Job profiles

Offshore drilling worker

Hours
Variable

Starting salary
12,000 + per year

Drillers, assistant drillers and derrickmen are part of the team that works on
offshore facilities such as oil or gas rigs or drilling platforms. If you want a practical
job working in a team, this could be for you.
In this job you would need to be willing to live away from home. You would need to
be physically fit and have a good head for heights. You would also need to be able to
follow and give out instructions.
You don't need any specific qualifications to get into this job but you will need to be
over 18. A common route is to start on an Apprenticeship scheme. You might also
be eligible for re-training schemes if you have technical experience from related
industries or the armed forces.

Work activities
As a derrickman, you would work 20 to 25 metres above the rig floor on a platform
attached to the derrick (the mast that supports the drilling equipment). You would
work under the supervision of the driller and assistant driller, and your duties would
include:

handling and stacking sections of the drill pipe

maintaining the derrick
operating the lifting and hoisting machinery to position the drill
controlling and maintaining mud pumps, and supervising mud pump operators.
As a driller, you would supervise the drilling team and control the rate of drilling.
Your work in this highly skilled role would include:

controlling operations on the drill floor

overseeing assembly of the drilling tools, and connecting sections of the drill pipe
operating and controlling the machinery that raises and lowers the drill
keeping records of the drilling process
making sure that the whole team follows health and safety rules.
As an assistant driller it would be your job to coordinate the activities on the drill
floor, for example by passing on instructions and information from the driller to the
rest of the drilling team.

Working hours and conditions

You would typically live and work on a rig or platform for two or three weeks,
followed by two or three weeks rest period on shore. You would work up to 12 hours
a day on a 24-hour shift rota.
You could work on a fixed production platform with up to 100 workers, or on a
smaller mobile rig in a team of around 20 people. Facilities can include living
accommodation, canteens and recreation areas. There are bans on alcohol and
smoking.
The job can be physically demanding, working in all types of weather conditions and
at heights. You would need to wear protective clothing, including a harness, ear
defenders and thermal boiler suit.

Income
Apprentices can earn between 12,000 and 20,000 a year. Derrickmen can earn
between 25,000 and 30,000, depending on experience. Drillers and assistant
drillers can earn 30,000 to 50,000 a year.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.

Entry requirements
You would normally get into this job after first working with the drilling crew as a
roustabout and roughneck. You will usually need at least two years experience
and be aged 18 or over to apply for jobs.
A common route into the industry is through an Apprenticeship scheme. Employers
prefer Apprentices to have at least four GCSEs (A-C) including English, maths and
another relevant subject such as science or design and technology. Equivalent
qualifications may be accepted.

To find out more about Apprenticeships in the offshore oil and gas industry, visit the
Apprenticeships and Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB).

Apprenticeships
ECTIB Apprenticeships
If you have previous experience from another industry, for example shipbuilding,
construction or engineering, or from the armed forces, you may be able to apply for
a place on OPITOs Transition Training Programme.
The Programme aims to build on your existing technical skills to match those needed
in the oil and gas industries. See the OPITO website for more details.

OPITO - Transition Training Programme

You can find more information about working in the offshore industry on the
myOilandGasCareer website.

myOilandGasCareer

Training and development

To work offshore, you must pass an offshore survival and fire-fighting course, also
known as emergency response training, or basic offshore induction and emergency
training (BOSIET). This may be part of an Apprenticeship, or it can be done
separately as a short course. Some employers may provide BOSIET training, but you
can fund it yourself while you look for work offshore.
See the OPITO course search page for information about safety training and where
to find courses.

OPITO courses
When you start a job you will usually have some initial training onshore (often
known as 'greenhand' training), which can include:

health and safety

manual handling
working with hazardous substances
working at heights
helicopter and helideck safety
banksman slinging (using hoisting equipment).
You will take further short courses relevant to your particular job as your experience
grows, such as working with cranes and rigging.
Promotion from derrickman to assistant driller and then driller can take between two
and four years.

Skills, interests and qualities

To be an offshore drilling worker you should have:

good practical skills

the ability to live and work as a member of a team
willingness to live and work away from home
good leadership skills
the ability to follow and give instructions
awareness of health and safety
physical fitness
a good head for heights.

More information
Cogent
Unit 5, Mandarin Court
Centre Park
Warrington
Cheshire
WA1 1GG
Tel: 01925 515200
www.cogent-ssc.com
Oil & Gas UK
www.oilandgasuk.org.uk
myOilandGasCareer.com
www.myoilandgascareer.com
Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB)
Blue Court
Church Lane
Kings Langley
Hertfordshire
WD4 8JP
Tel: 01923 260000
www.ecitb.org.uk

Opportunities
Most of the UK offshore oil and gas industry is located off the east coast of Scotland
and England, with other fields in the Irish Sea and west of the Shetland Islands.
There are also opportunities elsewhere around the world.
Follow the link below for a map of the main locations of various parts of the energy
industry in the UK (courtesy of Cogent).

Cogent UK Footprint
You could work for operating companies with their own exploration and production
licences, or for drilling and maintenance contracting companies.
With experience, you could be promoted from driller to toolpusher or rig manager.

You may find the following useful for job vacancies and general reading:

OilCareers
Oil and Gas Job Search
Offshore Technology
Cleddau Oil Rig jobs