Well-paid Jobs on Offshore Gas & Oil Rigs: Useful Tips

People looking for well-paid jobs can find tempting career positions on Gas & Oil rigs offshore. Despite offshore oil and gas rig platforms are not in their heyday due to decreasing oil prices, many companies are in process of doubling their workforce in the coming few years. Since it's not that easy to find skilled oil rig workers, they are always searching for the right gas and oil rig candidates with relevant experience.

How can I find the best position on gas & oil rigs for me?


You'd better consider what your intentions for the future are before applying for a job on offshore oil and gas rigs. Working on offshore platforms is not an easy profession and you should consider whether hands-on practical work offshore in a rational position is the best choice for you.
  • Before you apply for a job on oil & gas rigs, write down all your strengths, skills and interests on a piece of paper - once you choose the position you are mostly interested in, send one application for the right position instead of sending many applications for the wrong positions.

Have this in mind: Experience matters!


Offshore Gas & Oil rig companies have ever valued people with all type of trade and mechanical engineering qualifications and this would probably continue be the case. But, positions on gas and oil rigs are often quickly filled by people who already have experience on similar positions on rig platforms. If this is going to be your first time on an offshore rig platform and you don't have any previous experience on a rig, then you can demonstrate your commitment and willingness to offshore work by applying for a roustabout position, which is the entry-level offshore oil rig job.

One other thing you should consider is being aware of the daily life on offshore rigs, so that you can be in a better position to be a driller.

But, how do I get offshore experience when no one will hire me without any experience on gas & oil rigs?


HR companies are frequently asked this question because entry-level positions on gas & oil rigs are very competitive.

You've got a trade background and no experience on offshore rigs - then you'd better apply for a service company first and as soon as you gain some experience you will be more likely to be hired for a rational gas or oil rig position.

What is a service company?


Offshore gas & oil rigs have different types of technical equipment, which regularly needs repair and maintenance. Some of the maintenance and repairing operations are carried out by rig workers, but if they are unable to fix the problem, then the offshore service provider will.

Working with service companies within your trade, you are quickly going to gain very relevant offshore experience flying out to drilling rigs all over the world, repairing their technical equipment.

Leverage your education and experience on offshore drilling rigs?


If you've completed a degree in engineering, or if you've got leadership experience, then you might be a good fir for an acceleration program. Successful completion of such a program will secure you a challenging on or offshore drilling rig position.

Before you apply for an offshore gas & oil drilling rig, make sure you choose the most appropriate program in accordance with your experience and interests.

Any other tips when applying for an offshore oil rig job?

  • Make sure that you apply for the right position for you - it's not very recommended to apply for every available gas & oil rig job, especially if the positions are offered by one company.
  • Pay some attention to make a good CV and clearly state your contact details, certifications and any other experience, which might be relevant. List your past positions, with names of the companies you've worked for, dates, and detailed description of what you did.
  • If you are invited to an interview for a drilling job, come prepared!
    • Do a research into the position you are applying for and the company, as well. Make sure you understand the company, the desired path of your career, and how this offshore gas & oil rig job will fit you.
    • Make a search on the web about standard questions on job interviews, such as why you want to work for the company, and what your strengths and weaknesses are. Make a list of questions you would be interested to ask for and remember them.
    • You should also be able to describe yourself, because you are very likely to be asked - an offshore gas & oil rig job interview is about getting to know each other!


More relevant articles:
How to Become an Offshore Oil Rig Worker – 5 Tips to Get Hired Fast
No Experience : Is an Offshore Oil Rig Job Right For You?
How to work on offshore oil rigs? 

Study: Setback for oil and gas rigs could cost CO 62,000 jobs

A statewide, 2,000-foot buffer zone between oil/gas drilling rigs and homes, schools and businesses would take a hammer to the gas and oil industry of Colorado, which is reeling from low commodity prices, as well as the state's wider economy, was stated in a new study conducted by the University of Colorado Boulder’s Leeds School of Business (UCBLSB).

Similar setback requirement "may lead to a quite slower economic growth" for the economy of Colorado, as well as state revenue, according to the release on Wednesday study.

The study said its forecast on the effects of a 2,000-foot setback included:
  •     Production of oil and gas statewide could drop between 25% and 50%;
  •     A $6 billion to $11 billion drop in Colorado’s gross domestic product;
  •     A loss of 33,000 and 62,000 jobs between 2015 and 2030;
  •     Loss of $214 million to $428 million in per year in tax revenues from oil and gas companies.
Read more at the Denver Business Journal: http://bit.ly/1QEigug

Number of Oil Drilling Rigs Plummets with Oil Price in Saskatchewan

With recent oil prices, which fell below the historic threshold of 30 USD barrel, plunging to 13-year lows, oil well drilling process in Saskatchewan has declined, with 43 active oil drilling rigs in the province at the start of the week, down about 27% from the 59 active oil drilling rig platforms at the same time a year ago, reported the Canadian Association of Oilwell Drilling Contractors (COADC).

Indeed, there is an improvement of the number of active oil drilling rigs from earlier this month, when there were 25 active oil well drilling rigs the week of January 4th, which raised to 34 oil rigs the following week. This number might be compared with the 43 active oil rigs the week of January 5th, 2015, followed by 68 the week of January 12th, 2015. This is equal to 42% and 50% decline in the number of active oil well drilling rigs during the comparable periods over the last year.

“When you look at the (2016) numbers, you’re technically growing,” said Kate Jackson, communications specialist with CAODC in Calgary. “There’s more active rigs (this week) than weeks past.  But if you compare it to the same week in 2015,” the number of active rigs is down significantly from last year, she said.

“It looks like Saskatchewan (active) rig count is dropping about 20 rigs every year,” Jackson added.

There were 122 oil drilling rigs in total, including inactive or "down" rigs in Saskatchewan this week, for a rig utilization rate of 35%, according to the report of CAODC. The average level of total weekly drilling rigs count for 2016 is 120 units or almost 17% less, compared to the same period in 2015 when the average was 140. What this decline means is that 20 oil drilling rig platforms have left the province, whether they're de-listed, parked and not coming back to drill in 2016 or moved to Alberta for work or parked in field locations here, commented Kate Jackson.

However, the rate of utilization of Saskatchewan, which is 35% is pretty much better than 29%, the industry average, including the Alberta's utilization rate of 25%. Of 523 oil drilling rig platforms in total, Alberta had 133 active rigs this week and 390 down rigs. 

B.C. had 49 not active and 32 active oil drilling rigs out of 81 rigs or a utilization rate of 40%, while Manitoba had only 6 active drilling rigs this week, 12 down, for a total of 18 or a utilization rate of 33%.

What Kate Jackson also added is that CAODC defines an active oil rig as "spud to rig release," which means "the drill bit is in the ground."

Unfortunately, the decline in the activity of oil drilling rigs influenced over the oil rig jobs in the oilpatch accordingly. Each oil rig platform employs approx 135 direct and indirect jobs, including 20 direct oil rig jobs and 115 indirectly. “So 20 rigs times 135 jobs does make a difference,” said Jackson.

The job of the Petroleum Engineer

Petroleum engineer is a profession that is pretty similar to the field managers in the offshore oil industry, with the little difference that petroleum engineers get to travel quite a lot.

Petroleum engineers are viable for visiting potential drill sites before wells are dug to examine and determine not only the amount of fossil fuel, which might rest in a deposit, but also the depth, recoverability and quality of that supply.

The job responsibility of the petroleum engineer is to observe the process of drilling on the oil rig platform once it's been decided that the crude deposit is recoverable. Furthermore, the petroleum engineer is responsible for supervising of the construction and the operations at the site. One of the most important responsibilities of the petroleum engineer, however, is to monitor the safety at the workplace. They are also accountable for the most efficient and safest possible means for extracting of oil or gas at sea. As soon as the gas and oil extraction process is completed, the petroleum engineer should break down the site by disassembling the drills. 

Petroleum engineer Job Background

It's a common opinion of gas and oil rig employees that work for petroleum engineers is kind a difficult and stressful work, full of unpredicted factors. Petroleum engineers tipically work directly from the field, despite the fact that some deskwork is required for recommendations and report analysis. More and more of the "easy" oil fields are being depleted in the recent years, which makes the job position very challenging. This forces the gas and oil rig industry, and petroleum engineers, to look for those oil fields that are less accessible, which increases the challenges that petroleum engineers must face. For this reason, the more experienced the petroleum engineers is, the more the candidate is going to be able to adapt to the unpredictable changes within the oil and gas industry.

Education and Skills of petroleum engineers

Being a petroleum engineer is a tough job that requires rigorous education and personal skills. Each engineer is obligated to have at least bachelor degree in a field, which is related to earth science. However, the bachelor's degree may be insufficient in some places, as more and more engineers are pursuing their graduate degrees to better fit their employers' requirements. Potential candidates may have an advantage if they are good at mathematics and physical sciences. It's also possible to get a degree specifically in petroleum engineering, but only a few universities offer this program (Illinois Institute of Technology, Colorado School, Texas Tech University to name a few). The analytical reasoning, which comes from these disciplines is going to help petroleum engineer, not to mention that the position does require extensive chemistry and math knowledge.

Do you really got What it takes to work on Gas and Oil platform?

Have you ever thought what could be the most remarkable qualities offered by careers in the industry of gas and oil rig platforms? The right answer is - variety!

That's true because there is always something for every one of you, whether you are at the very beginning of your career or starting one anew. On the oil rig and gas platforms, there are available positions indoors and outdoors, positions for creative work and physical work, there is even big-picture work and detailed work. There are so many gas and drilling rig platforms located worldwide, but there is still a dearth of qualified staff to meet the needs of the oil and gas drilling rigs industry.

But besides variety, there is also and opportunity. All products produced in the gas and oil industry take prime role in the daily life of every person, which assures the guarantees the strong and steady growth in the gas and oil drilling rigs industry.

Researches show that people make the gas and oil industry growth, possible.

Gas and Oil rig jobs: The big picture


The power-engineer role, who is responsible for the efficient and safe operations on the gas and oil rigs, responsible also for the industrial equipment of in-situ and upgrading operations, will be the the most in-demand oil rig job over the coming decade, reveals the Petroleum Human Resources Concil report.

Other oil rig vacancies considered to be very popular are tending to be the oil rig jobs of heavy-duty equipment mechanics and heavy equipment operators that repair and maintain engines and engine support systems.

If the applied, hands-on and tangible work is of interest to you, then these oil rig jobs are a very good purpose to consider, as these oil rig vacancies are going to provide you a great opportunity to take a key support role in keeping the entire gas and oil rig industry up to speed.

However, it's important to know that the gas and oil rig jobs do not mean that you will be responsible for only "one kind of work."

Gas and Oil rig vacancies: More than one kind of job


... stay tuned for the second part of the article tomorrow!

Who to Follow nn Twitter while looking for Gas and Oil rig jobs

Twitter is a very good content provider for market trends when it comes to gas and oil rig jobs. Twitter is an ideal tool for new gras and students who are looking hight paying oil rig jobs without experience.

However, it's not that easy to decide where to get started with Twitter, due to the tonnes of account to follow. There are some of the most useful accounts to follow on Twitter when you look for gas and oil rig jobs.

Those Twitter accounts may help you stay informaed and navigate the oil rig job search.


Petroleum Human Resources Council

The Petroleum HR Council is a very good source to follow for gas and oil rig jobs trends, market labour information and anything which can be related to industry sectors. Their account on Twitter compiles the labour market industry LMI reports, emerging oil rig jobs vacancies, new statistics etc.

Labour Market Outlook to 2022 for Canada's Oil and Gas Industry ==> Download Here

Careers in Oil and Gas

You have already followed the Labor Market Industry and you are familiar with the market trends, but where do you find gas and oil rig jobs, resources and more? Petroleum Industry Human Resources Council created the Careers in Oil and Gas group for a more in-depth look at oil and gas careers and even training education.


Oil Sands Today

The Canadian Association of Petroleum Producres (CAPP) created the twitter account Oil Sands Today and it's a handy hub for high paying gas and oil rig jobs information, for oil sands information, research and networking.


Suncor Energy 

This is the group of one of the leading integrated energy companies in Canada, Suncor Energy. They post facts for the gas and offshore oil drilling industry, market trends, gas and oil rig jobs, career tips, oil rig jobs news, employee profiles, pictures and more. 


Imperial Oil

Imperial Oil is one of the largest petroleum rafiner in Canada and one of the largest oil and natural gas producers in the world. You can explore their gas and oil rig jobs, other opportunities, updates.


Lambton College

Lambton College is preparing students for the gas and oil rig jobs. The college which is situated in Sarnia, Ontario is offering the students a lot of training programs, including Chemical Production, Energy Engineering, Process Engineering, Instrumentation and Control Engineering, Construction, Carpentry and Welding.


The Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA) 

The Association of Professional engineers and Geoscientists (APEGA) is regulating geoscience and engineering in Alberta. Their twitter account provides valuable information for gas and oil rig engineers and geoscientists across the country. They also post helpful information for the market trends, oil rig jobs, news for the industry and updated regulations.


The Canadian Energy Pipeline Association (CEPA)

CEPA is representing the transmission pipeline gas and oil rig companies in Canada. In this twitter group you can find gas and oil rig jobs and many areas of interest.

High Paying Oil Rig Jobs - How to Get one?

If you are tending to be one of the newest on queue of high paying oil rig job workers, at the same time you don't have much of a proper education or previous oil rig job experience, the fastest way to find a high paying offshore oil rig job is to apply for a high paying oil rig job. In fact, it's not that easy to find high paying oil rig jobs as most of the people in the oil rig job industry think.

Offshore Oil Rig Jobs Guide - High Paying Oil Rig Jobs


If you are tending to be one of the newest on queue of high paying oil rig job workers, at the same time you don't have much of a proper education or previous oil rig job experience, the fastest way to find a high paying offshore oil rig job is to apply for a high paying oil rig job. In fact, it's not that easy to find high paying oil rig jobs as most of the people in the oil rig job industry think. There is a bigger chance for you to find a high paying oil job on a rig if you are a seafarer or a crew member for instance, with the little difference that your oil rig job payment would be higher and your working time would be less due to your experience. Doesn't it sound good?

But, how to get a high paying oil rig job? The answer is very simple - you just need to find drilling contractors and suggest your services. There are a lot of oil rig job contractors that will accept your CV but just a few will perform CV scans so you need to be persistent.

Classic low education, but high paying oil rig jobs are: Painter, Cleanerm Roustabout, Lease Hand, Floor hand, Motor hand, Roughneck etc.

Offshore oil rig engineers, oil rig mechanics, oil rig managers with experience are those that have the very great opportunity for high paying oil rig jobs on the offshore oil rig platform.

To find a high paying oil rig job you need to regularly check for offshore oil rig jobs on any website for oil rig job vacancies and especially on the oil rig contractors' one.

The oil rig jobs guide and oil rig jobs articles are regularly updated so you can come back whenever you need oil rig job advice.

Related articles:

Average starting salaries for recent graduated in the Canadian Oil Rig Job Industry

As regards energy which powers our cars and appliancies however, the main source of this energy is from gas and oil, thanks to the oil rig platforms. The oil rig jobs industry and the world energy market on the whole, is being forecasted to raise by 50% by 2030.

The number of oil rig job vacancies and entry level oil rig job seekrs grows with the growing petroleum sector - consequently, the oil rig job salaries are tending to increase.

Canadian gas and oil rig industry is one of the major employers in this sector. Currently, there are over 500,000 people engaged with the gas and oil rig jobs in a variety of fields and locations in Canada. Oil rig jobs salaries in the Canadian oil and gas sector vary widely according to the level of designations received, previouse experience, educational background and level of responsibility required by the position. 

With an average oil rig job salary of $130,120 a year in 2012 Canadian gas and oil rig workers are getting one of the highest salaries for this kind of a job in the world. This is 63% more than the average oil rig job salary of $81,345 a year.

There are one of the most in-demand roles in the gas and oil rig jobs industry and the dough type they may earn you based on recenet salaries estimates.

Intern Student/ Engineering Co-op: $49,911 a year
Engineer-in-Training: $68,048 a year
Project Engineer: $95,049 a year
Assistant Project Engineer: $81,068 a year

Geoscientist-in-Training: $68,936 a year
Intern Student/ Geoscience Co-op: $50,613 a year
Project Geoscientist: $100,094 a year
Assistant Project Geoscientist: $83,010 a year

Technologist-in-Training (T.T.)/ Technician: $65,397 a year
Certified Technician: $65,098 a year
Certified Engineering Technologist: $77,023 a year

Oil Rig Driller: $43.70 per hour
Assistant Driller: $39.00 per hour
Derrickhand: $37.00 per hour
Motorhand: $32.00 per hour
Floorhand: $30.00 per hour
Leasehand: $27.50 per hour

3 Unique Career Fields among Oil Rig Jobs And Gas Jobs you should consider

While there are many chances in traditional technically-oriented roles on oil rigs and gas platforms, there are also many chances for less common vacancies on offshore oil rigs and gas platforms.

We will present some of the offshore oil rig jobs and gas vacancies that you may have not heard of:

Air transportation specialist on gas and offshore oil rig platforms


Soar with the upstream offshore oil rig jobs industry! While travelling to onshore and offshore sites is essential to oil rig project operations as material, people, and cargo require a way to get to distant locations. 

Moreover, offshore oil rig and gas projects need a bird's eye view, occasionally. Due to this, gas and offshore oil rig companies need to hire pilots, engineers and oil rig mechanics, and more oil rig and gas workers to maintain the flying functions of their business. Here are mentioned some of the possible roles on the offshore oil and gas rigs:

  • Aircraft Engine/Hydraulics Mechanic
  • Aerial Survey Pilot on oil rig
  • Helicopter Mechanic
  • Aircraft Mechanical Maintenance Technician
  • Pipeline Air Patrol Pilot


Land negotiation and management specialist


You like dealing with people? If yes, think about working in land management and negotiation for a gas and offshore oil rig company. 

The role of land negotiation and management specialist would involve acquiring land permits, drafting land sale agreements, maintaining relationships with land owners etc. 

Specific positions include:

  • Land Use Technician or Land Agent 
  • Reclamation Coordinator of gas and oil companies
  • Lease Contract Negotiator
  • Right-of-Way Agent/Planner


Inspection and Quality control


Inspection and Quality control on the offshore oil rigs and pipeline projects is vital, where safety measures are of high importance. To cope with safety problems, gas companies, as well as offshore oil rig companies are required to hire offshore oil rig inspectors, quality control specialists and technicians to keep everything running seamlessly.

No matter which of the mentioned positions you pursue, your role on the gas or offshore oil rig platform will be of high importance - you will have to make sure that anything on the oil rig job platform complies with the environmental policies of the gas and oil rig company, safety protocols and related standards and procedures. Quality control and inspection roles may include:

  • ISO Inspector
  • Coatings Inspector
  • Chief Inspector on oil and gas platform
  • Non-Destructive Examination (NDE) Inspector/Technician
  • Quality Specialist or Quality Assurance/Quality Control Inspectors

Average Starting Salaries for Oil Rig Jobs and Gas Edition 2013

Oil rigs and gas industry in Canada is encountering a big salary increases due to increased demand for gas and oil for the last year, show latest researches. Indeed, the average annual oil rig jobs income and this in the gas field is $125,680, according to the report of Calgary Herald.

There are many oil rig jobs opportunities in the oil and gas industry such as oil rig engineers, skilled trades, mining, business operations and geoscience support.

Here are some of the starting salaries for some oil rig jobs and gas jobs in the industry!

Average Salaries for Business and Administrative support services in the Oil rigs and Gas industry


  • Accounting clerk on oil rigs: $34,000 – $41,000 
  • Accountant (junior): $40,000 – $55,000 
  • Administrative assistant: $34,000 – $42,000
  • Clerical support staff: $30,000 – $41,000 
  • Sales representative: $53,000 – $78,000 
  • Inside sales representative: $46,000 – $75,000

Average Salaries for Engineering and Technology services in Oil and Gas industry

  • CAD Drafter on oil rigs: $49,000 – $59,000
  • Applications programmer/Analyst: $62,000 – $87,000
  • Chemical engineer: $78,189  or $38/hr (avg.)
  • Project engineer: $67,799 or $33/hr
  • Electrical engineer on oil rigs: $66,144 or $32/hr
  • Mechanical engineer: $64,775 or $31/hr

Average Salaries for Field operations in Oil and Gas industry 


  • Field operator: $26,000 – $45,000
  • Field services technician: $39,000 – $55,000
  • Machine operator (junior): $17 – $25/hr
  • Drilling floorhand on oil rigs: $25/hr
  • Drilling leasehand: $23/hr
  • Shop help/General labourer: $18 – $23

Related articles:

How to Become an Offshore Oil Rig Worker – 5 Tips to Get Hired Fast

New starts usually have the toughest time to get hired, besides looking for an offshore oil rig job with no experience or a job in any other industry. And it's normal by one side!

Who wants to hire offshore oil rig workers without experience on oil rig platforms? Moreover, this is more complicated to get on the rig platforms in time of recession or just in tight economy, because it's really difficult to justify the needed time to train new hires (no matter offshore oil rig workers with no experience, cleaners, or whatever you think). You can not fake the oil rig experience, but you can at least express your intention to get learn of the specifity of offshore oil rig jobs. If you seem to be clueless you can not get hired on the job. You need to have a good attitude.

The very first step while looking for an offshore oil rig job you need to undertake is to find and talk to people who are already involved in the Oil and Gas industry to share their experience with you. It is even preferably to get in touch with someone who is currently working in the offshore oil rig industry. Hopefully, you could find a relative, college senior or old friend of your family that is already in the offshore oil industry. You just need to ask them as many questions as you can so you can extract their experience. Ask them questions like:
  • What is it like in their job?
  • How are their colleagues?
  • What is life like on the inside on oil rig platforms?
  • What is their company like?
Remember one thing: You Do Not need to be Shy! Only pushy people succeed while looking for offshore oil rig jobs.

Next step while looking for an offshore oil rig jobs no experience is to do some readings. You have to find some articles, magazines, books related to the offshore oil rig industry in the library. You need to find as much information as you can for the offshore oil rig jobs no experience. Find out what government regulations cause problems?; what is the competition in the oil rig industry?; find out further information which can helps you place things in context.

While spending half a year in research for offshore oil rig industry is not recommended, you need to spend at least several days skimming through the related articles, books and magazines in Internet about the oil rig jobs in the library. You need to try to immerse yourself in the kind of problems that matter to the offshore oil rig industry and take notes about it. You have to find out the biggest oil rig companies, understand what do they do and how do they fir together?

You also need to find as much information as you can related to the offshore oil rig industry. Try searching for the following keywords "oil industry," "oil rig" and "offshore job." Again, take notes on what you have found. Find out, who are the major players in the oil rig industry and who are the bit players? How do they work together? You also need to check out the oil rig forums because you can find very valuable information shared by people currently looking for oil rig jobs, as well as people currently engaged in the oil rig industry. Once you have the results you can come up with some questions and post them. There is surely, much to learn.

You should also look at the job postings on some websites and you must consider what are the required oil rig job skills and experience. While looking for an oil rig jobs, consider any information for recruitment agents involved for the oil industry area.

Next step, based on all information you gathered is to start writing your resume and cover letter. Follow the main points:
  • You need to have no more longer than 1 page cover letter. This is the 1st thing any recruiter staff sees when you apply for oil rig job.
  • Don't forget to put the post in the subject line for the oil rig job you are applying for.
    • Correct: “Re: Ref. No: XXX – Mechanic on Offshore Oil Rig”
    • Wrong: “LOOKING FOR AN OFFSHORE OIL RIG JOB”
  • You need to mention in your resume and cover letter what is in it for your future boss on the offshore oil rig platform, as well as why you need to be hired as an oil rig worker.
  • You can also pick up the other details on the offshore oil rig job at the jobs sites.
Search for any recruitment agent that does hiring for the offshore oil industry before you post your resume and cover letter. You aren't looking for a job as a waiter or a clerk. With a risk to sound sycophantic, find an oil rig job recruiter and buy him a lunch or dinner if necessary.

You don't need to worry about this, because the oil rig jobs are though and it's not that easy to get oil rig jobs with no experience. This step is very important because an experience oil rig recruiter is able to keep you away from making mistakes while applying for a job. 

Most of the off offshore oil rig companies keep old resumes, cover letters of job applicants for several years. If you resume has been once stamped "Rejected!" today, you will not have any other opportunity at that company for at least 1 or even 2 years.

If you follow these 5 tips you will have a new chance of being hired to work on an offshore oil rig platform or some other oil industry job.

Click here to find out:

WHEN to search for an Oil Rig Job...?

When it comes to searching for an oil rig job, especially oil jobs in UK drilling market, we notice some trends. The fact we noticed is that a lot less potential oil rig drillers are looking for oil rig jobs, drilling rig jobs in UK etc. in the period between late October and late January. 

Even though, being a worker in the oil rig jobs market has no time limitations, we have a feeling this happes for 2 reasons:

  1. People, looking for oil rig jobs in UK assume that oil rig companies will not employ oil rig workers in this time of the year.
  2. Oil rig drillers, Roughnecks, Roustabouts, Motorman, Helpers, Deckhands, Stewards etc., are widding down for the Christmas holidays and they probably start thinking: "I will find a job in the new year."

It's an opportunity for those people that need to give themselves an edge over other oil rig jobs seekers. We are going to use an example with the oil rig jobs in Australian market to express what opportunity we see but this theory may apply for oil rig jobs market in other countries only with distinct circumstances.

Right at the mentioned time interval between October and January when people stop looking for oil rig jobs, the Australian oil rig companies and even gas companies are hiring more oil rig workers. Extra drillers and staff are being employed during the Summer to manage with the hot conditions on the oil rig platforms. Some people may not agree with the fact that most positions are filled as November hits, there is still a chance for oil rig job seekers.

Indeed, some of the new oil rig workers weren't out to work on an offshore oil rig platform, so many of the new oil rig workers that just began are likely to quit after a few weeks or less. Even though, there are less positions going, the total number of potential oil rig workers  that look for a drilling job at this time of the year is less than 1/10 of what it is in other months. 

Oil rig job seekers usually make mistakes while making assumptions when the simply truth is that they are not enough aware of the oil and gas industry market condition to be making assumptions about when is good time to apply for the job. 

Just giving an example, best time for oil rig job opportunity if you were living in Canada would not be because of the "hot summer." But you may think about reasons why other oil rig job seekers would be saying "it's not the best time to apply for oil rig job position" and chances are that's exactly when you must be handing in your application.

Related articles: 

Oil Rig Jobs in UK - Drillers, Derrickmen and Assistant Drillers

Driller worker on oil rig jobs UK - In this article we will talk about oil rig jobs UK.

As a part of the offshore jobs UK, the derrickmen, assistant drillers and entry level oil rig jobs drillers they are major team of offshore oil rig jobs facilities in UK, just like the gas and offshore jobs UK platforms. If you still look for oil rig jobs no experience, and you are trying to find oil rig jobs in UK as a team worker, then this might be just for you. The entry level oil rig jobs in UK that can provide you the necessary skills for better oil rig jobs in UK and well paid.

As most of the offshore oil rig jobs, those oil rig jobs in UK require you to be prepared for work abroad, long from home, if you are not from UK. Offshore oil rig jobs in UK as oil rig job drillers, derrickmen and asistant drillers in UK require you to have a really good head for heights and what's more to be physically fit. Oil rig jobs in UK as drillers and derrickmen also require you to be able to follow instructions and even to give out such.

Derrickmen, drillers and assistant drillers as oil rig jobs in UK are entry level oil rig jobs, in other words those vacancies are oil rig jobs UK with no eperience needed. The least requirement is to be over 18 year old. A very common route for oil rig jobs in UK is to begin on an Apprenticeship scheme. There is also an option for you to be eligible for re-training schemes in offshore jobs in UK, if you have any technical experience, despite it was not acquired on offshore oil rig jobs but on any related industry to the jobs on oil rigs in UK.

The Work on Oil Rig Jobs in UK


Usually derrickem on the oil rig jobs in UK are required to work about 20-25 meters above the offshore oil rig floor on a little oil rig platform, which is attached to the derrick (derrick is the mast, which supports the equipment for the drilling process). Derrickmen on oil rig jobs in UK usually are supervised by the driller and assistant driller on the offshore oil rig platform, and their main duties include the following:

  • handle and stack sections of the offshore oil rig pipe in UK
  • derrickmen as oil rig jobs in UK maintain the derrick
  • operate the lifting and hoisting machinery to position the drill
  • control and maintain mud pumps on the offshore oil rig platform, and supervise mud pump operators.

Offshore oil rig jobs in UK - as a driller, you will supervise the team that is responsible for the drilling process as oil rig jobs in UK, and you will control the rate of drilling process. The offshore oil rig driller work in this highly skilled role would include:
  • control the operations on the offshore oil rig platform
  • oversee assembly of the oil drilling tools and facilities on the pipe, and connect sections of the offshore oil drill pipe
  • operate and control the machinery, which raises and lowers the offshore oil drill
  • keep records of the offshore drilling process
  • make sure that the entire team of oil rig workers in UK follows health and safety rules.

As an assistant driller of the oil rig jobs in UK, it would be your obligation to coordinate the main activities on the offshore oil rig platform floor, for instance by passing on instructions and information from the driller to the rest of the offshore drilling team.

Work Hours of the Oil Rig Jobs in UK


As a part of the oil rig jobs in UK, you will literally work and live on the offshore oil rig platform in UK for 2 or 3 weeks. After those 2-3 weeks you will have 2-3 weeks on shore, away from the offshore jobs UK. Oil rig jobs in UK require you to work up to twelve hours a day on shift rotations of 24 hours.

On offshore jobs in UK you may work on a fixed production offshore oil rig platform with up to 100 oil rig workers, or you may work on a smaller offshore oil rig platform, which will be mobile, with a team not bigger of around 20 oil rig jobs in UK. The live on the offshore oil rig jobs in UK is not very bad. The offshore oil tig platform might be equipped with recreation areas and canteens aboard. Just for your information, there are bans on alcohol and smoking, which is really reasonable.

Oil rig jobs UK might be physically demanding, and sometimes you would be required to work in rough weather conditions and in all types of height, but that's the work of oil rig jobs in UK. You will have to wear protective clothing, which includes a harness, thermal boiler suits and ear defenders.

Income of Oil Rig Jobs in UK


Entry level oil rig jobs in UK and apprentices are able to earn between 12,000-20,000 UK pounds a year (around 19,000-32,000 US dollars). 

Derrickmen, as oil rig jobs in UK usually earn around 25,000-30,000 UK pounds depending on the work experience on oil rig jobs in UK. 

Drillers on the oil rig platforms may earn between 30,000-50,000 UK pounds a year.

No experience oil rig jobs

I've spoken to many people about how to get a job on an offshore oil rig with no experience and there is one answer that comes up all the time that I find quite funny. People usually use “Yea but you need to have experience to get a job on offshore oil rigs”.

The oil rig jobs with no experience remind me about the joke about “what comes 1st, the chicken or the egg?” because how does anyone ever get experience on oil rigs if you have to have experience before you can get an oil rig job? It doesn’t make any sense.

This is the real truth and lots of people are not going to like it. This excuse plus many others that people make up are nothing more than a lie, which they tell themselves because it’s easier admitting to themselves that they are just too lazy to go through the effort to find good oil rig jobs no experience!

Oil rig jobs no experience

 
 
 
Think about it for a while… You can walk onto an oil rig platform no experience at the entry level position and earn somewhere around $70,000 for working half of the year. Of course there are going to be challenges trying to get into the oil and gas industry, because everybody know that finding an oil rig job with no experience is not a easy job. These are highly sought after positions so they are not going to hire every Tom, Dick and Harry who decides to hand in a resume for oil rig worker with no experience.
But just because you have to put in a little more effort to find an offshore oil rig job no experience than creating a pretty resume on Microsoft Word, doesn’t mean that you should listen to lazy people who make up things like “you need to have oil rig job experience”. Who would you prefer take advice from? Someone that has actually done it or someone that failed and made up an excuse to justify their laziness - offshore oil rig jobs with no experience is not easy to be found, but not impossible?

The real truth is that, no experience oil rig jobs do exist and 90% of the oil rig jobs no experience that you will have to do in the early days on the offshore oil rig you could teach a monkey to do. Your #1 priority when you get on the offshore oil rig is to watch and learn as QUICKLY as you can. The offshore oil rig company you work for is soon enough going to know if you were worth hiring but in the beginning all you need is the ability to follow instructions and a good work ethic for getting and keeping an offshore oil rig job with no experience.

Many had no experience when they got an oil rig job so you can too!

How to work on offshore oil rigs?

As global demand for offshore oil rig grows, the oil rig industry is under increasing pressure to expand exploration and drilling operations. Many of the offshore oil rig companies are capitalizing on relaxed restrictions of the government and technological advances to maximize production of the drilling rigs. The new offshore oil rigs they build require offshore oil rig workers to man them. Jobs on the offshore oil rigs are physically demanding and the conditions of work on the drilling rigs are usually dangerous, but offshore oil rig workers earn good wages, usually gain promotions, and are able to work in locations all over the world. If you need to learn how to work on an offshore oil rig no experience, there are some guidelines.
 

1) You should assess your ability to work under challenging circumstances on the offshore oil rigs. 

Most oil rig jobs no experience require hard labor under trying conditions on the drilling rigs. Entry-level oil rig workers no experience, like roughnecks oil rig worker and roustabouts, may expect certain challenges.
  • Shifts: Most of the offshore oil rig workers on the drilling rigs, both onshore and offshore, work grueling 12-hour shifts per day. Rotations may vary, but most offshore oil rig companies keep oil rig crews on site for 2 weeks and then give oil rig workers 2 weeks off.
  • Labor on oil rigs: Entry-level offshore oil rig jobs no experience are physically taxing. Most involve moving on supplies and heavy equipment on drilling rigs, like drill pipes.
  • Weather: Offshore and onshore drilling rigs offer distinct challenges for oil rig workers no experience. Most oilfields in the US are in the unforgiving climate of the Southwest, where summertime temperatures are usually over 37,7 C. Oil drilling in the petroleum-rich fields of Canada reaches full capacity during the bitterly cold winter months, when the frozen ground is better able to withstand heavy equipment and exploration procedures on the drilling rigs. Offshore oil rig workers are at the mercy of the elements, too. North Sea offhore drilling rig platforms are battered year-round by strong winds and unyielding waves. Oil rigs dotting the United States coastline in the Gulf of Mexico are on alert during the hurricane season 1st of June 1 to 30th of November.
  • Danger at the oil rigs: The contents of an offshore oil well are under extreme pressure, but this is only part of the danger offshore oil rig workers face every day. Cranes of drilling rigs are constantly moving massive sections of pipe across the drilling rig platform. Highly combustible gases are used in everyday operations, which include welding and pipe-cutting. 
 

2) Pursue applicable training and certification for the offshore oil rigs. 

While entry-level oil rig jobs no experience are plentiful and technically do not require any experience, few oil rig companies are going to hire a "green hand" to work on their billion-dollar oil rig platforms. Generally, offshore oil rig workers only need to be 18 or older, have a high school diploma and pass a pre-employment drug test. Successful applicants have generally pursued offshore oil rig training independently or bring transferable experience to the drilling rig job. All oil rig workers need to meet certain minimum standards and certifications to work on an offshore drilling rig. These include:
  • Current work visa for oil rig job no experience: Most oil rig companies are going to arrange for a current work visa for oil rig workers, working outside their native country.
  • Immunizations: Offshore oil rig jobs no experience are available in some of the world's most exotic locations, which include the coasts of Africa and the waters of Southeast Asia. Oil rig workers from other areas often get oil rig jobs in these regions, but they should complete a full course of immunizations before they will be hired on the oil rig.
  • Specialized training courses for oil rig workers no experience: Many trade drilling rig schools and colleges offer classes on various facets of the drilling rig industry, which include oil rig work. Most classes blend coursework with hands-on, field experience. Oil rig companies generally secure training for oil rig workers no experience looking to advance their careers in specialized fields.
  • Certification for oil rig work no experience: All offshore drilpling rig workers are required to earn an Offshore Survival & Firefighting certificate. Specialized offshore oil rig workers, such as electricians, scaffolders and welders, must hold a state-issued license or certificate if they want to work on drilling rig.

3) Decide what offshore oil rig job is best for you. 

A drilling rig is a place where oil rig workers no experience may work hard to get ahead. Most crane operators on the oil rigs, shift supervisors and other skilled offshore oil rig workers started out in entry-level positions. They set themselves apart by pursuing advanced offshore oil rig training and accepting additional assignments. Inexperienced drilling rig workers may start their careers in any one of several drilling rig jobs, which include:

  • Roughneck: Roughneck oil rig workers are general laborers that usually work on the oil rig deck. They move equipment and supplies, and also they are accountable for cleaning equipment and work areas on the offshore oil rig.
  • Roustabout: These offshore oil rig workers are involved in drilling operations on the drilling rigs. They usually move sections of drill pipe and clean spill. Roustabouts oil rig workers aspire to one day become the tool pusher, the senior supervisor on an oil rig.
  • Helper: Helpers on the oil rig assist skilled oil rig workers, serving as apprentices for oil rig electricians, lead welders and heavy-equipment operators on the drilling rig.
  • Painter: Drilling rigs, in particular, should be painted constantly to protect the structure from the corrosive effects of saltwater. This is hazardous duty, as painters generally should be suspended in harnesses to reach remote regions of the platform.
  • Motorman: Motormen on the drilling rigs maintain and repair all rig machinery, whichi include generators and deck equipment.
  • Deckhand: Deckhand oil rig workers build tow lines to provide barges and vessels to the structure, facilitating loading and offloading of cargo.
  • Steward: Housekeeping needs, which include laundry service and janitorial duties on the offshore oil rigs, should be met to assure the smooth operation of an offshore oil rig.
  • Assistant chef oil rig worker: Galley hands that include assistant chefs, work around the clock to prepare meals for all shifts. This is an offshore oil rig job where mainstream experience is directly transferable to duties on the drilling rig.

How to take opportunity of offshore oil rig jobs ?

When a lot of people looking for offshore oil rig job set out in search of offshore oil rig vacancies, they generally expect to find oil rig jobs, which are physically draining and work environments that are fundamentally unsafe.

And while its true that lots of offshore oil rig vacancies are for oil rig jobs, which are extremely physically demanding, there are a number of oil rig vacancies, which are not common with the drilling work, which is the most physically-demanding type of offshore oil rig job.
Some of the more common non-drilling oil rig job vacancies include:
  • Radio operators on offshore oil rigs
  • Engineers on offshore oil rigs
  • Catering staff on offshore oil rig platforms
A closer look at a couple of the above-noted offshore oil rig vacancies paints a pretty bright picture for any oil rig job seeker that needs to avoid extremely physical work.

An offshore oil rig radio operator jobs - that, in addition to radio operations on offshore oil rigs, also serve the critical function of being the center of all oil rig logistics in emergency situations - pay an average of around $42,000 per year. You will need a radio operators license for this type of oil rig job.

An offshore oil rigs catering department also provides an example of oil rig jobs that do are not as demanding as offshore oil drilling jobs. Additionally, to the head chef and cook oil rig jobs, there is also a camp boss, a team of stewards, bakers, and so forth. The camp boss is the most senior catering position on an offshore oil rig and it typically pays around $55,000 per year.

And since an offshore oil rig is a non-stop operation, food is needed - and served - around the clock. This means there may be many offshore oil rig vacancies on a rig for catering department jobs.

The best advice, when considering which offshore oil rig vacancies to apply for, is to take a look at your own skill set and interests. If working outdoors in an extremely physically demanding role -exposed to unsafe conditions - is either beyond your possibilities or simply does not appeal to you (or both), then you are better off thinking about one of the many different types of non-drilling offshore oil rig vacancies.

Non-drilling offshore oil rig vacancies may offer you the best of both worlds in that you will still reap many of the same rewards of the lifestyle (offshore oil rig workers commonly work on a 14-day; 21-day; rotation, with no meal or accommodation costs), but you will not have to put as much of yourself on the line physically.

And, who knows? Maybe through your exposure to non-drilling offshore oil rig jobs you will find yourself warming up to the idea of a more physical role. So much so that you may, in future, find yourself keeping an eye out for any offshore oil rig vacancies, which are going to make bigger demands of you physically (and with bigger demands, come bigger rewards).
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)