Why are There Few Countries Operating Drilling Rigs to Find Oil Deposits?
The world needs to have oil for the industrial and residential uses of the many customers. For most of the countries that use this oil the oil is transported to them. The question that few of us think of asking is why are there only a few countries that are operating drilling rigs to find deposits of oil. The answer to this question has to do with the amount of money that can be spent for the construction of these rigs.
As the rigs need to be used in places where oil has been discovered they need to be for the most part absolutely self sufficient. The materials that are used to make these drilling rigs need to be strong so that they will be able to contain all of the equipment which is required to drill for oil.
There will be different types of equipment which is used for the land based drilling rigs and those of the offshore oil rigs. As the offshore oil rigs are located at sea they are very far from the nearest shore. The crew will need various ways to arrive and leave the oil rigs when they have shore leave.
For this reason you will find a helipad placed on the platform of the offshore drilling rigs. There will be a different method of arriving on the rig when the people arrive by the seaward side. In some rigs there will a large basket – called an air tugger – which carries the people up to the rig.
The platform itself needs to be large so that it can house the drilling pipes and drill heads. Additionally the operating room for the drilling rigs will also be housed on the platform itself. These operating rooms are fully computerized. Therefore the entire offshore rigs and even the land based rigs will need to have a continuous supply of electricity. An electrical generator which can be found on the premises takes care of this need.
The crew that work at these places need to have the ability of working from their homes for a long period of time. They will earn their salary by working hard. The initial salary may not sound like much but as they gain more experience they will be able to earn quite a lot of money.
To make working on drilling rigs more comfortable for the drill crew during their shifts, the owners of the drilling rigs will provide their crews with the best of comforts. In many of the rigs the living quarters for the crew is found at a distance of the rig itself. The level of comfort you will find in these oil rigs is comparable to that of hotels.
The food in these drilling rigs – both the land rigs and the offshore oil rigs – is very excellent in quality and quantity. These creature comforts and the substantial salary helps the drilling crew to be able to bear the hard conditions on the drilling rigs.
By : Muna wa Wanjiru
Offshore Oil Rig Jobs
Working offshore is not for everyone. The job requires you to travel and be away from home and your family. It is a hard and dangerous task that has to be accomplished in harsh weather conditions. On the other hand, growth opportunities are tremendous.
Starting salary for a person with no previous experience is anything between $40,000 to $60,000 annually and that too for working only for six months in a year.
Once the workers have excelled at the lower positions, they are usually promoted to higher positions depending on their performance. On the job training is also provided like job shadowing, mentoring and coaching.
Types of Jobs
There are many types of jobs available while working offshore in an oilrig. For instance, people are recruited in the control room, at the deck, for drilling, rig management, mechanical and electrical department, catering. Others are hired as rig welders, scaffolders, radio operators, medic, rig safety and training coordinator, mud engineer, painters.
Control room personnel include barge engineers who are in charge of the control room; control room operators and assistant CROs control the stability of the rigs and make liquid transfers.
On the deck, people are recruited as maintenance roustabout and foreman who looks after the deck area. Crane operators whose main duties includes crane operations.
Drill crew includes positions such as roughnecks, pumpman, dereckman and drillers.
Roughnecks and pumpman takes mud weights and looks after the machinery required by the particular operation.
The Dereckman’s main duty is the maintenance of the machinery in the mud pump room.
Drillers occupy one of the most important positions on the rig. He is responsible for the drilling in the seabed.
Tool pushers and offshore installation manager make up the rig management.
Tool pushers work in the rig offices and rig floors. Offshore installation managers are responsible for the entire rig.
Mechanical department hires motorman, mechanics and maintenance supervisors who are responsible for all mechanical operations.
Electrical department includes positions like electrician, electronic technician and maintenance supervisors who look after the repair of all electrical equipment.
Catering team is made up of the stewardess, cook and the camp boss who are in charge of the catering, laundry and cleaning.
Before you decide to start a career in this industry, one needs to keep in mind certain criteria like health, age, experience, education and interests. The job requires you to be in good physical condition, and you need to pass certain medical examinations. Although the average age is 27 for offshore jobs, you can apply for coast guard or drilling contractor positions if you are less than 18. Experience in a particular field will help you to gain a better position and wage, but by and large, no previous experience or skill is required to be hired.
Many entry-level positions are available. No formal education is required at the lower positions. Higher education is required only at the higher levels. Oil industry is continuing to grow rapidly and hence a career in this industry is very prosperous and bright. It gives you an opportunity to work anywhere in the world in a work environment which has very high standards of safety. Besides, enjoying very high salaries, the other benefit that workers enjoy is working only for 14 days in a month. Major oil companies also provide medical and life insurance. It is a very rewarding and exciting career.
By : Tony Jacowski
Considerations for Offshore Oil Rig Employment
Offshore oil rigs operate around the clock, and provide interesting, unconventional careers and lifestyles for many working in the industry. Offshore oil drilling operations provide rewarding employment opportunities for people with diverse backgrounds, from dishwashers to entry level roustabouts to experienced managers. Previous oil industry experience is not always a prerequisite for employment on an oil rig, though being in adequate physical shape to perform the labor is necessary. A physical exam must usually be passed prior to employment on an offshore platform.
For many offshore laborers, above average earnings and advancement opportunities make their positions attractive and fulfilling. People working on offshore platforms come from a wide range of employment backgrounds, and many find that they are able to earn higher wages working on offshore oil rigs than they could earn through other jobs onshore. The availability of continued training and advancement opportunities vary among different employers.
Employee benefits such as medical insurance, dental coverage and 401K programs also vary greatly among different companies. While some offshore employers do not provide such benefits, others will offer a comprehensive benefits package in addition to wages. In considering acceptance of an employment offer for an offshore position, ensure that you receive complete information about the benefits included in the offer and that the benefits are suited for your needs.
Though scheduling may vary among companies, it is common for offshore workers to spend about two weeks working shifts on an offshore platform, followed by about two weeks onshore to spend at their leisure. When considering employment offshore, one should assess his or her own ability to adjust to the schedule changes that will be required. In addition to spending extended periods of time away from home, workers may also switch between night and day shifts while offshore. Many find the benefits of offshore labor to outweigh the demands, since extended working periods are followed by extended periods of time off to spend at their leisure.
The living conditions on most offshore platforms have significantly improved over the years and continue to improve with time. Catering crews on most platforms provide a range of food and snacks for workers’ meals. Offshore platforms have also made advances in the availability of activities for workers to do during their off shift times. Leisure amenities vary among rigs, but the availability of satellite television and movies is not uncommon today. Fitness centers, recreational games and computers with games and internet access may also be provided for employees in their off time.
Though offshore drilling is suitable and rewarding employment for many people, the lifestyle it requires is not for everyone. Good candidates for offshore employment are capable of being away from home for possibly weeks at a time, working long hours and persisting through wide ranging weather conditions. For fitting individuals, offshore oil careers provide lucrative, rewarding careers and lifestyles.
By : Bob Jent