Offshore Oil Rig Jobs In Texas

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Are there offshore oil rig jobs in Texas? Yes, of course there are. After all, Texas is one of the Gulf states and there is still plenty of offshore oil drilling going on. Unfortunately, this does not do you much good if you are not living in Houston or somewhere else nearby. That’s because most oil drilling companies with rigs off Texas have an office there (in Houston).

There are many job seekers looking for offshore oil rig jobs in Texas. Of course, most of those posting on the net are from out of the state or even out of the country. You can tell this from the way they write and the kinds of questions they ask. Many of them say they are willing to move and able to work hard. However, they say this while typing on a computer in their homes sitting on their asses. They want to get an offshore oil rig job in Texas before they are actually willing to move or even visit.

That’s just like a sissy, lacking guts and commitment. The ones who successfully get drilling rig jobs on offshore oil rigs are men with guts and commitment. They are men who go to where the work is and then look for jobs there, not sissies sitting on their arses begging for work on the web.

From the point of view of a job seeker, Texas, like every other Gulf state with oil in their waters, have two types of offshore oil rigs. The first is located near the shore and hire roustabouts and other crew by the day. That means you go to their recruiting point early in the morning and then try to get yourself chosen for that day’s oil crew. Usually, you will travel to and from the rig by boat. If you get hired, you will be doing general unskilled labor under supervision. It is not a career but is mainly a way of gaining experience. It is also a way of getting yourself noticed as a hard worker and team player as well as making friends with the supervisor (usually an experienced roustabout or a roughneck), hopefully getting a longer contract.

The second type of offshore oil rig is located farther away from shore. You will normally get there by helicopter because it is too far to go by boat. The tour of duty will normally be two weeks on and two weeks off, although there is an increasing number of tours with three weeks on and two weeks off. Basically, you do not get a break (i.e. no weekends) when you are on the offshore rig.

This kind of oil rig employment usually needs some form of related experience. That’s where the daily rate jobs really come in useful. However, if you are personable and lucky, you might be able to parlay experience on a land-based oil rig into a job. If you have not worked on an oil rig before but have marine experience, e.g. working on a trawler or as a Navy sailor, you should also have a chance.

But how do you do your oil rig job search? Simple. Go to the docks and talk to people. Find out where the day labor recruitment points are. Find out which offshore drilling companies are still operating their oil platforms in Texas waters then go visit their local office. Too shy to talk to strangers? What are you, a girl? If you don’t have the guts don’t ask to work in the oil industry.

If you want work on an oil rig off the shores of Texas, go to Houston. Be prepared to live in a cheap motel or even camp outdoors if need be. Buy the local papers to look for job advertisements but most importantly go to the docks and look for the day job recruitment points. Remember to also find out where the local offices of the oil drilling contractors are and go there to look for jobs.

Jobs In Oil And Gas For Mud Loggers

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In the oil and gas sector, the job of mud loggers is one of the most misunderstood. Firstly, it is often mixed up with the job of the mud engineer and the MWD technician. Second, the hiring requirements often vary widely by company. Third, while the core job scope is pretty clear, a mud logger often has to perform other supporting duties and this can not only vary by company but by the equipment used and the worksite as well.

What Does Mudlogging/Mud Logger Mean?

“Mudlogging” is usually written as one word but “mud logger” is usually written as two words. In Geology, mudlogging is actually a field of study called lithography, which is a branch of petrology. Lithology/Mudlogging is the representation of geological formations using a graph. The graph is called a mud log and the data fed into it comes from the analysis of the materials that come out of the drill.

What Is The Difference Between A Mud Logger, Mud Engineer And MWD Technician?

There are three different oil rig jobs which are often mistaken for one another. These are the mud logger, the MWD technician and the mud engineer.

A mud logger analyzes the drilling fluids that come out of the oil drill. In the oil industry, this fluid is called mud. Despite its name, “mud” is actually a complex formula of different chemicals. The best formula for a drilling fluid depends on the type of drill being used, the type of drilling being done, and the composition of the rock formation which is being drilled.

The mud logger’s job is to retrieve and process the rock samples out of the mud and then analyze them. After that, he needs to plot his findings in the mud log. In most modern drilling operations, the data is entered into a computer which then plots the graph. This graph is used by the oil company’s geologists.

A Measurement While Drilling (MWD) technician produces much the same data as a mud logger. However, rather than extracting samples of drilling fluid and then running a chemical analysis on the bits of rock suspended inside, his data comes straight from electronic analysis equipment attached to the drill bit. Because of this, his job is simpler and less messy. He can also produce his data and analysis much faster than a mud logger. However, MWD equipment is very expensive which is why they are mainly used for directional drilling.

The mud engineer makes sure the drilling fluids work as specified. These fluids (or mud) are used to cool the drill bit during operations as well as remove the rock being drilled through. Since there is no single best fluid for the whole drilling operation (when drilling very deep into the ground), it is his duty to figure out what is best used at each stage of drilling for oil. Normally, the mud engineer (or drilling fluids engineer) is not only a college graduate, he also worked his way up the ranks through the position of derrick hand or pump man. He also has to go through a special training course called “mud school” and in many cases has serve an apprenticeship under a senior mud engineer to gain experience. In some places, the mud engineer is also called the “mud man”. He usually works closely with the mud logger (and MWD technician when present). Sometimes, he also supervises the mudlogging operation, i.e. in some cases he is the mud logger’s boss.

What Does A Mud Logger Do?

Earlier, we said that a mud logger analyzes the trailings (in the mud) that come out of the drill. That is his main job, which is somewhat similar to that of a lab technician. The difference is that he needs to do this continuously during his shift of 12 hours everyday. In general, he will work the same tour as the rest of the oil rig crew, which is usually two weeks on and two weeks off.

What creates confusion is that some mudlogging jobs require chemical analysis of the samples, monitoring of gas levels in the bore and/or monitoring the state of the drilling mud. Some of these additional duties actually cross over with that of a mud engineer or even a petroleum geologist.

Something else that creates confusion is that different companies and different oil rigs use different types of equipment and gather their samples and data differently. In some cases, the drilling fluid comes out of the drill into a holding tank, and the mud logger than extracts samples from this tank for analysis. He will then have to analyze the samples. This analysis can be as simple as looking at the sample and then recording the depth at which it was taken and whether it is sand, shale, rock and if it is fluorescent. On some rigs, there is a lot of automation and his job becomes very similar to that of an MWD technician, mainly recording data returned by his instruments.

Mud loggers usually work in a lab that is set up on or near the oil rig. On offshore oil rigs, they sleep in the crew compartments with the rest of the oil rig crew.

What Qualifications Or Experience Does A Mud Logger Need?

This varies by company. Large companies which provide more varied mudlogging services often require geology degrees (or something else comparable). However, in some smaller companies it is an entry level job and they are willing to take in high school graduates as apprentices. Familiarity with electronic and/or computers is usually required with modern mudlogging operations.

Mudlogging on deep water offshore oil rigs usually requires men with more experience and better (academic) qualifications. On the other extreme, mudlogging on an oil rig sited on a mature oil field on dry land may only need a high school graduate with a few weeks or months of on-the-job training.

Beyond academics or job experience, a mud logger usually has to be a bit of a lone wolf. He usually comes from different company than the rest of the normal oil drilling crew. He works alone and usually does not see any other mud loggers except at shift change. He is often treated as an outsider on the oil rig and does not share in the camaraderie of the rest of the crew working on the oil rig.

Where Can One Find A Mudlogging Job?

Normally, mudlogging is not performed by the oil drilling contractor but is conducted by a separate company. The three biggest mudlogging companies are divisions of Baker Hughes, Halliburton and Schlumberger. However, there are many more smaller companies, some of which survive by providing very highly skilled and specialized mudlogging personnel.

An important point to note is that even when both the drilling and mudlogging are hired out to the same company (e.g. Schlumberger), the tasks are normally performed by two different divisions.

Finding oil rig vacancies for mud loggers is not so easy. The job seeker must match his experience and qualifications to what a mudlogging services company is looking for. If he has no previous experience and no college education, he must find a smaller company which normally works on land and is willing to train him from scratch. If he has a relevant college education (e.g. a Geology degree), he can look for advertisements from the larger companies.

How Much Can A Mud Logger Earn?

This depends on the company and the exact type of services offered. When more work is done (requiring more experience), the pay can go up to $80,000 a year. On older oil fields on dry land, the work is easier and safer and pays much less, maybe around $50,000 a year. That said, many mudlogging companies pay their mud loggers daily, so a mud logger who does more work will get earn a higher salary. Daily rates vary from $150 to $300 and may include additional payments for expenses.

However, money is not everything. There is a lot of pressure in this job, much more than many other jobs on the oil rig. Especially on offshore oil rigs, many mud loggers burn out after just one or two years. In some cases, the mud logger directly reports to the big boss on the oil rig, which can be the company man, the toolpusher and/or the driller.

Jobs in oil and gas for mud loggers are not as easy to find as other entry level rig jobs (e.g. roustabouts). Partly, this is because the task is performed by a third party company so the job seeker cannot just visit an oil rig to enquire for a vacancy. Partly, the difficulty is because to some companies, mudlogging is a job which requires a great deal of skill, experience and qualification.

The Best Way To Find Oil Rig Jobs When You Have No Experience

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Oil rig jobs pay well, especially those located offshore in deep water. They often pay double or more for equivalent jobs on land. However, those with no experience usually have little chance of getting a piece of the action unless they have the connections (e.g. a father or brother who is already a veteran oil worker).

The problem is that an offshore oil rig is a complicated piece of machinery that costs billions of dollars to build and at least half-a-million dollars a day to operate. A careless or clueless worker could easily cause an accident that could derail operations for several days, costing the offshore drilling companyhundreds of millions of dollars in losses. This is not just the cost of repairs, but could include the loss of profits, penalties from the oil company that hires the oil rig, penalties from the government and work stoppage from inspections and investigations into the cause of the accident. The worker himself could well lose his life or be horribly mutilated. This is the same reason oil drilling contractors are so strict about not hiring workers who are drug addicts or users.

Nevertheless, there are ways to get hired for offshore oil rig jobs with no direct experience. One way is if you have a relevant and useful trade skill, e.g. if you are an experienced welder, electrician or mechanic. Another is if you have a specialized certification or qualification like a Registered Nurse or certified radio operator.

One option if you have absolutely no job experience is to get on board as a roustabout or steward. Stewards usually work indoors. They clean the crew quarters, do the laundry and help the cook. There is not really much room for advancement, and normally those with related experience, e.g. those who have previously worked on a cruise liner would have a strong advantage.

In theory, a roustabout does not need any experience. All he needs is guts, a lot of brawn, a good dose of common sense and the ability to follow instructions. In practice, if you really have no experience, you should spend some time in related jobs. What kind of jobs? A sailor in the Navy or Coast Guard, a laborer in a construction yard, a dock hand, a fisherman on a trawler, a roustabout on a land-based oil rig, etc.

As you can see, these are all jobs where you have to work outdoors even in bad weather. The best is to combine a stint on the sea as a sailor with a stint on land working as a roustabout. Then you can more easily convince the drilling company to hire you.

Does this mean you have no way of working on an oil rig right after graduating high school? Not necessarily. There are ways to find roustabout job vacancieswithout going through the job boards. If you can find the hiring manager and directly get an interview, you might be able to talk him into giving you a job. But this does require a certain amount of luck. Of course, it is easier to get lucky in good times when oil companies are desperate for workers.

However, those who favor making their own luck should first join the Navy or Coast Guard. While serving their nation, they should make sure to work as a real sailor at sea and pick up some other useful skills at the same time. That way, they have more options of getting hired when they finish their service. For example, a sailor with welding skills and skill in operating the radio has three options for getting an oil rig job. He can become a roustabout, with the possibility of promotion to roughneck, derrick man, and driller. He can become an oil rig welder. He can become a radio operator. If he chooses not to work at sea, he also has plenty of options on land.

There are many ways to get no experience oil rig jobs. If you have the patience and are willing to work hard, fill up the gaps in your experience by getting easier and lower paid jobs. As you gain experience, you can then move on to a more difficult job. Ultimately, getting a high paid job on a deep water oil rig should not be a problem. Like it or not, drilling in deep waters is the future of the oil industry.

Employment On Oil Rigs – US Gulf versus northern Canada (Alberta)

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This is a good time to find employment on oil rigs. Despite some recent reversals (the 2009 recession and the early-2010 Deepwater Horizon sinking), the demand for workers on oil rigs is continuing to grow. Although governments and economists are warning of a fragile recovery, the price of oil is already hovering at $70 per barrel in mid-2010.

Despite being a far cry from the peak of $140 per barrel in 2008, this is quite sufficient to drive investment in new oil wells by oil companies (oil needs to sell for $30 to $40 per barrel before oil companies are willing to drill new oil fields). That means employment on oil rigs is set to grow.

You may be wondering where to find jobs on oil rigs. The best places are newer oil fields which have a long term future. In the US, this is mainly the deep water oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico. In Canada, it would be the Sasketchawan and Alberta oil rigs.

For American oil workers, there is great advantage in working on offshore oil rigs. Besides the better long term opportunities, it is possible to claim tax breaks (both federal and state level) for employment on these oil rigs as they are often located in international waters. Of course, you need to consult with a qualified accountant or tax lawyer for the details. It may also be possible to claim for transportation costs between home and heliport as well as equipment costs (e.g. boots and hardhat).

Note that Americans moving to Canada to find oil rig employment and vice versa should adapt to differences in job title and licensing requirements. An American oil rig roughneck is a Canadian floorhand, while an American oil rig roustabout is a Canadian leasehand. A Canadian roughneck is a highly qualified worker, roughly the equivalent of a motorhand, derrick hand or driller in the US.

In terms of qualifications, a Canadian oil worker needs to have the H2S Alive (hydrogen sulfide safety) and first aid certifications before he can get a job on an oil rig. In contrast, offshore employment on (US) Gulf oil rigs usually require the HUET (helicopter underwater escape training), first aid and firefighting certifications.

Job schedules also vary between the US Gulf and Canada (Alberta). Although oil rigs operate 24-hours a day and workers have to work 12-hour shifts, many US workers on offshore oil rigs work on a 2 weeks on/2 weeks off rotation or 3 weeks on/2 weeks off rotation. On the other hand, Canadian oil workers usually have a 2 week on/1 week off rotation. Oil rig employment in the Gulf tends to slow down in the hurricane season (June – November), whereas in northern Canada the strongest surge of employment on oil rigs is in winter (November – March).

The world runs on oil and demand will continue to grow as the economies of China, India and Asia become more developed. There will be more and more opportunities for employment on oil rigs both now and in the future. Add the fact that work on oil fields pay well and you can see that the future is bright for workers in the oil and gas industry.

Jobs Offshore (No Experience Needed On An Oil Rig

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If you are looking for jobs offshore but have no experience, it can be difficult to know where to start. However, it is not as difficult as many people think. Finding and getting the oil rig job is not particularly complicated. It just takes time and effort. The real problem lies in keeping the job once you get it. There is a good reason why offshore drilling contractors are always hiring workers for their offshore oil platforms – the work is very tough and many men find they can’t take the hardship.

So how does a man get oil rig jobs with no experience? Well, if you really have absolutely no experience – never worked at sea, never worked in construction, never worked on a land oil rig – you can only start at the bottom. A slow, steady and sure way is to prepare yourself by spending a year or two on each of the jobs mentioned above. It earns you relevant experience and it toughens you up for a real job offshore on an oil rig.

Of course, you may prefer the less certain shortcut of trying for roustabout jobs vacancies on oil wells in shallow waters near shore. In the Gulf states where there is a lot of offshore oil drilling, there are offshore oil rigs which operate near land. Such oil rigs sometimes hire temporary workers on day rates during periods of high activity. All that the oil service contractor needs from such temp oil workers is a strong back, the ability to follow instructions and the ability to swim so that they do not drown if they fall off the boat transporting them. In many cases, the contractor draws these workers from the state unemployment office. It is a good way to gain much needed job experience on an offshore oil well and can get you much needed contacts for more permanent employment. However, if you are not a resident in a Gulf state, this option may not be open to you.

Roustabout jobs on land provide a different experience from oil rig roustabout jobs offshore. Land-based oil rigs are usually smaller operations than offshore oil rigs. Nevertheless, there are still many features in common between the two, and getting experience on an oil well on dry land can provide valuable skills when working offshore. If you supplement it with job experience on a trawler or Navy or Coast Guard sailor, you will have a much better chance of getting hired for entry level rig jobs compared to someone who just graduated from high school.

Yet another alternative is to gain some kind of useful skill that can be transferred to an offshore oil rig. One such example is scaffolding. In a construction yard, the basic hourly rate is around $4 to $7, and you have to work 12 hours or more. Take this skill to an offshore oil rig and you can expect to earn somewhere around $55,000 a year. If you have a head for heights and are willing to slave away for a year or two to gain the needed job experience, this can be a good option.

Trade skills are also another path on to an offshore oil rig. There are posts for welders, electricians and mechanics on board an offshore oil platform. It helps if you have worked on a land rig before, but actual offshore experience is often not necessary. You can make around $55,000 to $60,000 a year, which is about double the wages on land. However, one disadvantage of such jobs is that career promotion prospects are limited. A common roustabout can work his way up the ladder to roughneck, derreck hand, assistant driller and driller. An experienced driller on a deep water oil rig can expect to make $100,000 a year or more. On the other hand, trade skills tend to be easier to transfer between land and sea, so it all evens out.

There are many paths to oil rig jobs offshore when you have no experience. What is important is your determination and for you to keep an open mind.