Offshore work NLC

[philthy]

Thought I would post up here as I know there are a lot of Oil & Gas workers amongst the SE collective.

I am currently looking for a change in career path (for various reasons) and I have always fancied going offshore engineering of some sort although I am pretty adaptable!

I graduated in Product Design Engineering 5 years ago but I am more than keen to have further training. I was going to enrol in the 'Intro to Subsea Engineering' course from RGU, is there any others that I should look at?
I haven't got my BOSIET ticket yet but not a problem to get it.

Basically looking for any pointers, do's and dont's etc any help is massively appreciated!

[scottishselise]

Hi - I sent you a PM but will add to it...

I wouldn't bother paying for courses, it is quite a tight community and most folks don't get in through external application process. Demand for positions is probably less via service companies if you cannot get on a graduate type scheme from one of the operators.

Another route would be to do some office work and/or workshop work first for instance to get your foot in the door and look to jump over once you have experience. You could also go via merchant navy (glasgow nautical 2 years) spend a few years on a ship, get your tickets then make the transition to rigs.

It really isn't all that glorious. Usually its all for the money, the time off is also nice but most people cannot get a smoothly planned rotation - you will miss lots of events which I am sure you are prepared for. You tend to be shattered all the time too. 84hr weeks minimum, often on nightshift in the beginning (no day light for three weeks) and getting up in the middle of your sleep for boat drills...

It's a bit like long commutes - most people who do it say that 'it's not that bad' etc until they stop...

Subsea/well engineers are very much in demand so that's a good start. I know FMC have office now Glasgow area so may be worth a shout.

[Baggy]

Would suggest contacting JPKenny as i know they are proactively looking at conversion courses for adjusting technical personnel from other industries to Oil and Gas (particularly Subsea).

Technip is another global company that I know are proactive about conversion, also try Subsea 7

Also there are a couple of Aberdeen based companies opening offices in the North East of england with the intention of tapping into the good base of Engineers there. Try Bibby and a firm called Flexlife.

Do a bit of homework on these companies though and check that what they do is compatible with your skills/ambitions.

As commented before, signing up for a survival course isn't a ticket to offshore work, in fact the adverts on the radio by the training suppliers are at best missleading in that regard.

Any company hiring on the basis of whether or not you have a survival I would avoid. All it does is demonstrates that they really aren't fussy.

[philthy]

Many thanks for the advice!
I have sent a few speculative applications away to some of those companies that look suitable.
Hard to get noticed with amount of CVs they must receive, however it is worth a try! I read on their site that JP Kenny need to find over 1000 new engineers right now.

[Gareth]

Many thanks for the advice!
I have sent a few speculative applications away to some of those companies that look suitable.
Hard to get noticed with amount of CVs they must receive, however it is worth a try! I read on their site that JP Kenny need to find over 1000 new engineers right now.

Don't mean to burst the bubble (and maybe I was negative in my PM) but most content on the jp kenny site is 3 years old.
Also JP Kenny is part of WoodGroup Kenny and it only has 2800 employees so an additional 1000 Engineers is unlikely. WGK is made up of 6 other companies. Check out their site.

[philthy]

Does seem unlikely. Only posted it up because it seemed a huge number.
Not only that though - a further 3000 by 2015!?

[rossybee]

My brother world for WGIM (Wood Group Integrity Management), I can ask him what's the reality?

[philthy]

Been doing a lot more research and realise that starting as a floorhand or roustabout and working my way up isnt the best option for me.

I have found a company relatively local to me that provides ROV pilot tech training, anyone have any knowledge/advice? It is the first job offshore that I can realistically see myself obtaining and enjoying.

[steviej]

There is an ROV training centre in Fort William which may be of interest to you, don't know anything about it but someone at work was talking about it.
www.theunderwatercentre.com/fortwilliam

[S111Y TT]

Interested in Intervention, Through Tubing or Completion Technologies at all?

[tut]

Clare's fiance Jamie did his commercial diving course at FW, so he has a good insight to the place.

He is now living in Dubai and diving around the Gulf, and works with ROV's and their operators every day.

tut

[tut]

Hi Phil, Jamie is here now so if you pm me your CV, he can check if it contains anything that they look for, e.g. electrical or hydraulics.

tut

[philthy]

tut, sent you a pm!

Ian, really depends on the job - not being in the industry means I had to google what that was

[thinfourth]

Our company is looking for a shore based engineer with absolutely zero offshore work

[lou_m]

Hope you don't mind me also jumping on this thread. I'm leaving the RAF after 12 years this May. Lots of mechanical and hydraulic experience. Ideally looking for offshore work.