Offshore Roustabout/ Roughneck
What is the work like?
Roustabouts and roughnecks are part of the team that works on offshore facilities such as oil and gas rigs and drilling platforms.
As a roustabout you would do basic labouring tasks to help keep the drilling area in good working order. You would work under the supervision of a lead roustabout, and your job would include:
- cleaning, scraping and painting the deck, equipment and work areas
- offloading supplies from boats and moving them to storage areas
- moving supplies and equipment to the work site
- using lifting gear and winches to load and stack equipment
- helping to repair pumping equipment
- mixing lubricants ('drilling mud') for the drill bit.
- adding fresh lengths of drill pipe as the drill moves deeper into rock
- inserting and extracting the whole drill
- cleaning, maintaining and repairing the drilling equipment
- using lifting gear, ropes and winches.
What qualifications and experience will employers look for?
You do not need formal qualifications to work as a roustabout. However, it is common to join this industry through an Apprenticeship scheme, and employers often prefer Apprentices to have four GCSEs (A-C)/S grades 1-3 including English, maths and another relevant subject such as science or design and technology.
To find out more about Apprenticeships in the offshore oil and gas industry, visit www.apprenticeships.org.uk, or see the Cogent, Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) and Upstream Oil and Gas Technician Training websites.
If you are not joining the industry through an Apprenticeship, you will find it useful to have previous work experience in shipbuilding, construction or engineering. A forklift truck licence could also be helpful.
You will need to be aged 18 or over for most offshore jobs. You must be at least 1.63m (5ft 5ins) tall, and you may have to pass a medical as part of the recruitment process.
What further training and development can I do?
You will start as a roustabout and with experience progress to becoming a roughneck.
To work offshore, you must pass an offshore survival and fire-fighting course, also known as emergency response training, or basic offshore induction and emergency training (BOSIET).
Employers may provide this training, but it is more common to fund it yourself before finding work in the industry. Visit OPITO's website for details of approved training providers.
When you start a job you will be given induction training onshore, which lasts two or three weeks. You will have further on-the-job training on the rig or platform.
Your training will usually include work-based qualifications including:
- SVQ Level 1 in Offshore Drilling Operations at Level 1
- SVQ Level 2 in Offshore Deck Operations
- SVQ Level 2 in Offshore Crane Operations.
With experience, you can progress to derrickman, assistant driller and driller, and take more advanced SVQs in Offshore Drilling Operations at levels 2 and 3 (see the Offshore Drilling Worker profile). Contact Cogent for more information about standards and qualifications in the oil and gas industry.
Where can I go for more information?
Blue CourtChurch Lane
Kings Langley
Hertfordshire
WD4 8JP
Tel: 01923 260000
NASEC Administration: 01923 402155
Centre Park
Warrington
Cheshire
WA1 1GG
Tel: 01925 515200
If you would like to discuss your career options with a learning adviser, call 0800 100 900 or use our online enquiry form
Alternatively, you can visit our website at: www.direct.gov.uk/careersadvice
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What salary and other benefits can I expect?
- Starting salaries can be around £18,000 to £20,000 a year.
- Roughnecks usually earn around £25,000 a year.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
What are the hours and working conditions?
You would typically live and work on a rig or platform for two or three weeks, followed by two or three weeks’ rest period on shore. You would work up to 12 hours a day on a 24-hour shift rota.
You could work on a fixed production platform with up to 100 workers, or on a smaller mobile rig in a team of around 20 people. Facilities can include living accommodation, canteens and recreation areas. Alcohol and smoking are banned.
The job can be physically demanding, working in all types of weather conditions and at heights. You would need to wear protective clothing, including a harness, ear defenders and thermal boiler suit.
What skills and knowledge will I need?
- good practical skills
- the ability to live and work as a member of a team
- willingness to live and work away from home
- good leadership skills
- willingness to learn and follow instructions
- awareness of health and safety
- physical fitness.
What opportunities are there?
The UK offshore oil and gas industry is located mainly off the east coast of Scotland and England. There are also fields in the Irish Sea and west of the Shetland Islands. Many employers operate throughout the world, so you could also work overseas.
You could work for operating companies with their own exploration and production licences, or for drilling and maintenance contracting companies. Jobs may be advertised in the press, on employers' websites and specialist recruitment agencies.
There is a high turnover of roustabouts, so opportunities for finding work are good. You can usually progress from roustabout to roughneck after about six months. Promotion to derrickman, assistant driller then driller normally takes at least five years.
You may find the following links useful for job vacancies and general reading (links open new window):
Oil and Gas 4 u.com
Oil Careers
Oil and Gas UK (list of member companies)
We do not accept responsibility for the content of external sites.
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