Thread: Tell me about oil rigs

My dad started work as a drilling engineer on the rigs around the Shetland islands in the north sea. I know there are many ways to get onto the rigs but he did a degree in Petroleum engineering. I know that lots of people get paid a lot of money to work one month on, one month off the rigs. But even these days it's dangerous, labour intensive work.

Hope your plans work out!

Originally Posted by Pensive Patrick

My dad started work as a drilling engineer on the rigs around the Shetland islands in the north sea. I know there are many ways to get onto the rigs but he did a degree in Petroleum engineering. I know that lots of people get paid a lot of money to work one month on, one month off the rigs. But even these days it's dangerous, labour intensive work.

Hope your plans work out!

People keep telling me i wont last doing it because it's bloody hard to do. Even super hard for someone who's as fit as a whistle because it's not made for someone who's JUST physically strong, but one who's physically strong but MUST be mentally strong aswell. You get paid big because of crappy conditions and a HUGE risk of death. That's how they get people, make the money really pay well. You also get bored up there so people gamble eachother for paychecks to keep busy, and it's loud obviously. I was told if i get to an oil rig try going for one out at sea because i wont have to pay high rent prices (alberta for example), living on the rig is free. Also the guys on the rig try breaking you, so you can't be mentally weak. They try breaking you down to see if you're made for this kind of job, not because they don't like you. You are all relying on eachother for safety and stay alive, if you're an idiot you will get yourself killed or other people. Atleast asking around this is what i have been told. I'm not mentally strong but i like the money and will have to suck it up.

Originally Posted by LucidFlanders

People keep telling me i wont last doing it because it's bloody hard to do. Even super hard for someone who's as fit as a whistle because it's not made for someone who's JUST physically strong, but one who's physically strong but MUST be mentally strong aswell. You get paid big because of crappy conditions and a HUGE risk of death. That's how they get people, make the money really pay well. You also get bored up there so people gamble eachother for paychecks to keep busy, and it's loud obviously. I was told if i get to an oil rig try going for one out at sea because i wont have to pay high rent prices (alberta for example), living on the rig is free. Also the guys on the rig try breaking you, so you can't be mentally weak. They try breaking you down to see if you're made for this kind of job, not because they don't like you. You are all relying on eachother for safety and stay alive, if you're an idiot you will get yourself killed or other people. Atleast asking around this is what i have been told. I'm not mentally strong but i like the money and will have to suck it up.

Well it sounds like you know what you're doing. I think you should go for it. And anyway a lot of the big companies like BP wouldn't let that sort of thing happen (the breaking you down etc.). They really look after their employees; well that's what I've heard anyway. Good luck with whatever you choose to do!

Originally Posted by Pensive Patrick

Well it sounds like you know what you're doing. I think you should go for it. And anyway a lot of the big companies like BP wouldn't let that sort of thing happen (the breaking you down etc.). They really look after their employees; well that's what I've heard anyway. Good luck with whatever you choose to do!

Thanks. This is just 1 of my ideas, i am also thinking of working on a yacht. I know someone who works on one. I normally have a billion ideas of something i wanna try because the money pays well, and i don't wanna be poor.