Living conditions can vary greatly between each installation. Older production platforms and flotels might be less spacious than a more recently built drilling rig – but the standards are generally excellent.

Click here for a description of some of the different types of oil rig.

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.

Click here to learn more about the offshore survival certificate that every offshore worker must have.

Food

Most installations have self-service canteen-type catering arrangements, with a wide range of options.

Fresh food is regularly delivered to the installation by supply boat or helicopter, so things like fruit and salad are readily available.

Bread is usually baked on board and there is always a choice of at least three or four main items at each meal.

All food and beverages are provided free of charge and are often available 24 hours a day.

Accommodation

On most installations or rigs you will have to share a cabin with a colleague – a bit like the cabin on a large ferry – with its own wash hand basin and, often, television. Shower and toilet facilities are not always en-suite.

In addition, there are generously sized communal lounges and dining rooms with a wide range of leisure facilities including gyms, table tennis tables, satellite TV and DVD and video players.

Communication with home is excellent, with the exception of cell phone reception which is not available. The use of cellular telephones is not allowed offshore in any case for safety reasons. However, there are ample 'public' card phones and the big production platforms have broadband internet access which means that you can send and receive e-mails. 

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.

Weather conditions

Weather conditions in the North Sea, particularly in winter, can be very bad, with high winds, severe rain or snow and low temperatures. Quite a number of jobs on an installation are outdoors so, inevitably, are affected to some extent by the weather. However, high quality waterproof and warm clothing is provided and, in extremely severe conditions, the work might have to temporarily stop; for example, if it is too windy for helicopters to land then the deck landing crew will be moved to other duties.

If you are working outside, chances are you will get cold and wet on some jobs.

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.

Smoking, drugs and alcohol

Smoking offshore is allowed but, for obvious safety reasons, only in designated areas. You are NOT allowed to take any source of ignition offshore. Matches for lighting cigarettes are provided in the designated areas.

Alcohol is completely banned on all offshore installations. Possession of alcohol could result in the Offshore Installation Manager (OIM) returning you ashore.

The use and/or possession of controlled substances offshore is illegal and most companies have a policy of random drug testing. Possession and use of controlled substances is viewed extremely seriously and you will almost certainly lose your job if you are caught taking or possessing them.

Discipline

Although you will have line managers and/or supervisors to whom you report when offshore, the ultimate responsibility for the safe operation of the installation lies in the hands of the Offshore Installation Manager (OIM). He or she is very much like the captain of a ship with respect to discipline and can order you ashore for a serious breach of regulations.

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.

Additional Information

Case Studies

You can read case studies from offshore workers in our Meet the People section.

Oil City

A website where users submit their personal experiences and knowledge of working in the North Sea oil and gas industry, for the future benefit of the industry and to provide a valuable historical record. For more information click here.