starts any kind of job unless they have a permit issued by their office (welding or electrical work especially) and notified to the deck operator (a person who is the manager of each deck). All the different trades must know who's doing what, so that, for example, if you need a motor or a pump shut off for maintenance, the electricians must know which control box or control panel has to be shut down and padlocked off and it is then not reactivated until all parties are made aware and agree to it. Also, in the case of very large rigs, each person entering a deck had to log in with the operator and then log out as you went off the deck. As an aside, one rig that I was on, all of the deck operators were Pakistani and most of the mechs were Indian, so they wouldnt talk to each other. Several times, I had to intervene to get things done as they were at a standstill, verbally refighting the 1971 war. Ultimately, management shifted people aroudn to get around this but Paks and Indians always stayed apart. as for living together in close proximity, it was an unwritten rule that people made a special effort to get on, because you knew that you could end up in an emergency situation where your life depended on strangers. If there were fights, the parties involved were usually immediately lifted off, at their companies' expense.

    That's a good one with the Indians/Pakistanis, I never had to deal with that crap, bad enough between Swedes and Danes!!!! PTW system we also use but as its construction it would never be as tightly controlled as a production platform. On the flare gas, I see now where some scientists are discovering new forms of life in crude and gas deposits. We could have a "jurassic park" in real life if these buckos have their way !!

    On the dying question...if you were stacking shelves in a supermarket, you could be killed by a falling can of beans, all jobs have their own risks and they are all relative to what you do, and what you are trained to do.


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,979 ✭✭✭Stovepipe


    Never had a problem with Scandies but did encounter a few Union Jack wavers who disliked "Paddies". Had no grief with Norn Iron people and they were easier to get on with than the Little Englanders. Our worst ganger was a Swiss guy who appeared to hate everyone who wasn't Swiss and especially hated Germans, of which we had a few on one site, until one of the Germans grabbed him by the scruff and threatened to throw him off the top of the platform, if he didnt calm down. Things got quieter after that. I always reckoned that a year out on rigs and sites was equivalent to about 2 years worth of work at home.


  • Registered Users Posts: 378 ✭✭nlrkjos


    Stovepipe wrote: »
    Never had a problem with Scandies but did encounter a few Union Jack wavers who disliked "Paddies". Had no grief with Norn Iron people and they were easier to get on with than the Little Englanders. Our worst ganger was a Swiss guy who appeared to hate everyone who wasn't Swiss and especially hated Germans, of which we had a few on one site, until one of the Germans grabbed him by the scruff and threatened to throw him off the top of the platform, if he didnt calm down. Things got quieter after that. I always reckoned that a year out on rigs and sites was equivalent to about 2 years worth of work at home.

    Yeah, met a few of them "squaddies" over the years, hunt in packs, quiet boys on their own...or when you tell them you know where they live !!! It takes it's toll offshore alright, folk at home think you have a great life with four weeks free....they don't see the two weeks on board


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,239 ✭✭✭Lurching


    nlrkjos wrote: »
    Can you give me a bit of actual workers thoughts on the EC225 helicopter?
    I know the north sea unions wont allow their workers to be transferred on them, but are the workers as adamant?



    Elaborate a wee bit. We hate these yokes not just because of safety issues. the seating arrangement is cramped, some guys are facing the "wrong way" which can be disorientating, they rattle like fck, and the actual hover before landing can shake your fillings loose ! in general they are just not comfortable to ride in. I was "shuttling" for a full rotation every day from one rig to another in the 225, and never once felt safe or comfortable.The S92 for whatever reason just feels good, especially when its an hour out and in. Hope this answer your Q?

    Yep, thanks for elaborating. I work in the industry and was curious to hear it from the actual people who were expected to fly in them.


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,953 ✭✭✭bilbot79


    Are hookers brought to the rig on boats that have casinos on them?


  • Registered Users Posts: 378 ✭✭nlrkjos


    Starting to get silly now. Probably best to close this AMA, those on weekend release from a home for the bewildered are arriving.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,012 ✭✭✭stop animal cruelty


    Thanks for your time, very interesting.


  • Boards.ie Employee Posts: 12,597 ✭✭✭✭✭Boards.ie: Niamh
    Boards.ie Community Manager


    Thanks so much nlrkjos for taking so much time to answer loads of questions. What's normal life to you is extraordinary and fascinating to others!

    If anyone else has a interesting job they'd like to do an AMA about, PM me! Thanks all :)


  • Advertisement
This discussion has been closed.
Advertisement