Best Offshore Jobs
 

I have a stepson that is interested in working offshore. He has a degree in automotive technology but is interested in offshore work. What do all think are some of the best ways to get started? Should he get an associates degree from Nichols or a production technology degree first? What jobs seems to be in the most demand out there?

Thanks,

Dan

I'm in communications, and like it well enough. It all depends on what he wants to do, and how long he would be willing to stay out there. I like communications because you don't stay out long, only a day or two, then hit the next one, but it is 24hr call, and that can be a pain.

I'm new to the gulf...Graduated in Dec from McNeese in General Agriculture and now I'm a production Operator, started January 2nd. Production is the way to go, IMO. I work 7/7 and really like it. For a sportsman, it's a hell of an awesome schedule. I didn't have any experience but they sent me to school and training. Most out here are willing to teach you all they know, at least the people I've worked with. Here are some companies if he wants to get into production; send resumes to Apache, Wood Group, Shamrock, etc..

With a mechanically based background, he could always be a mechanic out here..

Also, a good place to start looking is http://www.rigzone.com/ There, you can upload a resume and browse job listings all over the country. They have a wide variety of postings in all kinds of backgrounds.

Thanks

I worked 8yrs as a measurement tech, thats a pretty good field and his mechanical back ground would help out.... look into pipeline operations, feild tech ect with Chevron, ConocoPhillips and such companies.... look up Indeed.com or company sites on the web.

If he likes a set schedule then production would be the way to go. A lot of the service companies will be on a call out basis, 24 hour call. Starting out, he may get the messy jobs until he advances, but on occasions everyone gets messy. Being a mechanic has it's advantages, but after wrestling with that iron for years many mechanics are beat up from that experience.

I know exxonMobil will be testing next month for offshore jobs. Send me your email if you want info on testing dates.

Production is probably gonna give the most job security. The drilling side is starting to need some entry level people. also the drilling side is gonna offer more routes. I've been doing it about 17 years. In Brasil at the moment, next will be SE Asia. It's for some people, but not others!!

Im a crane operator on a drillship and if I would suggest anything it would be to go subsea. Thats where the big money is at. But for entry level our roustabouts start at around $65,000 a year.

Yea, I'd suggest subsea ($$) also if it's an opportunity on the drilling side, just not something you'll get hired directly into.. Get out there, work hard/smart, get suction in the right pit, and you'll get where you want!!

Exactly I agree 100 percent. Also right now everyone is hiring and its a good time to get your foot in the door. As long as you work hard and apply yourself and show motivation right now is a good time to move up the ladder and make some really good money too!

ROV Operator would be choice if I had to pick a job.

If you want a set schedule. Production, Measurment and Drilling.

Non set schedules mostly on call or your service companies, wireline, casing, rental tools.

My cousin who is 31 or started stright out of HS working for a drilling company, he went to college in South Mississippi on his days off and got some type of petroleum degree. He is now a company man with BP making over $150,000 yr working only half the year.

He!!, that makes me glad i'm not a comp. man.. At least for BP.. they're are some comp. men out there hauling in $300k-$400k though..

I'm sure he makes more than that, that's what he started at. I'll see him in a few weekends. I'll ask him then.

comp.?

company

Well duh! I had thought of that, but thought no thats too simple. :)

65k starting? Sheesh! Well I never worked offshore, but had the chance back in the '70's when I got out of school. Correct me if I'm wrong here, but isn't the roustabout position a sort of "right out of high school" position? No experience necessary?

Yep. But in 99 when I started roustabouting it was around 30,000$ a yr.

Correct, do you know how hard it is to find an 18 year old than can pass a drug screen, show up to the dock/office on time for crew change, and actually work when they get on location?

An 18 year old with half a brain and a clean head with a little drive can get on a pushboat and make be making $100,000 a year in under 2 years. Pushboat captains make over $500 day closer to $600.

Yep, and pushboat business is crazy right now. Every one f my customers is building boats and barges non stop - the opportunities are endless on pushboats, river or canal.

The big ones like Florida Marine Trans and Kirby Inland Marine have their own school they run the entry level hands through. A little drive and dedication and a fella can bank real quick, Chouest and Harvey offshore tug captains make $1000+ a day!!!!!

I know the owners or Lafourche Merchant Marine School, they are non-stop busy. everybodies is looking to upgrade thier license.

I didn't know the big boat captains were making that much. When I wasn working in the yard I got to know the captain of the liftbaot we were working on pretty good. He said he was makin $685 a day. I was like damn that's pretty good money. He claims he's underpaid. He said you have to be a safety manager, a mechanic, a hotel manager, a transportation coordinator, a restaurant manager, crane operator, house keeping manager all rolled into one......... plus you need to know how to drive a 150'x90' barge with 3-285' legs sticking up in the air around.

We are all underpaid! A wise Asian man (VP of R&D at my last job) told me when I was leaving to "always remember, we all are underpaid because people pay you for what you've done and proven capable of in the past, not necessarily what you do today". The job you get next is usually higher paying, and is a reflection of what you did before.

Boat life sucks, trust me I did it before moving on to drilling rigs. A good motivated hand can move up quick and be making over $100, 000 a year in just a few years. Sub sea techs are making over $200, 000 a year. It all depends what direction a new hand decides to go with their career and also which company you work for but the money is there to be made. What other jobs can you make 6 figures and get 6 months of vacation a year!

Everyone says you 'only work 1/2 as many days' as a regular job. But just remember that this ain't your 9-5 cushy job.

Lot of guys not cut out for it.

Im goin on 13 years on drilling rigs...If he is motivated to move up and bust azzz big opportunities are there. I spent many days wondering what the hell I was thinking for ever getting in the oilfield but now im in the directional side and will soon be in a consultant position. Im proof if you learn fast and stick with it the oilfield can provide a very good career in not that many years.


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Mine

subsea is definitely a good field to get into but its not for everyone. best thing to do is get out there and see what direction he likes the most. Lost of good money to be made and plenty of work coming down the pipe. I know of at least 6 new drillships coming to the gulf by the end of next year. with his mechanical background he may want to start as a motorman in the technical side and move toward mechanic.

Well I like production, the only time I work in the cold, rain, heat, or just plain old work is when something tears up. Other than that I sit in my office and play on SaltyCajun. it pays the bills and I have 6 months out of the year off.

I only work 5 1/2 months a year!!!! 6 weeks vacation!!!

Yall know of any opportunities for an I/E with plant exp., I wont leave my job for just anything, but would definately explore the possibility of upgrading

Just take a look..
 

Some of the majors drilling contractors are in need of personel, especially in the tech side.. Many new units are being built. Over the next 4 years there are suppose to be close to 50 new rigs being built worldwide.. And the new ones are state of the art.. 2 men running the entire drillfloor from chairs. (Cyber chairs) some of these running uppward $750mil. The company I work for are building 4 new duel-activity drillships, and upgrading old iron @ the moment.

Yeah lots of companies are building right now. I'm on the first of four new drillships that are being built for our company. In the yard that is building our rigs they are also building rigs for 3 other major companies also. Our rig should be heading to the gulf in about another month. And I'm ready not to have 15 hour flights to go to work!

Excuse my ignorance fellas, but what is a pushboat?

Mostly what you see in the river and canal pushing barges.

What you see "pushing" 2-3 barges. Normally they have 4 man crew. Captain, mate, tankerman, deckhand.


The bigger ones on the river have the above plus an engineer (motorman, oiler) a few deckhands and sometimes a cook. We built a few pushboats with 8 quarters and beds for 10.

One down fall to offshore jobs is you miss a lot of things in your family and kids life... most only work 26 weeks a year but once you put in your years, you build up vacation to trim those 26 weeks down.

On call jobs are for a young guy because when you get in your 40s not many want to keep running like that.

Best advice I can give to any young guy starting offshore is to pay yourself 1st before you pay anything (retirement) it will take you a little while to build up to 100k but once you are in the 6digits your money grows 2 to 3 X's as fast!

If you pay your self you will retire with a lot of life in front of you. That was the best advice I was given by my step grandpaw who retired with Conco/philips (twice)

That is excellent advice "W".

Great advice W.

Inland market "push boats" is booming. Almost everyone is building boats, Blessey, Enterprise, Settoon, Golding, and that's just to name a few. As mentioned above, many want you to advance quick to the wheel house.

Before I came to Sea-Trac I was offered It Tech at 2 major offshore companies. I just could not do that to my 4 boys being away spur of the moment for long periods.

Some people love the offshore and some inland. Everyone has their own pros and cons.


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They are always hiring out here. I work for Baker Hughes and we are always hiring
In every division. It's on call work alot but we get paid anywhere from 300 to 1100 a day plus salary and bonuses. I work production in college and it was nice working 7 & 7. My division has a 28/11 schedule unless you are on a deep water project then it's 14 & 14.

what company do you work for?

Any of you oilfield guys know people that do environmental work? That is an area I am interested in after college.

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