Off-Shore Oil Rig

[mrapocalypse]

Anybody here ever worked on one. Know someone well who has. Wondering what it's like....

[rovercare]

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/general-chat/25313-anyone-work-oil-rigs.html

[eezeetoo]

I'm currently working on a land based rig. Have worked on rig for over 30 years. I worked on an offshore rig in the Persian Gulf, so it may not be representative of the rig of your enquiry. What was the query?
Cheers,
Dave

[mrapocalypse]

Just wondering if they are a hive of hard core industrial activity, filled with colour and movement- with choppers and tenders roaring in and out, men against the elements, comradeship, a story of life on the edge, of hard men doing hard work in a dangerous and unforgiving environment..... Because that's how I am going to pitch the TV idea I'm working on!

[eezeetoo]

There have been a few movies over the years with oil rigs involved - usually involve a fair bit of "artistic licence" (aka rubbish). An oil rig work is an industrial scenario and as such I don't find particularly glamorous, but then after 30 odd years, I wouldn't, would I? Choppers come in and out to schedule (emergencies excepted of course). Boats bring in necessary equipment as required - not a lot of roaring in and out. I greatly prefer working on land rigs - I found constantly being surrounded by the sea quite oppressive (remember you are not moving along in a boat and there is no beach attached) compared to working in the jungle or even the desert. Usually living conditions offshore are first class. Crews generally work 12 hours a day shift work, so they don't have a lot of time to get too bored - tho there are usually good recreation facilities (gym, cinema etc). Rig hands are often quite happy to encourage the "artistic licence"(aka...),
Cheers,
Dave

[mrapocalypse]

I noticed they haven't bothered to stop that leak in the Timor sea either. Maybe I'll wait till they get that sorted before I start making calls.

[eezeetoo]

Ah, yes, the leak. What they are trying to do there is quite a technological feat and it is not surprising (or unusual) for them to miss the flowing well with the relief well first up - they will get it tho'. We are fortunate in Australia to have suffered very few of this type of incident - and after this one, another one would just NOT be allowed to happen. I actually think "fail" is probably too harsh a term to be used for the first attempt that did not intersect - data from that attempt will assist in subsequent attempt(s),
Cheers,
Dave