DarrenW
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| posted on 17/9/08 at 08:22 PM |
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Anyone work offshore?
Just wondering if there are offshore oppotunities for Project Managers or is the work out there all hands on like drilling, electricians etc?
What is a good way to get into oil and gas industry in a project engineering / manager capacity for the first time (from automotive industry)?
A mate of mine is earning a small fortune as a senior electrician on a rig off Angola - got me thinking........
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oliwb
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| posted on 17/9/08 at 08:43 PM |
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Good production manager job going just now on the spar in the gulf of Mexico. Not sure which company though. Difficult to waltz straight into
management without any experience. Best bet is to get a rigger or wire line type job first (essentailly a glorified crane operator). I'm a
draughtsman for a big oil tool company now working towards doing my engineering degree. A possible way in but I have no intention of going offshore.
Another good root is to try to get a MUD logging job. Companies generally look for someone degree qualified (doesn't matter what subject) and
they provide the trainning. Good money but not as great as the ROV, roughneck, drill floor guys. But thats proper danger money! Oli.
If your not living life on the edge you're taking up too much room!
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Guinness
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| posted on 17/9/08 at 08:45 PM |
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Darren
I did my SMSTS course with a lad from Boro who was working as a Project Manager in the Gulf.
He was managing the reconstruction / recommissioning of an Iraqi drilling rig offshore
The stories he told of armed guards, rides in and out in heli gunships etc, Iraqi lads being beheaded and Iranian gunboats buzzing them made me doubt
his sanity!
All the trades were foreign nationals, with all the welders being from one country and all the electricians from another. Briefings, meetings and
safety talks were a nightmare for him!
I put my CV up on Monster last year when considering a change and I still keep getting offers from recruitment agencies that say:-
"Come to sunny Afghanistan, manage a building project, if you come out alive, tax free £60k for 6 months work"
Thanks but no thanks
Cheers
Mike
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coozer
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| posted on 17/9/08 at 09:02 PM |
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"Come to sunny Afghanistan, manage a building project, if you come out alive, tax free £60k for 6 months work"
Go on Mike, you know you want too!!
Steve
[Edited on 17/9/08 by coozer]
1972 V8 Jago
1980 Z750
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DarrenW
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| posted on 17/9/08 at 09:04 PM |
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Ive been looking on a rig career site at project management jobs but as you say they all want oil and gas experience. Problem is how do you get it?
Ive got a post grad diploma from Durham University, HNC's and ONC's etc. But not the vital oil industry experience.
I kind of get the impression that you have to be in the know and at the right place / right time etc.
Working away would be daunting. Onshore assignment would probs be better idea at first. Need a new chalenge in life. Or at least one that rewards
people with a rise each year and bonus opportunity. Current firm has not given me a rise for a few years so im worse off now than when i started. And
to make matters worse im now expected to do sales work without the commission that the purely sales guys got - oh and they also expect you to fund
half of sales related travel yourself out of that comission if i get it.
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mgmiller
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| posted on 17/9/08 at 10:45 PM |
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Looks more likely that you would be suitable for an onshore position.
There are quite a few jobs abroad, especially Africa at present, as not many people want to go there!
Do you have a mechanical or electrical background as this will open up the number of jobs available to you?
Try http://www.rigzone.com/jobs/ as a start point.
Cheers
Mark
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DarrenW
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| posted on 18/9/08 at 06:49 AM |
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Thanks Mark, that is an excellent site. My only worry is that all of the jobs for projects etc ask for experience in oil and gas indury. Ive never
worked in the industry before so wondering how to get the experience. Currently having a think if a change of career, retraining then progress up the
ladder might be a good way to do it.
One of the areas im researching first is what jobs there are in the industry.
In terms of qualifications i have HNC Mechanical, ONC Electrical and advanced Diploma in Business Administration from Durham University. Never done
the hands on trades in industry such as maintenance, electrician etc but have a lot of experience in Production Engineering and Project Management.
Its just the vital oil/gas bit i dont have.
Ref onshore work - is it possible to get the rotational type jobs when working out of the country or are they all move away full time and work office
hours type?
Ill have to search to see if there are any careers fairs or similar local.
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Slater
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| posted on 18/9/08 at 08:32 AM |
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Darren
Yes in fact. I am offshore right now! Working on a drilling rig, 30 mins chopper ride out of Port Harcourt, Nigeria. We have a security boat to stop
the baddies, the boat has been attacked 2-3 times in the last few months, a few of the guards got killed in the gun battle and the boat got stolen,
they found it in the swamp 2 days later! Hopefully we are safer up here on the rig :-0.
The oilfield service industry is screaming out for experienced people just now, all over the world. With some relevant experience you just need to
get your CV onto the right persons desk at the right time. Just because the companies are not advertising does not mean they are not looking for
people. We have put expensive ads in the press but get very few replys. You are right though, it does help to have some relevant experience.
Try calling a few of the agencies that specialise in oilfield jobs and give them your CV.
Keith.
Why do they call Port Harcourt "The Garden City"?...... Becauase they can't spell Stramash.
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DarrenW
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| posted on 18/9/08 at 09:18 AM |
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Bloody hell Keith - NIGERIA!!
My mate Dug is on a rig off Angola. Saw a job advertised by Shell for Nigerian rig. Apparently stupid money. He was put off by the stories you hear.
Dont know if its true but he did say it wasnt uncommon for the onshore installation to get attacked regularly and for people to get taken from the
rigs.
I guess you can say from first hand experience what its like. Not sure i like the idea of a gun battle taking place on the water whilst you are on
board the rig, shudder to think if stray bullet goes into wrong area.
i need to find out more about what the various offshore jobs are. right now dont know what is available (ie what roles are on a rig / ship etc). Im
sure there will be departments, offices, shop floor workers, supervisors, managers etc and various disciplines.
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iank
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| posted on 18/9/08 at 09:28 AM |
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Doesn't Mr Wippy work in that, or a closely associated industry where they are crying out for engineers? Might be worth a u2u.
Moving to Aberdeen to get a 'safe' office job for a year could get the experience on your CV and you'll be able to go anywhere after
that.
--
Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience.
Anonymous
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Slater
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| posted on 18/9/08 at 09:41 AM |
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Yes, you don't want to be going to an installation on land or in the swamp/delta area in Nigeria, our company policy is that no white guys go
there. But offshore seems a little safer, there are lots of foriegn guys here and on the other offshore rigs. I have never seen any shooting myself ,
yet. Travelling about in Port harcourt can be a bit un-nerving, you have armed guards, but they all have rusty AK47 and whips. The people that work
here all the time just get used to it. I am lucky, I only come here once every few months!
There are lots of rotational positions in the service companies. Baker, Halliburton, Schlumberger, Weatherford and lots of other ones. Places like
Baku, KL, most African countries, Malaysia, China, India. But bear in mind the industry is volatile, it's booming now, but in a short space of
time it could be bust with lots of lay offs. It's happened to me twice so far. But the oil industry seems safe enough to be in right now (maybe
not on this blXXdy rig though) with the oil demand.
Fire off your CV to the HR dept for a bunch of service companies in various countries of you choosing, it just needs to land on the right mangers
desk. I can give you a bigger list of comanies if you want. just u2u me.
Keith.
Why do they call Port Harcourt "The Garden City"?...... Becauase they can't spell Stramash.
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hoots_min
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| posted on 18/9/08 at 11:36 AM |
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I work in the offshore industry too although currently onshore based. As has been said before, your experience would be better suited to onshore if
you want to do project management but there may be more strings to your bow which may be useful offshore. If you are looking for an offshore
management position, you will find it very, very tough to get this job even in the current climate as previous experience offshore is usually
essential, in the north sea that is.
The less safe an area is the more likely it is that someone will get a chance as the number of people going for the job are less. That is not to say
that these areas are in fact less politically safe (please note, I make no comment on the installation safety itself). Most areas are in fact
perfectly safe, I have mates who work in Nigeria, Iraq and so on and they have no qualms about it and the money is fantastic. It is more the threat
that something may kick off suddenly or kidnapping but most companies have action plans etc. should this occur. will depend upon your family
circumstances whether this is worth it too.
But if you want something like the North Sea, agencies are a good start. Fircorft, HazellEng, Atlas, Raeburn - the list is very long! Contracting in
Aberdeen is the way to go (usually double the staff salaries) if you fancy North Sea.
I would start with the likes of Oil and Gas Search or
Oil Careers or
HazellEng
The above are links.
But would also try to look at what skills you have and where you could best fit. A good onshore Project Manager can earn more than an offshore team
leader.
Hope this helps.
Today is a good day: I achieved new heights of ineptitude.
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