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Offshore or Onshore: Which Route to Take?
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Few industries can match oil and gas in terms of workplace variety. A drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico, a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in Australia, a production platform off Brazil’s coast and a control room in Abu Dhabi are but a few of the places where oil and gas professionals report to work.
If you’re contemplating a career in oil and gas, you may be wondering whether to pursue opportunities offshore or onshore. Each setting offers its own rewards and trade-offs. Moreover, each prospective job candidate brings a unique set of personal and professional goals. An important step in finding the right opportunity in oil and gas is deciding which broad workplace environment – offshore or onshore – best aligns with those expectations.
Before scanning through want ads, however, take the time to educate yourself about the key players in the oil and gas industry and what they do, advised Gabriela Alves, Rio de Janeiro-based recruitment consultant with the global oil and gas placement firm Hays.
“For new entrants in the oil and gas market, I would recommend [investing] quality time in understanding how the market operates [and] analyzing the whole cycle [to see] when/how each company type – operators, oilfield services and engineering procurement construction management firms – gets involved,” she said. “Having a clear picture of the market can really assist in structuring your goals and in making a solid plan to achieve them.”
Knowledge Is Power
Educating yourself about the oil and gas market puts you in a better position to sell yourself to prospective offshore or onshore employers. Bringing certain transferable skills from other industries can make you particularly attractive to such companies, said Carolyn Stewart, North America regional business development manager with NES Global Talent.
“There are numerous facets to the offshore business whereas an individual could be involved as part of the team on the platform, at a base office, construction yard or both,” she explained. “For individuals seeking to work on a platform, those with mechanical and electrical skills would be of high value, possibly in roustabout, electrician or HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) roles.”
“Opportunities exist onshore as well… document controls, project controls and certain procurement roles are transferable within industries and vital to the success of a project,” she added.
“Some of the most exciting opportunities offshore are now related to new discoveries and exploration in very deep waters,” said Alves. “One of the most common paths is to start in maintenance or production, to see how things really work.”
Gaining experience as, for instance, a roustabout or junior-level engineer, technician or operator provides the basis for taking on more challenging – and better-paying – roles later on, Alves noted.
Regardless of which offshore or onshore oil and gas occupation you pursue, be willing to embrace new technologies, said Adrian Adair, global operations director with the international technical recruiter Morson Group.
“Oil and gas is an exciting, innovative and cutting-edge industry where people are enthused by their work and encouraged to be innovative,” he said. “From new techniques in exploration to drilling in ultra-deepwater and directional drilling to refinery and transportation, people are finding new and cheaper ways of extracting hydrocarbons from increasingly inhospitable areas in the safest way possible, followed by transportation and refinery to extract the maximum ‘product’ value form the crude oil.”
Although innovation is a hallmark of the oil and gas industry, the underlying goals of career paths within the industry – interestingly – have changed little over time, Adair pointed out.
“Oil and gas is constantly evolving,” he said. “It’s a simple exercise of exploring the planet for likely sources of fossil fuels, testing that theory, ensuring that the value of the oil exceeds the cost of extraction, getting it out, moving it on, changing it to consumable products and selling it to customers.”
“How these things happen has changed massively over the years with technology making every aspect easier and more efficient, safer and better for the environment,” Adair noted. “It’s an industry that evolves and innovates constantly.”
Money Matters
Oil and gas pros who work offshore tend to earn significantly more than their counterparts onshore, Alves and Adair said.
“Usually offshore positions have better pay to compensate you for the time you are away and the hardship of the environment where you are working,” Alves explained. “For example, in Brazil your salary will nearly double because of all [of] the additional compensation you receive.”
“Offshore work presents risks, has an unsociable element – shifts, rotations and distances to sites – and can reward handsomely with … additional tax benefits,” added Adair.
Although offshore workers may boast larger paychecks on average, their onshore counterparts regularly earn more than their peers in other industries. Moreover, they often receive sizable bonuses, said Alves.
“It is not uncommon that professionals working onshore, who are key to the success of a project, receive … bonuses that can reach up to 10 months of a salary when their objectives are met,” she explained.
Although compensation is an important consideration when deciding whether to pursue work offshore or onshore, factoring in work-life balance and professional goals are essential in making the best choice, Alves added.
Which Lifestyle Is Right For You?
If the prospect of working long hours and living in a remote location for weeks at a time – but getting paid handsomely for your time and hard work – sounds appealing, the offshore lifestyle may be for you. If you would prefer to work a more conventional schedule and be home more often, consider onshore opportunities.
“Offshore opportunities would be classically described as a young, single person’s game, jetting off to locations around the world, sitting 100 miles offshore, spending 28 days solid working 12-hour shifts, then taking 28 days off before starting again,” said Adair, adding that shift patterns vary.
On the flip side, being out of sight of land for an extended period can be difficult for someone who places a high priority on regular contact with family and friends. Although an offshore worker is simply trying to earn a living to support his or her family, the physical separation necessary to do so can put an extreme strain on relationships and other aspects of a person’s life, said Adair.
“It can be very appealing to work offshore, but you have to think if this routine fits your personal life,” concluded Alves. “Maybe you will be able to go to the beach on a business day when you are off work, but you might also spend Christmas offshore.”
Article Date: Wednesday, April 30, 2014
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Apr 30 2014, 07:28 PM
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