There are many different oil rig jobs that are ubiquitous to large production rigs, and there are an enormous number of specialised jobs that are project based.
Specialised doesn’t mean it is unattainable for a person new to the industry, these hire trainees all the time. Because the industry is so specialised, most of the jobs require on the job training, you don’t need to have experience before getting the job.
Let’s take a look at the jobs on UK oil rig.
Since this website is more for people new to the industry, this list will be simplified.
As well as rig jobs that are there all the time, there are project based jobs. Project jobs cover so many different areas, from the construction of the rig and maintenance.
Turbine specialist
Telecommunications
The list would go on and on.
Shutdowns on oil rigs are a very busy time, this is when they ‘shut down’ production.
During normal running of an oil rig, oil is flowing constantly from the depths of the earth, through the pipelines, all the separators, all the pumps, through the main trunk pipeline going back to shore, through the processing plant onshore. There is a lot going on, and while it is running the company is making 10s of millions of pounds per day. So….
The operator (the company that owns everything) doesn’t want to stop production, so all maintenance that requires to stop production is done all at the same time, for as short of time as possible. A lot of work happens during a shutdown, it is so busy, and there are so many people with different random jobs all over the place.
A shutdown might last 4 weeks, and with over 100 rigs in the north sea, there are large service companies that are busy all year round performing some specialised service on the rigs.
On drilling rigs, there is a totally different purpose, they move around, over positions they think will be good for oil reserves, and start drilling.
There are a number of different jobs that are specific to drilling:
There is clear information on jobs, UK agencies and companies to contact, how skills can cross over easily to oil and gas, and give you tips and tools to research or dive deeper for those of you with extra drive.