Electrical oil rig work advice

[Strebor7]

Hello. I'm a 35 year old electrician who has runs his own business in this field and I am looking for some advice on getting onto the oil rigs as an electrician. From what I can gather there are various safety courses that I need to acquire that are not cheap. I'm not sure if there are any electrical course I can do onshore that will help me get a start easier but I know some exist. I am prepared to spend the money and gain all the relevant bits and bobs for me to have a chance of getting a position but I'm worried that even though I might get all the necessary certificates etc that it is a case of who you know because I have no hands on experience.
Please advise and any guidance would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[timbobelfast]

It is a case of who you know, and unless you come from a heavy industrial electrical background then you may being wasting your hard earned cash.

 

[Strebor7]

So I presume there are no courses you can do to get experience in the necessary skills needed on land. I have met someone who works on a rig but I don't know how much they can help because I guess you still need all necessary skills

 

[timbobelfast]

Compex would be a start but without heavy industrial experience you will struggle. Back to the drawing board.

 

[GLENNSPARK]

message from Tony:
learn to swim...

 

[somersetsparks]

Hello. I'm a 35 year old electrician who has runs his own business in this field and I am looking for some advice on getting onto the oil rigs as an electrician. From what I can gather there are various safety courses that I need to acquire that are not cheap. I'm not sure if there are any electrical course I can do onshore that will help me get a start easier but I know some exist. I am prepared to spend the money and gain all the relevant bits and bobs for me to have a chance of getting a position but I'm worried that even though I might get all the necessary certificates etc that it is a case of who you know because I have no hands on experience.
Please advise and any guidance would be appreciated. Thanks

Very closed shop industry, I know a lot of lads who spent a lot on survival, compex etc. and got a few jobs doing reifts of accommodation and other offshore refurbs, this was when times were better mind, and even then the work wasn't regular or very well paid considering.

You could end up spending a lot for nothing IMO. You would be better going on a couple blue book jobs on land first to build a bit of experience.

As with any large projects, for your average spark there won't be a lot of 'thinking' involved, more just a good set of skills in terminating cable, racking, tray etc etc. and being extremely neat in fact you may be bored to tears just terminating cables for months etc. etc.

IMO try and get on a couple of shutdowns etc. on some refineries or bigger blue book jobs and see if you like it before you flush a couple of k's and safety courses which require regular re-sits.

 

[somersetsparks]

Have a look on here National Joint Council for the Engineering Construction Industry (NJC). And look up current major projects or repair and maintenance projects, you will need a 'safety passport' which lasts 3 years for most of these jobs.

 

[Strebor7]

Obviously I'm trying to run a business and I'm not sure how I could get on these shutdown jobs. I guess your saying I'm wasting my time.

 

[somersetsparks]

Obviously I'm trying to run a business and I'm not sure how I could get on these shutdown jobs. I guess your saying I'm wasting my time.

Not at all mate, I didn't realise you were still running business full time, IMO unless you know some people in the right places or just strike it lucky then I would say jumping feet first into rig work would be a non-starter, 5 years ago maybe a lot better chances but at the moment works tight everywhere.

 

[Strebor7]

I guess god loves a trier

 

[44ALLAN]

I guess god loves a trier

If your willing to go to ( dangerous places) then there's money...........big money to be made.
Armed guards who take your passports off you on arrival and escort you everywhere..............then you have to 'bribe' them to get it back and that's just Aberdeen ffs !!

Rigs are closed shop to a new company trying to get in unless you have a serious contact.
Best advice...............bang in loads of e-mails and telephone calls to agencies............they have the contacts and will take their cut but might get your foot in the door then you take it from there mate.

 

[Strebor7]

I'm not trying to get in as a company, just myself. Thanks for the advice about the agencies

 

[stuartcourt]

I applied as a lad of 16 and stopped hundreds of letters later at about 19 when I had a call from a guy on a rig (not sure who now) who said its a father to son world but will be changing in a few years, I am now 38 and gave up after that call but would like to think that things have changed and now best man for the job. I would also like to think I am going to win the lottery. Good luck I would ring round and ask up front if you would have a chance someone might give a straight answer.

 

[Strebor7]

Cheers for the heads up, it sounds like its not possible then.

 

[44ALLAN]

I'm not trying to get in as a company, just myself. Thanks for the advice about the agencies

Love them or hate them.............companies use them to save them all the hassle.