Who here works offshore?

[kidzer]

Howdy folks.

So, it looks like I'm away to accept a job offer, which is nice. Part of which will probably have me going offshore for short stints - not very often I'm told, but it'll probably happen.

I've managed to not let my slightly irrational fear of being offshore stop me from being willing to accept the job, and I was just looking for some first-hand accounts of what life is like offshore and if I'm right to be a bit apprehensive about it? Or is it pretty much safe these days? I'm aware of incidents that happen such as the last helicopter to ditch that killed some folks, but for some reason the chopper doesn't worry me as much as being on a platform!

Any hints/tips/info most welcome!

[jim]

Funkstar IIRC?

[kidzer]

I believe so, yeah - be interesting to see if anybody else does too!

[rox0r]

Doing the RGIT course gives you a bit of a feel for it what with the old helicopter ditch & dunk etc. I did mine years ago when it was a week but I'm led to believe it's condensed into a couple of days now.

[TheAnimus]

couple of days? I get the impression it might be a bit "duck and cover".....

[Funkstar]

The offshore survival course is down to about 2 days now because they have dropped a lot of the non helicopter ditching parts of the course. First aid is a lot shorter and you no longer do an intensive fire fighting course. When I first did it 8 years ago I did the Norwegian/Danish part as well, so that made it a full week course.

Offshore is safe and quite a pleasant place to be on the whole. I'm sitting on the Elgin platform in their computer room just now.

Accidents do happen, but day to day you are probably safer here than you are on a building site or a normal office. Oil company offices use a lot of the same procedures as they do offshore now; things like the STOP system, one hand on the hand rail at all times on the stairs, lid on cups of tea/coffee, etc.

Outside you have your "full PPE", PPE being Personal Protective Equipment. This is flame retardant coveralls, hard hat (green for new starts), steel tow boots, safety glasses, gloves and hearing protection (in the form of ear deffenders or ear plugs). This is definitely far safer than a building site. Some people couldn't handle the fact you are sitting in the middle of the North Sea, but I like it. Walk ways are usually steel grating, and you can see right down to the water, so if that bothers you, you might have problems.

Living conditions are usually great. Three cooked meals a day with snacks in between, food is usually pretty good (sometimes not, and sometime amazing) and there is plenty of it. Your washing is all done for you. TV's in all the rooms with ~20 satellite channels (choice varies by platform). Internet access can be hit or miss, it depends on the operating companies policy on access. BP and ConocoPhillips are the worst because you need a corporate login, most other places have free access. Phones are free and you just press 9 for an outside line, like being in an office really.

Anything else you want to know? Just ask.

[kidzer]

Sounds good, I suppose I was just looking for reassurance about the safety etc - see the irrational fear above. It goes something like; I land on the rig, big wave hits rig, rig falls over, I die.

Highly unlikely, but its what I kept thinking!

Speaking of waves, what are the platforms like in rough seas? Does it depend on the type of platform? I'd expect to be working indoors most of the time when I'm off, but do cups fall off tables when its really windy etc? Or have Hollywood boat-scenes exaggerated that a fair bit?

Oh, and I can understand about the net issues - I did my placement as 1st/2nd line support for Schlumberger VSAT systems, so I know exactly why some platforms will have poor WWW access!

[Andeh13]

Ever since BP got itself into such a mess over their rig & resulting oil leak i would say oil platforms are soon to be the safest, most over engineered things on this planet!

[jim]

Nah, the blowout valve will be.

People on top will still get blown to smithereens - no point wasting good money on unnecessary safety equipment

[Funkstar]

Speaking of waves, what are the platforms like in rough seas? Does it depend on the type of platform? I'd expect to be working indoors most of the time when I'm off, but do cups fall off tables when its really windy etc? Or have Hollywood boat-scenes exaggerated that a fair bit?

All depends on the type of platform. The vast majority are fixed leg and will not move, other than a slight sway, even in the roughest of seas. Others however are based on a couple of different floating designs. First you have the FPSO (Floating Production Storage and Offloading) which is based on a large oil tanker, so looks like a ship. They are moored to the sea bad, do move about a bit, bot not as much as a regular ferry for example. Then you have semi-subersables, google to see pics. again, they don't move much, but do move.

Kidzer, if you fancy chatting more about this, how about a pint or a coffee? Just let me know and I'm sure we can arrange something

[Stoo]

My Dad has 40+ years experience offshore - mostly in the north sea

He was Bacton shore based with the occasional trip for a while (ConocoPhillips), but he's doing two week shifts at the moment with another company

[kidzer]

So I've accepted the offer, and so I expect I'll be offshore perhaps by the end of the year - hopefully not much though!

Funkstar - I don't drink Coffee or Beer, but I'm sure I'll find something to drink! When are you back on dry land?

[Funkstar]

Funkstar - I don't drink Coffee or Beer, but I'm sure I'll find something to drink! When are you back on dry land?

Onshore just now, but in Edinburgh this weekend. Will be back in Aberdeen from Tuesday then offshore on Friday.

If you aren't offshore until the end of the year then there is plenty of time to meet up