FREE INFORMATION”
Offshore Employment Help
Your Guide To Jobs
in the Offshore
and Maritime Industries
Fifth Edition copyright 2002
Frequently asked questions about the offshore industries
Living the Offshore Life
Glossary of Oil Field Terms
Offshore Drilling Contractors and Rig Operators
Other Companies and
Services:
Various marine contractors, construction, employment
agencies, newspapers, internet employment resources, catering companies,
schools and other offshore related companies
Sample cover letter
A Typical “objective-style” resume’ / CV
Special Report: Jobs in the Industry of Oil and Gas
Extraction
by The Bureau of Labor Statistics (an agency within the U.S. Department of
Labor.)
Nature of the
Industry | Working Conditions | Employment | Occupations in the Industry |
Training and Advancement | Earnings | Outlook | Sources of Additional
Information
Overseas Employment Scams
Introduction
Have you ever felt the urge to find a really exciting
occupation that pays well, offers adventure, as well as lots of time off ? Are
you ready to say “goodbye” to the routine monotony that is involved with your
present job? Are you ready to “get around” a little bit and seek some
excitement? If your answer is “yes” then this report may be beneficial in
helping you find what you’re looking for.
Imagine for a moment working in an
industry where you’ll have the opportunity to: Fly to your job in a
helicopter! Arrive at your job by an
ocean-going boat! Enjoy free meals ! Pay nothing for housing and entertainment ! Make above
average wages ! And above all....have 6 months of the year off to enjoy the
things you love to do most?
Then
perhaps the offshore industries are for
you!
This report will guide you to
employers and contractors who hire almost continuously people of all types of
skills. They hire people with no skills or experience. There are many
entry-level and apprenticeship programs for first-time job seekers listed in
this booklet.
The oilfield and offshore industries
are always progressive and on the move utilizing the very latest and best
technology and people to bring products from deep beneath the ocean floor to
fuel our world.
This report will not guarantee a job
for you. You will have to provide the effort, time and “legwork” in order to
make it happen for you. It is however a guidebook to point you the reader in
the right direction and to establish a point from which to start. It will
provide you with names and addresses of employers and contractors as well as
their contact information...an overview of the offshore industry as a whole...a
glossary of terms used in the industry...And a little bit of “inside
information” that can be used to match your skills and talents to just the
right company and occupation.
You will need some additional tools
in order to expedite your search. We highly recommend the internet as one of
the most valuable job search tools in existence. If you don’t have this access,
then we suggest a visit to your local library or one of the larger ones in a
nearby city. They will be happy to assist you in getting “online” in order to
research and contact the companies listed in this report.
You may know
someone who will allow you to utilize their computer for this purpose. We also
suggest having a resume’ prepared to be submitted once you have made contact
with a company. Almost all of the listed companies have telephone numbers
available. Their personnel or human resources departments may be contacted
directly. Good hunting!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE OFFSHORE INDUSTRIES
Working aboard a drilling rig or an
offshore boat is a unique experience for anyone seeking escape from the mundane
jobs that abound these days. Unless one has a college education or well
connected relatives there are few land based jobs that offer the pay, benefits,
travel, adventure and time off that offshore work provides.
WHERE ARE THE JOBS? WHAT PARTS OF THE COUNTRY?
By far, the vast majority of Oil Rig
jobs are situated on and around the Gulf Coast of the United States. Other
active areas include Canada, Alaska, South America and the inland areas of the
US. Most major drilling contractors and service companies are represented all
over the world. But the bulk of the offshore activity goes on in the Gulf area
of the US though there is a significant amount of activity off the coast of
California. “Hotbeds” of activity for the offshore industries are of course
Houston, Tx; Lafayette, LA; Galveston,TX; Lake Charles, LA; Morgan City, LA;
Cameron, LA; Vicksburg, MS; Mobile, AL and other seaport areas of the Gulf
Coast.
WHAT IS THE WORK SCEDULE?
You can expect to be on your rig, boat
or platform for extended lengths of time followed by equal (usually) time off.
These are known as “hitches”. They vary from employer to employer. e.g. 7 days
on and 7 days off; 14 days on / 14 days off…and so on, up to 5 weeks on/off
depending on the employer and location of the project. Of course no employer
whose rig is working for example in West Africa is going to bear the expense of
flying their crews around the world every week! Generally speaking, rigs in the
Gulf of Mexico work 14 / 14 hitched. Rigs in deeper water sometimes go for 21 /
21.
Foreign based
rigs usually go for 28 / 28. Offshore boats and pipeline barges engaged in
offshore construction have been known to
stay out until the project is finished which can be an indefinite period of
time. Be prepared at any time (including the day you expect to leave for home)
to be asked to “work over” if there is a special need or project to be
finished. Sometimes your “relief” will not show up for crew change forcing you
to remain on the rig until someone can be sent to replace you.
Most
contractors are generous with overtime however if you are asked to stay. Be
aware of this possibility and adjust your family life accordingly. While on the
subject of family it would be wise to prepare your family, spouse or
significant other for your being away for extended periods of time. Telephones
and e-mail are usually available on rigs and boats but NEVER COUNT ON IT! Rigs
in remote areas of the world or “under tow” have no communication for extended
time periods.
We advise setting up automatic
payment arrangements with your financial institutions to take care of such
important bills as mortgages, car payments
etc. Most employers are aware that their employees are away from home for weeks
at a time and encourage “direct deposit” payroll for this reason.
Now for the Burning Question............
”HOW MUCH WILL I MAKE?”
You purchased
this report for answers to questions!…understand however that we must address
this issue in conservative generalizations and pay scales are mentioned on a
“more-or-less” basis at the time of writing.
(Special
Considerations)
When figuring pay one must take into
account that while working offshore with a “rotational schedule” one is only
WORKING FOR SIX MONTHS OUT OF THE YEAR! So whatever you gross for that year was
actually earned in six months. You have six months of the year off! That being
said, also consider that for six months out of the year YOU ARE NOT OPERATING
YOU VEHICLE...NOT BUYING FOOD...NOT PAYING RENT...Even FREQUENT FLYER MILES for
overseas work are yours to keep! Your living expenses are ZERO except for
toiletries and personal products. Consider what this is worth to you when you
figure the pay scale for the particular job you have chosen to pursue
ENTRY-LEVEL JOBS: (roustabout, painter, galleyhand, deckhand, samplecatcher
etc.
As a rule of thumb as of this
writing, there are few persons working aboard a rig or vessel on a regular
schedule who make less than $1000.00 per week. Some make more....some less.
WELDERS and CRAFTSMEN can expect to make roughly 10 to 20 percent above land
jobs depending on demand. Hourly paid
workers are paid for 12 hours ON and 12 hours OFF. Overtime “kicks in” rather
quickly.
Foreign service pay starts at ten
percent and goes up from there depending on the employer PLUS Frequent Flyer
miles!
Boat jobs generally pay a “day rate”
for deck hands, cooks and galley hands.
WHAT IS THE FASTEST and EASIEST WAY TO GET ON A RIG?
To be honest...If we were unskilled;
out of work; just getting started and just WANT TO GET OUT THERE we recommend
UNIVERSAL SERVICES or one of the other CATERING contractors listed herein. They
are notorious for hiring “off the street”. They require little or no experience
generally. Pay scales start around minimum wage but there are plenty of hours
that add up quickly as well as the “built-in” benefits that go with offshore
work. Other options include the TANK CLEANING, PAINTING and SAMPLE CATCHING
jobs listed in this report.
WHAT IS THE FASTEST and EASIEST WAY TO A BOAT JOB?
For “deckhands” aboard crewboats,
workboats, tugs, towboats, anchor barges and pipeline barges we recommend first
inquiring with the Maritime personnel agencies listed in this report. Secondly,
search the listed newspapers. If you are local to the areas of any
“port town” simply inquire at the dockside offices. Once hired, we recommend
that you begin showing an interest in obtaining a USCG license to obtain
advancement.
WHAT CAN I EXPECT WHEN APPLYING TO A DRILLING OR MARITIME
CONTRACTOR?
First, be prepared for DRUG TESTING.
With the hazards involved with men working around steel and machinery there is
no room in the industry for the drug user / abuser. Secondly a thorough
physical examination (usually at the employers expense) is performed. Some
drilling contractors send Roustabout / Painter applicants to special testing
centers who monitor applicants physical abilities prior to employment
interviews.
CAN I ADVANCE IN MY JOB?
Yes.
Everyone on a rig enters as a Roustabout or Painter (unless hired from the
outside for a specific job) The oilfield is known for rapid and on the spot
promotions to those who show initiative and work hard. Rig Managers, O.I.M’s, Barge Engineer, Crane
Operators and the like all usually start at the roustabout level and work their
way up from there.
The
succession of promotion generally runs from ROUSTABOUT to ROUGHNECK to
DERRICKMAN / SHAKERMAN to ASSISTANT DRILLER to DRILLER to TOURPUSHER and
finally TOOLPUSHER / O.I.M. Most of the time the promotions come with instant
pay raises. Boat hands generally must
obtain USGC training in order to advance to a “licensed” position, though ones
“sea time” required for licenses are accumulated during ones tenure as a
deckhand. Catering hands are also promoted from within from the entry-level
onward to STEWARD / CAMPBOSS up to the FIELD SUPERVISOR level. WELDERS and
CRAFTSMEN are often promoted to PUSHERS and on to PROJECT MANAGERS or
SPECIALISTS.
By
all means, no matter what position you are hired in at and no matter what
company we highly recommend “networking”, that is getting to know people who
are doing the job (and getting the pay) that you want and showing a willingness
to learn what they do. Many galleyhands for example have gone on to respected
positions such as MUD ENGINEER simply by showing an interest and learning the
job (as well as going to school)Many companies offer free paid education to
promising potential candidates.
WHAT IS “OFFSHORE CONSTRUCTION”
Simply put, when a well is drilled
offshore for oil or gas a PLATFORM is constructed or moved from another
location over the well in order to process the product and send it through a
pipeline to a gathering area. Platforms are constructed onshore for the most
part and floated or barged to the site. Much welding , plumbing and electrical
work is required in these operations. Pipelines must be constructed to tie in
these wells and platforms to the mainstream. There are many large and small
contractors who specialize in this
construction and the maintenance and operation
of these platforms in all parts of the world. Many WELDING, PLUMBING,
PIPEFITTING, ELECTRICAL, ENGINEERING, CATERING and PAINTING jobs are usually
available with these contractors.
Living the Offshore Life
Volumes could
and have been written about life in the Oil Patch. Sea stories abound
everywhere. Entire books could be required to tell all that is worth telling
about the offshore life. It really all comes down to this. As with any
occupation, there are pros and cons. You will probably either love this
lifestyle or hate it right away. Let’s look at some of the pros first, and then
the cons.
Pros
·
You
will make great money, even at entry-level jobs.
·
You
will do a lot of flying in helicopters…pretty nice, most people don’t have a
clue.
·
You
will only work for 6 months out of the year…more or less. It’s all structured
that way.
·
Your
vehicle will be idle while you are away…ask your insurance agent for a
discount. Really.
·
You
may have the opportunity to travel world-wide…and keep the flyer miles.
·
You’ll
be fed, housed, entertained and sometimes clothed, free of charge.
·
The
company benefits are second to none…they all vary though.
·
You
can certainly save some of the great money you earn.
Cons
·
You’ll
be away from your family, home and loved ones while you’re on the job.
·
Communication
with home will be scarce at best (and costly).
·
You
will be surrounded by water and steel, 24 x 7.
·
Showers,
eating, television and sleeping is usually communal.
·
You
will usually work 12 hours per day. Shifts may vary.
·
No
drugs or alcohol is allowed.
·
There
is no democracy…what the tool pusher or Captain says is law.
·
Your
time away at work will drag…your time off will fly like the wind (or so it will
seem).
Weigh
these over in your mind before making your first move. Can your spouse or
significant other handle you being away from home for 2-6 weeks at a time? Can
you deal with it? Consider others in your decision. Try it for a while…give a
year at least. You’ll meet people that have been in the business for decades,
and would have it no other way.
If
you decide that the offshore life is for you, here are some do’s and don’ts to
remember:
·
Do
report to the Toolpusher or Captain as soon as you board unless escorted
elsewhere by the safety man or Mate.
·
Do
show up with enough personal supplies to last longer than you expect to stay.
·
Don’t
arrive on a rig without a hardhat, safety glasses, and steel-toed workboots.
·
Don’t
participate in gossip aboard any vessel or rig. It will come back to haunt you.
·
Don’t
ever speak ill of the Captain or Toolpusher to a coworker. The walls will have
ears.
·
Do
show incentive and willingness to work hard under adverse conditions. It will
take you a long way.
·
Don’t
wear your feelings on your shoulders…never take anything personally. Friendly
kidding is common.
·
Do
take safety seriously and consider it a favor if someone corrects you for a
unsafe act.
·
Don’t
whine.
Finally,
where you go out for your first hitch, and the going seems rough, remember why
you came there in the first place. To make good money and have lots of time
off. Your hitch is what you make of it. Time passes at a constant rate and
you’ll be home sooner than you think. Don’t let depression or homesickness ruin
a chance at a great lifestyle…Enjoy your time off, you earned it!
If
you’re the adventuresome sort and live in the United States, an alternative way
to go about being hired on a rig or vessel is to “walk the docks”. A trip to
the docks may be worth your while if you
live in the areas of:
·
Mobile,
Alabama
·
Pascagoula,
Mississippi (notice the “now hiring” billboards belonging to the shipyards!)
·
Biloxi,
Mississippi
·
New
Orleans, Louisiana (a lot of maritime activity and fun too!)
·
Venice,
Louisiana
·
Morgan
City, Louisiana (an old offshore town. Lots of jobs)
·
Port
Fourchon, Louisiana
·
Intracoastal
City, Louisiana (similar to Sabine Pass, Texas) Recommended
·
Cameron,
Louisiana (similar to Sabine Pass, Texas) Recommended
·
Sabine
Pass, Texas (see below)
·
Galveston,
Texas
just to name a
few US Gulf Coast locations.
These
port towns have many types of offshore facilities to explore, check out and
enquire at. Many different companies maintain their own docks. Some even lease
space to rigs and other vessels for repair and fabrication. Many are at the
“end of the road” in remote coastal areas, so go armed with a good map. You’ll
see lots of helicopters flying about also. Contractors of all kinds work there
on the rigs and vessels.
Shipyards
are another hotbed of on-site hiring. Of
course, if you are interested in offshore boats, diving, welding, plumbing,
pipe fitting, and any skilled crafts, contractors are working in these areas
constantly.
Don’t
forget to take along your driver’s license, social security card, emergency contact information, as well as
licenses, certifications, or other professional papers. Take your passport if
you have one. You may just need it. Above all, don’t forget your hardhat,
safety glasses and steel-toed boots. You won’t be admitted to any facility
without them.
(The author cannot make any guarantees of employment and
cannot be held liable for any consequences arising from any person seeking a
job in this manner.)
GLOSSARY OF OILFIELD TERMS
RIG any
offshore (or land based) drilling unit including SEMI-SUBMERSIBLE, JACKUP, BARGE-BASED or PLATFORM BASED.
BOAT JOB Tugboat,
workboat, crewboat, pipeline barge, anchor barge or other vessel-based employment.
GALLEY Kitchen
/ dining room aboard a rig or vessel.
BR HAND Housekeeping
position inside the living quarters of a rig or vessel.
TOOLPUSHER sometimes
referred to as OIM (offshore installation manager) THE BOSSMAN of a rig.
TOUR Your
work shift
TOURPUSHER In charge
of all outside operation during his tour (usually 12 hours)
HITCH Your
time aboard a rig or vessel.
ROUSTABOUT General
laborer aboard a rig.
ROUGHNECK Works on
the drilling floor of the rig, directed by the driller.
DRILLER Operates
the drilling machinery on the drilling floor.
MUD Drilling
fluid circulated down the well being drilled.
BARGE ENGINEER / BARGE CAPTAIN in charge of operations involving rig
stability and maintenance
SHAKER Mechanically
separates solids from mud.
COMPANY MAN Overseas
drilling operations for the oil / gas company
HAND anyone
working on a rig or vessel.
JEETCHET “Did
you eat yet”
MAKIN’ HOLE Drilling
GUMBO ATTACK Gumbo
clay returning up to the top of the well.
BLOWOUT Uncontrolled
pressure from the well.
GROCERY BOX Large
container brought to offshore rig by boat containing groceries / supplies.
FISHERMAN
Specialist who retrieves stuck oil tools from downhole.
DOWNHOLE Beneath
the surface of the well.
ANCHOR BOAT Configures anchors to stabilize semisubmergible
rigs or “floaters”
PLATFORM Stationary
offshore gas/oil production facility
PIPELINE BARGE
Vessel constructing offshore pipelines
OIL TOOLS Any
drilling bit or other special tool to drill or configure a well.
BREAKIN’ OUT A new
hand on a rig doing a good job. “He’s
breakin’ out”
SERVICE HAND Anyone
who arrives on a rig or vessel temporarily to perform a specific job.
SERVICE COMPANY Well
service companies associated with drilling or other operations
LOGGING Gathering
data from down hole.
SUMBITCH “sonofabitch”
THE BEACH Land..........anywhere!
(home etc.)
THE YARD Port or
operations base for rig or vessel.
BARGE RIG Operates
in very shallow inland water.
JACKUP A rig
supported by legs.
FLOATER another
name for a Semisubmersible rig.
OFFICE PUKE One who
works in the office of a drilling or boat company.
RIG PIG Sometimes
“Oilfield Trash” one who works on a rig or any oilfield job.
OILFIELD Refers
to anything related to Oil/Gas industry.
MOTORMAN One who
maintains the large diesel engines that power a rig.
WATERWELL Pump which
draws up seawater for use on rig or vessel.
OFFSHORE DRILLING
CONTRACTORS and RIG OPERATORS
Authors note:
Although job descriptions and work schedules may vary from company to company,
most offshore drillers operate in pretty much the same way. The majority are
based in the Houston area, but their
drilling activities take place all over the U.S. and overseas. Most operate
offshore and land rigs.
Marine Drilling Inc.
Large offshore drilling contractor located near Houston.
Domestic and International operations
NOTE: Marine
Drilling recently merged with Pride
International.
http://www.prideinternational.com/
Has employment
section on their website, look for “Careers”
Pride
International
5847 San Felipe
Suite 3300
Houston, TX 77057
Phone: (713) 789-1400
Fax: (713)789-1430
From their website:
WELCOME TO THE CAREERS SECTION OF OUR WEB SITE.
Pride International is an international drilling contractor
providing its customers a broad range of rig and related services in over 20
countries. Our services are provided through our modern, worldwide fleet of
almost 300 land rigs, barges, platforms, tender-assisted rigs, jackups,
semisubmersibles and state-of-the-art deep water drillships. We employ around
the world 5,900 of the best and the brightest individuals to achieve the
success of our company.
If you are interested in traveling to exciting, exotic
destinations and a rewarding
career, please review the types of employment opportunities
that may be available
from time to time at Pride, we have organized such information
by specific area within the company.
We hope your visit to the employment section of our web site
has provided you with
the information you were seeking. If you desire more
information, we encourage you to send a message to our recruiter in the Human
Resource department.
Atwood Oceanics
15835 Park Ten Place Dr.
Houston, TX 77084
281-492-2929
http://www.atwd.com/
website has employment information, look under “corporate resources”
Worldwide offshore drilling contractor and marine operator.
Domestic and International
From their website:
Career Opportunities
Atwood Oceanics, Inc. is an international offshore drilling
contractor and offers a variety of career opportunities. Qualified individuals are encouraged to
submit resumes for consideration. Please
visit theContact Information information to select a submission method. Atwood Oceanics, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity
Employer.
Transocean Sedco
Forex
PO Box 2765
Houston, TX 77255-2765
Phone 713 232-7500
http://www.deepwater.com/
website has employment information, look for “career opportunities”
World’s largest drilling contractor per rig count; operates
worldwide; into exploration; development and operates a towing fleet. Excellent
company to work for. RECOMMENDED
From their website:
Houston and Regional Headquarters Staff
The U.S. subsidiary of Transocean Sedco Forex is located in
Houston, Texas, USA.
There are seven regional offices throughout the world.
Periodically there are positionsavailable in these headquarters offices.
Engineers
Transocean Sedco Forex has from time to time multiple
opportunities for engineers in the following categories: Experienced and
Professional Engineers, Graduate Students and Undergraduate Students, Recently
Graduated or Soon-to-be Graduated Engineers
Offshore Fleet
Transocean Sedco Forex has from time to time multiple
opportunities for individuals with previous offshore experience, or those
individuals who have related industrial, maritime, or military experience.
Rowan Companies
2800 Post Oak Blvd.
5450 Transco Tower
Houston, TX 77056
713-621-7800
http://www.rowancompanies.com/
Operates rigs in GOM and worldwide; also owns ERA
Helicopters and Letourneau Inc. Has an excellent “no-layoff” policy (rare);
offers College-Roustabout summer job program and hires Roustabouts without
experience. Also land rig fleet. RECOMMENDED
Diamond Offshore
15415 Katy Freeway
Houston, TX 77094
281-492-5300
http://www.diamondoffshore.com
website has employment information, look for “employment”
Large worldwide drilling contractor who is an excellent
employer- RECOMMENDED
From their website:
Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc., one of the world's largest
deepwater offshore drilling contractors, is headquartered in Houston, Texas at
15415 Katy Freeway near the intersection of Highway 6 and I-10 West. Our staff
consists of approximately 500 shore-based support personnel and 3000 offshore
rig personnel worldwide.
Our employees enjoy a comprehensive benefits package, which
includes both educational assistance and a highly competitive salary. We also
offer our own rig-based on-the-job training programs to assist our employees in
preparing for promotional opportunities as they become available throughout our
rig fleet. All offshore rig personnel work an even on and off schedule and
receive a monthly travel allowance in addition to their regular salary.
Global Marine
Drilling
777 N. Eldridge Rd.