Electrician trying to start offshore in the GOM « Thread Started on Dec 16, 2011, 12:42am »
Hi Guys,
First I want to thank everyone for contributing to such a good forum - I can tell there are a lot of very knowledgeable folks here. Thanks for sharing it!
Well, as the subject line indicates, I'm an electrician from Virginia. I've been laid off for almost two years so I decided to see if I could break into the offshore oil industry (It's always been something I wanted to do).
So I packed my car up, drove 1200 miles to Lafayette, LA, pitched a tent at a local campground and paid $1200 to take a week long series of classes to get me certified to work offshore (HUET/METS, IADC Rigpass/SafeGulf/SafeLand, HAZWOPER, Fire Prevention, First Aid/CPR, API Competent Rigger and H2S). My last class is tomorrow (Friday Dec 16, 2011) and I'll have everything I'm supposed to need to work offshore.
I already have obtained a TWIC, Merchant Mariner Credential and a US passport.
Besides being laid off for almost two years, I have a stellar resume. I've been an electrician since '96, I've been a foreman pretty much since I graduated the apprenticeship, I was in the Technical Services Department one of DC's largest electrical contractors. I'm a level 2 certified thermographer, I was in charge of all of the Preventive Maintenance jobs for old my company, I was also a part of the disaster recovery team for my old company, I specialized in installing, maintaining, repairing and troubleshooting Switchgear, Generators, ATSs, VFDs, UPS systems, MCCs, PDUs, and other complex electrical equipment. I'm a very smart, qualified and experienced electrician with a perfect safety record.
I've been applying online to various companies through rigzone. I've also submitted my resume to Transocean, Seadrill, Noble, H & P, Baker Hughes, Ensco, and a few of the other big ones. I've also personally driven by several of the local service companies and dropped off my resume (Pelstar, Stewart and Stevens, Waukesha Pierce).
So far, I've been meeting resistance. In fact, at Ensco, the HR lady told me directly that I can fill out the application if I want to, but they will NOT hire me without previous offshore experience. When I showed up at the office of Stewart and Stevens, the office lady wouldn't even take my resume, "you have to do it online".
After speaking with several of the people I've met in my class, some of them say, "Yeah man, you should have NO problems finding a job", while the next day I'm being told, "You sure picked a bad time to come down here, things are slow and no one is hiring".
To clarify, I state clearly on my resume and cover letter that I will take ANY entry level position (roustabout, floorhand, even cook) to get offshore experience, but that I'm probably most qualified in the maintenance/electrical department.
So my question(s) is (are): is there something else I need to be doing? Should I stay camped out in Lafayette and keep driving to the offices? Would I have better luck with SERVICE companies vs. DRILLING companies? Should I try going to Houston? Should I drive down Rt. 90 to Port Fourchon and knock on doors there? Should I give up on getting a job offshore and go up to North Dakota?
What would you guys be doing in my position?
I'd even be willing to work a hitch for FREE just to be able to say I've got offshore experience!
Thanks in advance for any help or direction you guys can provide.
Re: Electrician trying to start offshore in the GO « Reply #1 on Dec 21, 2011, 3:16am »
Just as an update, I found a job with an offshore company specializing in motor controls, PLC's and pneumatic/electrical control panels - all of which I have a background in.
I took my classes in Lafayette and on Monday I went to Office Depot, printed off 20 resume's, went down to Southpark and 90, started knocking on doors and the third company hired me on the spot.
I'm building a skid now in a local fab location and I'll be going offshore in a few days for my first hitch to hook everything up once they place it.
Joined: May 2010 Gender: Male Posts: 829 Location: UK
Re: Electrician trying to start offshore in the GO « Reply #2 on Dec 21, 2011, 8:32am »
Well done dukes!! Enjoy your new career. The oil patch is an exciting and rewarding business to be in. Work hard and get yourself a reputation for being someone who can be relied upon and the world is your oyster. Stay safe and keep your eyes open. RT
Information or opinions are solely provided for educational and/or discussion purposes on an informal public forum and should not be interpreted as a recommendation for a specific treatment plan, course of action or product/ service. Use of any of this information does not replace consultations with individuals qualified in these respective fields.
Joined: Aug 2003 Gender: Male Posts: 235 Location: Middle East
Re: Electrician trying to start offshore in the GO « Reply #3 on Dec 21, 2011, 2:43pm »
Congratulations Dukes, you have taken the major hurdle, which is getting past the HR department that often is out of sync with what the company is doing (e.g. letting you walk out of the door because your application was not submitted online!!!)
Next thing is remember that no question is too stupid to be asked, and that there is nothing to prove except that you are someone that can be relied on to leave the rig with the same number of fingers and hands that you had when you arrived.
Good luck with an exciting new challenge, rockdoctor
Just as an update, I found a job with an offshore company specializing in motor controls, PLC's and pneumatic/electrical control panels - all of which I have a background in.
I took my classes in Lafayette and on Monday I went to Office Depot, printed off 20 resume's, went down to Southpark and 90, started knocking on doors and the third company hired me on the spot.
I'm building a skid now in a local fab location and I'll be going offshore in a few days for my first hitch to hook everything up once they place it.
Brilliant ! Now that's what I'd call direct action. I'd suggest you give your self an X'mas present and buy "Primer for Oil well drilling " and other manuals that will help you with your work and understanding of rigs and the oil patch. Check out the club bookshop. I'm sure it'll be a very merry X'mas for you. All the best with your new career for 2012...and do drop in to this forum if you need any other information with your work.
Information or opinions are solely provided for educational and/or discussion purposes on an informal public forum and should not be interpreted as a recommendation for a specific treatment plan, course of action or product/ service. Use of any of this information does not replace consultations with qualified individuals in these respective fields.
Re: Electrician trying to start offshore in the GO « Reply #5 on Dec 21, 2011, 7:03pm »
dukes,
It's always great to hear a success story! Good for you.
One thing. You havn't mentioned whether the installation you'll be going to is a drilling rig, a production platform, an FPSM, or what. They're all very different environments, though with a common 'offshore' factor.
No doubt you'll be working alongside the 'local' onsite electrician. So although he may well be learning from you about the kit you're installing, now's the time to learn from him about the various experiences he's had in his career.
A word of warning. As a 'newbie' to offshore oil work, keep a low profile! There are some merciless people out there...
Information or opinions are solely provided for educational and/or discussion purposes on an informal public forum and should not be interpreted as a recommendation for a specific treatment plan, course of action or product/ service. Use of any of this information does not replace consultations with qualified individuals in these respective fields.
Re: Electrician trying to start offshore in the GO « Reply #6 on Dec 22, 2011, 4:27am »
Thanks guys. It feels great to bang the rust off of my tools! So far I've worked two twelve hour days and from what they tell me, they have enough work to keep me busy like this for the foreseeable future.
Every other company I've worked for has promoted me and considered me a "heavy hitter". I'm sure this industry will be no exception. I make it my mission to be the hardest working guy on the job.
I'm definitely not afraid to ask "stupid" questions. I do realize there are many differences in commercial/industrial land environments and an offshore environment. I have learned SO much about the different ways of doing things in the last two days, my head is still spinning! LOL It all makes perfect sense though. I haven't encountered anything yet that I disagree with.
Now that I'm officially "hired", I'll DEFINITELY start investing in my new career. I'll definitely check out the bookstore here.
The skid I'm working on is going on a drilling platform drilling a VERY deep exploratory well in the GOM. I believe it is owned by McMoRan. It's supposed to be something really cutting edge - a methanol pump system to help with the temperature regulation at that depth. It's pretty neat. I'm doing the control wiring for the pressure gauges, flow sensors and control panels as well as power/grounding for the motors. It's cool stuff!
Re: Electrician trying to start offshore in the GO « Reply #7 on Dec 22, 2011, 11:45am »
dukes,
OK, and good to hear your news. So you'll be going to a drilling rig. You probably won't have much direct contact with the drill crew, more likely just with the deck crew while installing the skid, and the electricians / mechanics while doing the hookup and commissioning. But observe everyone and the way they interact closely: it'll be an education. Rather like a visit to the zoo!
Information or opinions are solely provided for educational and/or discussion purposes on an informal public forum and should not be interpreted as a recommendation for a specific treatment plan, course of action or product/ service. Use of any of this information does not replace consultations with qualified individuals in these respective fields.
Re: Electrician trying to start offshore in the GO « Reply #8 on Feb 18, 2012, 9:40pm »
Sorry it's been a while since I logged on, the internet has been sketchy at best on the rigs I've been on. Just wanted to give a status report: I have two hitches under my belt now, learned a bunch on each one. I am in Galveston now working in the shipyard doing instrumentation on a jack-up rig about to be commissioned. I was offered a permanent 7/7 rotation to be a maintenance electrical hand for nine platforms on the Vermilion field for Stone energy - that should start in a week or two. So it looks like I'm well on my way.
I'm working production, though and I want to get onto a drilling rig (I was told the money is better). I figure I need at least two or three years of service work before I'm ready for anything international. Gotta get T-2 certified, need to learn SCADA, brush up on PLC's and a few other systems and get some time in. After that I feel that I'll be ready to work internationally.
If anyone has any advice, experiences they'd like to share or opinions on planning a career path, pieces of education that would be particularly helpful or making the transition from production to drilling, I'd be all ears. My long term goal is to work internationally on a longer rotational schedule (28/28 or something like that). Any advice guys? Thanks in advance!
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