Roustabouts and roughnecks work as part of a small team on offshore oil or gas drilling rigs or production platforms. Roustabouts do unskilled manual labouring jobs on rigs and platforms, and roughneck is a promotion from roustabout.
Roustabouts do basic tasks such as:

Roughnecks do practical tasks involved in the drilling operation, under the supervision of the driller.
Working hours on rigs and platforms are normally 12 hours on and 12 hours off continuously for two or three weeks, followed by an equal amount of rest period at home. The work is hard and physical, in all types of weather. Offshore workers live closely together and have to co-operate in a group.
Salaries may range from around £18,000 to £25,000 a year.
Roustabouts and roughnecks need:

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 it may be possible to work overseas.
A new entrant starts as a roustabout. No formal academic qualifications are needed, but many employers want people with some relevant experience. People may have to pass a medical before working offshore. Most new roustabouts start in their 20s.
All offshore workers must complete an offshore survival and fire-fighting course. Roustabouts are given induction training onshore, which lasts two or three weeks. This includes information on the industry and the company, health and safety, and skills training. Further on-the-job training as a roustabout, and later, as a roughneck, takes place offshore on the rig or platform.
Roustabouts who show ability can become roughnecks after about six months. Further promotion is to assistant driller and driller. It is possible to become a driller within about five years. Further advancement is to toolpusher (rig manager).

What is the work like?
Roustabouts and roughnecks work as part of a small team on offshore oil or gas drilling rigs or production platforms. Roustabouts do unskilled manual labouring jobs on rigs and platforms, and roughneck is a promotion from roustabout.
Roustabouts do basic tasks to help keep the rig and platform working efficiently. Typical daily jobs are likely to include:

cleaning, scraping and painting the deck, equipment and work areas off-loading supplies from boats and moving them to storage areas mixing and conditioning drilling mud moving supplies and equipment to the work site stacking drill-pipes general work in the pump room (such as helping to repair mud pumps)

Starting salaries may be around £18,000 a year.

Hours and environment

Working hours on rigs and platforms are normally 12 hours on and 12 hours off continuously for two or three weeks, followed by an equal amount of rest period at home.
Oil drilling rigs are small, mobile structures. Production platforms are larger, accommodating 50 to 100 men and women, where facilities include cabins, canteens, recreational facilities and offices.
Working on a rig or platform involves hard, physical labour in all types of weather. Conditions can be dirty, wet and noisy. The work can involve bending, lifting and working at heights.
Getting to and from the rig or platform usually involves flying by helicopter.
Living with work colleagues for long periods of time means that offshore workers have to be able to co-operate in a group.

Salary and other benefits

These figures are only a guide, as actual rates of pay may vary, depending on the employer and where people live.

There are usually travel allowances for getting to and from the rig or platform.

Skills and personal qualities

Roustabouts and roughnecks need:

Interests

It helps to:

Getting in

The oil and gas industry is a global business using advanced technology and innovative techniques to find and extract oil. It maintains the supply of energy to major industries as well as to individual homes.
Around 26,000 people in the UK work offshore on mobile drilling rigs, fixed production platforms, or floating production, storage or off-loading units (FPSOs).
There are around 6,000 companies involved in the oil and gas industry in the UK. Employers include:

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 it may be possible to work overseas.
Jobs are advertised on www.oilrecruiter.net and on the websites of major employers. The Energy Institute’s website has links to people offering work experience, and the UK Offshore Operators Association website has a list of employers.

Entry for young people
The minimum age for working offshore is 18, but in practice people tend to be 21 or older.
A new entrant starts as a roustabout and with training and experience gains promotion to roughneck. No formal academic qualifications are needed to work as a roustabout, but many employers want people with some relevant experience.
Entrants must be at least 1.63m (5ft 5ins) tall, physically fit, and without speech defects. They may be required to pass an offshore medical before working offshore.
It is useful to have some relevant work experience - for example, in shipbuilding or construction, or service in the Armed Forces.

Entry for adults
Most new roustabouts start after they are twenty. Entry routes are the same as for young people.

Training

All offshore workers must complete an offshore survival and fire-fighting course. Many companies offer the course on joining, but some people complete it at their own expense before looking for work in the industry.
Courses vary in length and cost between £450 and £550, plus accommodation charges. There is a waiting list for most of them. Completing a course does not guarantee a job in the industry. OPITO can provide a list of centres that offer offshore survival courses.
Roustabouts are given induction training onshore, which lasts two or three weeks. This includes information on the industry and the company, health and safety, and skills training. Further on-the-job training as a roustabout, and later, as a roughneck, takes place offshore on the rig or platform.

Getting on

Roustabouts who show ability can become roughnecks after about six months. Further promotion is to assistant driller and driller. It is possible to become a driller within about five years. Further advancement is to toolpusher (rig manager).

Further information

Cogent Sector Skills Council, Unit 5, Mandarin Court, Centre Park, Warrington, Cheshire WA1 1GG. 01925 515200. Website: www.cogent-ssc.com
Energy Institute, 61 New Cavendish Street, London W1G 7AR. 020 7467 7100. Website: www.energyinst.org.uk
Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB), Blue Court, Church Lane, Kings Langley, Hertfordshire WD4 8JP. 01923 260000. Website: www.ecitb.org.uk
OPITO, Minerva House, Bruntland Road, Portlethen, Aberdeen AB12 4QL. 01224 787800. Website: www.opito.net
UK Offshore Operators Association (UKOOA), 2nd Floor, 232-242 Vauxhall Bridge Road, London SW1V 1AU. 020 7802 2400. Aberdeen: Third Floor, The Exchange 2, 62 Market Street, Aberdeen AB11 5PJ. 01224 577250. Website: www.oilandgas.org.uk

Further reading

Working in energy & utilities - Connexions
Leaflets and booklets from ECITB, the Energy Institute and Cogent

Magazines/journals:

Energy World - Energy Institute
(Some may be priced)

For further details please see:

http://www.connexions-direct.com/

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