Offshore Roustabout and Roughneck Jobs

Roustabouts

The Roustabout job is the most common entry level occupation for an oil rig’s marine section. Most new hires in the Drilling and Marine Sections start out as Roustabouts. A Roustabout is typically an inexperienced worker who works as a trainee or helper for those in more senior positions. This position is comparable to the Able-bodied Seaman on board a ship. The Roustabout will assist with a variety of work, typically unskilled , which might include maintenance, cleaning rust removal, painting, or learning to direct the huge cranes on board.

After working in an offshore Roustabout position, people typically take one of two paths – to the drill floor, as a Roughneck, or to the Cranes, as an Crane Operator Trainee. He will start in either capacity by serving as relief during meal and coffee breaks, and then be given progressively greater responsibility.

Roughnecks

A Roughneck ( Floorhand ) is the entry level position on an offshore rig’s Drilling section. This is the guy who handles the drilling pipes, connecting them as they drill deeper with huge hydraulic clamps. This is the physically most demanding job of the entire drill crew – one can work hard labor 12 hours straight during a drill operation. Offshore, it is easiest to get a job as a Roustabout first, and many experienced roughnecks will take Roustabout jobs offshore just to prove themselves, and learn the ropes offshore – things are a bit different out in the middle of the ocean.

Wages

Wages for entry-level Roustabouts and Roughnecks run from 50 to 60k

Getting a Roustabout Job Offshore

If you don’t have previous offshore experience, your chances are improved if you have any kind of technical work background. This can include experience as a welder, fitter, engineer, electrician, technician or mechanic. If it is possible, the best way to land an offshore Roustabout job is to apply in person – there are many unadvertised Entry-level jobs offshore. Obviously, the person whose face is in the office asking for work every week or two is going to stand out above all the other applicants.

If visiting the employment offices of offshore drilling contractors isn’t possible for you, then the next best thing is to ensure that your Resume, C\V and Cover Letter are specific to the offshore industry, and to the job you are applying for. We recommend the services of Rigworker and Oil Jobs Guide if you wish to facilitate the process and improve the odds. Thousands have had success when they chose to utilize the Resume \ CV submittal service from The Oil and Gas Jobs Resource Kit or Rigworker . Both charge a nominal fee for their services, $40 – $60, but they are honest, legitimate companies, and their services have been tested multiple times, with a job offer (or several) being the standard result. While they make no guarantees of getting hired, they do guarantee your satisfaction with their services, and you will get far more for the small investment than anywhere else on the internet.

To be avoided are programs that charge hundreds of dollars for the same thing.

Offshore \ Oil Rig Roustabout \ Roughneck Training Programs – Greenhand Courses

There are several training programs available designed to prepare applicants without offshore or oil industry experience for a Roustabout position. Offshore, the Roustabout position is the most common entry level job in the oil rig’s marine section. Working as a Roustabout requires one to be physically fit and capable of performing strenuous manual labor, in all weather conditions. Those without experience are termed greenhands. The term originates from the custom on some rigs to make inexperienced employees wear a green hat so that they may be distinguished to the other employees as being new, so allowances can be made for the greenhand not being aware of all the regulations and requirements specific to offshore work.

Maritime Drilling Schools Unlimited

Floorman ( Roughneck ) training. This school offers a 20 day program taught in Nova Scotia, Canada. The 20 day course of instruction in Pre Employment Floorman (Roughneck) Training will consist of drilling programs, hands-on rig training, and industry safety programs. Life skills and job readiness will also be included during the program. This program is available for Americans. The Floorman course costs $ 3.750.00 Canadian, plus $250.00 for books and a $200.00 registration fee. Accommodations, if required, are $600.00.

Métis Nation BC (MNBC)

Pre-Employment Floorman (Roughneck) training. Probably the best program available – you will find work after completing this program. This Pre-Employment Floorman (Roughneck) Training Program will provide students with a comprehensive training program that is tailored specifically for the drilling industry. Students will learn how to safely operate and maintain drilling equipment and the job functions that are relevant to drill floor and deck crew operations. Students will also learn the skills of a Roustabout and Lease hand with a high emphasis on Oilrig safety. Training is located in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada. All-inclusive cost for the course is Canadian $ 8,650 including meals and accommodation for 24 days.

Atlantic Petroleum Training College

Floorhand / Roughneck training. Training is hands-on and takes place on a working onshore drilling oil rig in Nova Scotia. They offer a certificate program in oilfield training. This program provides an opportunity for unskilled individuals to take advantage of quality hands-on training to begin a successful career in the oil and gas industry. This program provides the knowledge and skills to work safely and productively as part of an oilrig team. In addition to the core program, mandatory H2S Alive and 2-day Standard First Aid with Level A are given. Potential earnings for an individual starting in this dynamic industry can exceed $60,000 per year.

Entry Level Oil Jobs Training Programs

Having no experience in the Oil drilling industry is not necessarily an obstacle to getting work in an entry-level capacity.  It is perfectly possible to get hired on an offshore rig without having worked on one before (most of us were in that boat at one time). There are actually many entry level offshore jobs available.  It all depends on what you want to do, and having the the correct contacts to get your resume in front of.  The range of entry level employment opportunities on offshore oil rigs include: Floormen or Roughnecks and Roustabouts, Crane Operators, Cleaners/Painters, Storekeepers, Rig Mechanic, Rig Electricians, Rig Welders, Rig Medics, Cooks and Assistant Cooks. 

However, most people looking to get into the industry are looking to get hired on as a Roustabout or Roughneck, otherwise known as Floormen.  While it is perfectly possible to get hired with no training or experience whatsoever, your odds of getting a Floorman job are going to increase greatly if you have even a modicum of industry training.  Fortunately, there are several programs available to help those without any experience gain a solid understanding of the fundamentals of the job. Without a doubt, this can greatly assist getting hired; placement rates of these 1 to 8 week programs are about 97%. Following are a few of the better programs. 

Maritime Drilling Schools has a world-wide reputation in putting out graduates from their 3 week Floorman course that can start work as a Roughneck in an Offshore or Onshore environment.  Training consists of drilling programs, hands-on rig training, and industry safety programs. Life skills and job readiness will also be included during the program.  The Certificates issued upon graduation, required in Canada, will enable you to start work anywhere in the world, right away.  They also offer advanced training that will enable you to move up to Assistant Driller and Driller. 

EnForm is another renowned Petroleum Industry training company. They have been in business for 50 years, and work closely with the Petroleum Industry, and assist their graduates in finding jobs.  Their 1 week Floorhand \ Roughneck training program is designed to prepare individuals with little-to-no experience to work safely on an oil or gas well drilling rig. The student will gain a foundation of knowledge and skills through classroom lectures, skills training and drilling rig practice sessions, and will be prepared on completion to become an effective member of a drilling crew.

PetroSkills is geared more for the Engineering side of things, and is the considered the industry standard for technical training in the Petroleum Industry.  It is the product of a consortium between the world’s largest oil companies, and serves the industry by training a wide range of technicians and engineers in the latest oil field and offshore technology. 

Getting a foot in the door of the Offshore Oil industry by taking a few basic courses to learn the fundamentals is an investment that will pay off immediately in the form of higher wages as well as a greatly increased understanding of occupational safety. You’ll hit the job running, and your team mates will quickly see and appreciate that you know what you are doing, and won’t be a risk to yourself or others. 

Once you have those fundamental skills, save time on the job hunt by taking advantage of the industry insider contacts provided by 

The Oil and Gas Jobs Resource Kit, which is designed as a toolkit for those who wish to go to work in the oil industry, regardless of the position or location. Produced by http://OilJobsGuide.com, the Oil and Gas Jobs Resource Kit is the best resource of its kind available for any price. The Oil and Gas Jobs Resource Kit oil company hiring contacts,recruiter contacts, job listing resources, and web sites you can post your resume on for free.

For those considering employment in this arena, either offshore or in the oil patch, the industry insiders at RIGWORKER provide a comprehensive resource for getting hired.