Oil&Gas Career Advice?

Amp34 said:
30-40k starting salary... So I guess you could say on £40k after 4 years (3 at undergrad and 1 at Masters). After another 5 years they will probably be on about £70K+ and 15 years £130k+

As for the mention that their course were outdated and they didn't do most of what they learned. Maybe in the HND they did but on a good Masters course you will use most of what you learn almost straight away at the level and higher than you were taught. Industry MSc courses are designed with specific jobs in mind and have a LOT of input from the industry (for example about a third of my course was taught by people coming in from industry to teach what they do for a week or lecturers who teach the same thing on industry courses). That's pretty standard on most MSc courses in this industry.
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Good post.

Very generally speaking, you can probably earn more initially going offshore to work as a Field Engineer, technician etc etc but long term chemical/mechanical/petroleum/structural engineering roles will likely work out with better as Amp's post describes.

Also don't forget it's not unusual for engineers to work ad-hoc offshore and/or rotational offshore roles for parts of their careers.

As others have said having a masters in Petroleum Engineering really does opens doors to roles that are only available to people with that degree (and sometimes chemical/mechanical engineering depending on the role). It's not just a generic masters like a lot of people do to look good on their CV, it really is for specific roles in the O&G industry, hence it's very valuable.

Not sure why I keep speaking in the third person as I'm an engineer in the O&G industry :p
 
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I would definitely complete the Masters and request a later starting date or future revaluation.

Put it this way, in 11 years time you could be in the following 2 categories:
A) 10+ years experience
B) 10+ years experience and MEng.

The second will open more doors. Even in the short term having a masters open many more doors. E.g. Our company only hires graduates with a masters or PhD.
 
Gooner Leroy said:
Do the oil and gas firms only look for people with specific engineering degrees or will they consider people with any engineering degree?
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Most engineering degrees will be relevant in one way or the other for the O&G industry, but obviously you can't do any engineering role with any engineering degree.
 
Upon reflection I'd finish the masters. Field engineering can be very diverse and sometimes unrewarding in my experience. Your masters will open doors for you in the industry, especially if you do well.
 
alx said:
Most engineering degrees will be relevant in one way or the other for the O&G industry, but obviously you can't do any engineering role with any engineering degree.
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I did an MEng in Mining Engineering which involved a little bit of geology, the basic engineering gubbings in the first and second year. I've also finished a PhD a couple of years ago with something unrelated to the O&G. I'm at a point where I'm considering my options atm but I'm not sure whether it is plausible for me to hop over to the O&G industry.

OP, sorry for hijacking your thread
 
Gooner Leroy said:
I did an MEng in Mining Engineering which involved a little bit of geology, the basic engineering gubbings in the first and second year. I've also finished a PhD a couple of years ago with something unrelated to the O&G. I'm at a point where I'm considering my options atm but I'm not sure whether it is plausible for me to hop over to the O&G industry.

OP, sorry for hijacking your thread
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I work with someone who has a mining engineering degree who's is in charge of well drilling operations. It's possible.
 
panthro said:
I work with someone who has a mining engineering degree who's is in charge of well drilling operations. It's possible.
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Do you know whether he had experience in drilling operations prior to working in the O&G industry or did he go straight into it?

I'm not entirely clued up on the O&G industry, please bear with me. Its definitely something I'll have to look into more.
 
Gooner Leroy said:
Do the oil and gas firms only look for people with specific engineering degrees or will they consider people with any engineering degree?
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I'd assume it depends on the job.

Mate just got a job offshore from previous experience. £57k starting, crazy. He is very very good at 'blagging' though so god knows what he acctually told them.
 
Gooner Leroy said:
Do you know whether he had experience in drilling operations prior to working in the O&G industry or did he go straight into it?

I'm not entirely clued up on the O&G industry, please bear with me. Its definitely something I'll have to look into more.
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Some companies have started doing conversion schemes for engineers from other industries, I think Wood Group/JP Kennys is one. Trying googling something like 'engineering conversion scheme for oil and gas' or similar.
 
Gooner Leroy said:
Do you know whether he had experience in drilling operations prior to working in the O&G industry or did he go straight into it?

I'm not entirely clued up on the O&G industry, please bear with me. Its definitely something I'll have to look into more.
Click to expand...

Some companies have started doing conversion schemes for engineers from other industries, I think Wood Group/JP Kennys is one. Trying googling something like 'engineering conversion scheme for oil and gas' or similar.
 
Afternoon chaps,

Apologies for the thread necromancy, but I thought it better to post in an existing thread seeking guidance from the resident OCUK oil & gas industry gurus, rather than starting anew.

In essence, I’d like to get into the oil & gas industry as I find both the working patterns and pay on offer to be had pretty damn attractive, and I feel from my background, I have a lot of relevant skills and experience to offer a potential employer. In regards to my background, I’ve just recently completed a three year Cadetship programme in the Merchant Navy, training to become a ship’s engineering officer, during which I’ve accumulated the following qualifications and certificates;

  • HNC Marine Engineering
  • NC Shipping & Maritime Operations
  • STCW 95 Short courses in;
  • Personal Survival Techniques (use of survival suits, liferafts etc)
  • Proficiency in Survival Craft & Rescue Boats (In essence, a Coxswain’s course)
  • Basic & Advanced Fire-fighting
  • Emergency & Medical First Aid
  • Personal Safety & Social Responsibility

I'm just going through the final stages of obtaining my Engineering Officer Of the Watch certificate of competency, which is an internationally recognized licence to work at sea on ships as an engineer, which is issued by Maritime & Coastguard Agency. The only thing I have left to do is an oral exam with an MCA examiner, which I'm booked in to do on the 13th of November, which I'm optimistic about my chances in passing.

Now the academics aside, in terms of hands-on experience, I've completed workshops in machining and hand-fitting, welding, electrics and marine plant, in addition to having spent 7 & 1/2 months at sea working as an engineer, which involves not only performing both planned and breakdown maintenance and repairs on items such as diesel engines of various types, but also all their associated auxiliaries, such as pumps, valves, motors, generators, pipelines, boilers, separators, heat exchangers and so forth, but also in operating the plant, which involves constantly monitoring parameters such as pressures, and temperatures to identify trends, making adjustments where necessary and general condition monitoring.

What I'd like to do now is transfer those skills into a career in the oil & gas industry, as I feel a lot of what I've done would not only be relevant, but should also give me an advantage over someone coming from a shore side background when going for jobs, as I've already proven I can hack working away but doing two three month plus trips at sea, with my ideal position being either production or maintenance technician, which would match my skills nicely I think. However, I've already made several applications over the past couple of weeks, with no luck so far. I just don't get a response. :(

I've thought of getting a job working as an engineer on PSV's with the likes of Craig Group, Farstad, Vroon etc and using some of the income from that to self-fund my way through an OPITO POL City & Guilds course, in a subject such as Petroleum Processing Technology or Oil & Gas Well Technology, in addition to BOSIET & MIST, which should boost my chances, but I can't help but feel I'd be throwing the better part of £3,000 away, as it seems that without a bit of nepotism, I'm not going to get anywhere in this industry.

Other than the steps I've outlined above, is there anything else I can realistically do to boost my chances, or am I on a hiding to nothing?

Thanks for reading, and apologies for the wall of text. :)
 
Hi,

Once you have your CoC your in a good position to land a job as a marine mechanic. Did you gain experience on oil tankers when at sea? I wouldnt worry about the MIST / BOSIET, the company will put you through that if they are serious about giving you a position.
Offshore is different to ships in a pretty big way. Granted the leave and pay is great, there are a few downsides. Mostly not being able to take a poo without filling in 10 forms, and usually having to share a cabin with a complete stranger for your trip. If you can deal with that and dont mind life a little rougher than at sea, go for it.

Aslo beware that you are dumping your chances of working towards you next COC, so think long term. You can always try it out an go back to sea if it doesnt work out though!
 
The Funktopus said:
having spent 7 & 1/2 months at sea working as an engineer

However, I've already made several applications over the past couple of weeks, with no luck so far. I just don't get a response. :(
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Just re read your post. 7 months at sea is jack, sorry for being blunt. You will be lucky to have a job offer for offshore work having never sailed as a qualified officer. Sea time is what you need. Jobs become much much easier to come by with the more experience you have. The quicker you get through your licenses the better. Once you are at 2/E level you can really pick and choose, whilst C/E is a license to print money :)
But if you think offshore is for you, go do a City and Guild POL course, but then you will have pretty much wasted your cadetship.
 
bowey said:
quite honestly a lot of people specially on rigs ect hire on experience in the field not just qualifications regardless if you have a masters.
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But we're specifically talking about Petroleum Engineering which is a bit different. As has already been mentioned a masters in Petroleum Engineering opens doors to jobs which are almost impossible to get through actual work experience.
 
The Funktopus said:
Afternoon chaps,

Apologies for the thread necromancy, but I thought it better to post in an existing thread seeking guidance from the resident OCUK oil & gas industry gurus, rather than starting anew.

In essence, I’d like to get into the oil & gas industry as I find both the working patterns and pay on offer to be had pretty damn attractive, and I feel from my background, I have a lot of relevant skills and experience to offer a potential employer. In regards to my background, I’ve just recently completed a three year Cadetship programme in the Merchant Navy, training to become a ship’s engineering officer, during which I’ve accumulated the following qualifications and certificates;

  • HNC Marine Engineering
  • NC Shipping & Maritime Operations
  • STCW 95 Short courses in;
  • Personal Survival Techniques (use of survival suits, liferafts etc)
  • Proficiency in Survival Craft & Rescue Boats (In essence, a Coxswain’s course)
  • Basic & Advanced Fire-fighting
  • Emergency & Medical First Aid
  • Personal Safety & Social Responsibility

I'm just going through the final stages of obtaining my Engineering Officer Of the Watch certificate of competency, which is an internationally recognized licence to work at sea on ships as an engineer, which is issued by Maritime & Coastguard Agency. The only thing I have left to do is an oral exam with an MCA examiner, which I'm booked in to do on the 13th of November, which I'm optimistic about my chances in passing.

Now the academics aside, in terms of hands-on experience, I've completed workshops in machining and hand-fitting, welding, electrics and marine plant, in addition to having spent 7 & 1/2 months at sea working as an engineer, which involves not only performing both planned and breakdown maintenance and repairs on items such as diesel engines of various types, but also all their associated auxiliaries, such as pumps, valves, motors, generators, pipelines, boilers, separators, heat exchangers and so forth, but also in operating the plant, which involves constantly monitoring parameters such as pressures, and temperatures to identify trends, making adjustments where necessary and general condition monitoring.

What I'd like to do now is transfer those skills into a career in the oil & gas industry, as I feel a lot of what I've done would not only be relevant, but should also give me an advantage over someone coming from a shore side background when going for jobs, as I've already proven I can hack working away but doing two three month plus trips at sea, with my ideal position being either production or maintenance technician, which would match my skills nicely I think. However, I've already made several applications over the past couple of weeks, with no luck so far. I just don't get a response. :(

I've thought of getting a job working as an engineer on PSV's with the likes of Craig Group, Farstad, Vroon etc and using some of the income from that to self-fund my way through an OPITO POL City & Guilds course, in a subject such as Petroleum Processing Technology or Oil & Gas Well Technology, in addition to BOSIET & MIST, which should boost my chances, but I can't help but feel I'd be throwing the better part of £3,000 away, as it seems that without a bit of nepotism, I'm not going to get anywhere in this industry.

Other than the steps I've outlined above, is there anything else I can realistically do to boost my chances, or am I on a hiding to nothing?

Thanks for reading, and apologies for the wall of text. :)
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Have you considered staying in the marine side of it but just working on a FPSO/DSV? Or do you really want to get into the platform side of things?
 
bowey said:
quite honestly a lot of people specially on rigs ect hire on experience in the field not just qualifications regardless if you have a masters.
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Possibly, but the OP was talking about engineering positions, which would need at least a BSc, preferably a master's, not a roustabout/roughneck or cleaning position.
 
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