Getting to work
Reaching the offshore installation you’re working on generally involves flying by helicopter. Where the installation is located around the coast of Britain will dictate where you fly from, but for all the central and northern North Sea installations, the departure point is Aberdeen. The generous time off allowances dictated by the working pattern means you can live all around the country and not just in Aberdeen and its surrounding areas.
The helicopters used for offshore travel usually have 18 seats, although smaller helicopters may be used for inter-platform transfers. Nevertheless the same stringent safety regulations apply. For example, you must wear immersion suits and lifejackets at all times and before every single flight there will be a safety briefing including a detailed video.
Working hours
The usual working pattern for most people offshore is 12 hour shifts. Not all shifts change at the same time, however, so you will need to find out when you apply for a position exactly what the working pattern is.
In the North Sea it is normal to spend two or three weeks offshore and then two or three weeks onshore – whether you work 2/2, 2/3 or 3/3 depends on the company you work for. In a contracting company, it depends on the company they are providing your services to. In the Well Services sector, the work is more ad hoc with very few staff having regular rotation schedules. Generally speaking holiday entitlement is included in the time off. However, different companies have different arrangements, so you should check at the time you apply.
In other parts of the world the work trips may be longer – perhaps four or even six weeks – but your time ashore (or ‘on the beach’ as it is known) would be correspondingly longer as well.
Working at height
Some jobs, such as drilling from a hydraulic workover unit, or as an abseiler on rig inspection and maintenance, involve working at height. However, in all cases there are stringent safety regulations including the use of appropriate protective equipment. In this picture, these men are replacing a lifeboat winch assembly.
Benefits
There is a public perception that working in the oil and gas industry – particularly offshore – is extremely well paid, but something you do only for a short time. It is true that the industry does pay well, especially given the offshore work pattern of two weeks on and two or three weeks off, although the differential with other industries is not as large as you might think.
What it most certainly isn’t, is a short term prospect. Indeed, many workers in the UK sector of the offshore North Sea oil industry have over 20 years service. So you can see that this is a very experienced workforce.
Furthermore, although most of the major oil and gas reservoirs in the North Sea have been tapped, the improvement in technology is allowing the industry to produce from smaller, more marginal reservoirs and to significantly extend the working life of most of the existing production facilities. There will be jobs in the North Sea oil industry well into the foreseeable future as well as opportunities for skilled and experienced workers in other parts of the world.
Salaries
Most jobs in the Oil & Gas industry offer a generous renumeration package, with salaries varying from company to company.