Oil Drilling Roustabout/Roughneck

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 carry out tasks, such as:

• cleaning, scraping and painting the deck, equipment and work areas
• offloading supplies from boats and moving them to storage areas
• mixing and conditioning drilling mud.

Roughnecks do practical tasks directly involved in the drilling operation, under the supervision of the driller or assistant driller.

Working hours on rigs and platforms are normally 12 hours on and 12 hours off continuously for two, three or four weeks, depending on the geographical area, followed by at least 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 be prepared to live and work as a team.

Salaries may range from around £20,000 to £30,000 a year.

Roustabouts and roughnecks need:

• good practical hand skills
• to be strong and physically and mentally fit
• to be prepared to work away from home
• to enjoy working outdoors.

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, such as from the marine industry, construction or the armed forces. Applicants will have to be at least 18, pass a medical and obtain a Vantage Card before working offshore.

All offshore workers must complete an offshore survival and firefighting course. Roustabouts are also given induction training onshore, which lasts from one day up to three weeks. 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 and demonstrate the required competencies can become roughnecks within six to eight months. Further promotion is to derrickman, then assistant driller and driller. It is possible to become a driller within about five years. Further advancement is to toolpusher and offshore installation manager.

Further details