Offshore Engineer

Also known as:

Engineer, Offshore
Oil Engineer

Introduction

Offshore engineers find economical and environmentally safe ways to extract oil and gas from natural reservoirs beneath the seabed. They design offshore installations and drilling equipment, oversee drilling and are responsible for maximising production.

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Work Activities

Offshore engineers research, design, construct and operate offshore rigs, which are used to drill for gas and oil beneath the seabed. There are several different types of offshore engineer.

The oil and gas industries continually research to improve methods of locating and exploiting oil and gas reserves. For example, engineers try to find ways to make drilling techniques quicker and more accurate, and therefore more cost effective.

Some engineers design the offshore rigs. They have to understand the forces that will affect the rig, such as wind, waves and strong currents. Engineers build scale models of new or improved rig designs, and use wave tanks to test them for safety and durability. Computer-aided design (CAD) is now the standard tool for designing rigs and refineries. Using CAD, engineers can design and 'build' an installation on screen, and then use virtual reality to walk around a 3D model. Engineers are then able to locate any problems and make sure that they are designed out before construction begins.

Highly skilled and experienced teams, which include exploration geologists and geophysicists, spend a long time carefully searching for reservoirs of oil and gas.

Technology is vital to this process. For example, imaging technology on space telescopes has been adapted to decode information from the drill bit about what type of rock the drill is passing through. Engineers can use satellite communications to monitor and operate wells from the other side of the world.

Once an exploration well has struck oil or gas, reservoir engineers work with the teams and business managers to assess whether the quantity of oil or gas is large enough to justify full-scale commercial development of the field. Reservoir engineers are responsible for maximising oil or gas production; they also have to make sure production is economical.

Drilling engineers draw up plans for the drilling operations, taking account of costs and deadlines. They specify the drilling programme and plan the wells, supervise the drilling crew and are responsible for safety management and protecting the environment.

Production engineers monitor the wells and recommend ways to increase the efficiency of the production.

Oil and gas companies face high production costs, so there is a strong emphasis on greater energy efficiency. Environmental protection is also a major concern for offshore engineers. Drilling for oil and gas has to be environmentally safe as well as making sense in economic terms. Offshore engineers work on ways to eliminate loss, manage waste and reduce the amount of energy the process uses.

Production is very expensive, so if the flow of gas or oil slows down, equipment breaks or any other problem arises, the engineer must react quickly to diagnose faults and get them repaired. Offshore engineers do not fix the problem themselves - instead, they have to come up with creative, practical, economical and safe solutions, and then discuss the repair with technicians.

Although offshore engineers may develop expertise in one area, oil or gas production is the result of close teamwork.

Engineers may travel to overseas locations where exploration or drilling operations are taking place.

Engineers on rigs must be prepared to tolerate living on the rig for extended periods of time in close contact with other staff. The weather can be harsh.

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Personal Qualities and Skills

Offshore engineers need a love of maths, technology and problem solving. You must be able to combine strong technical knowledge with an analytical, creative and imaginative approach to solving problems.

Every oil or gas field is different, so you may be involved in long, careful investigations. This will require patience and a logical, methodical approach to your work.

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills will be needed to work in teams and to supervise others. The ability to communicate with many different types of people is essential. You must be able to explain complex engineering ideas clearly and concisely to people who may not come from a technical background.

You will also need good written skills to produce technical reports.

Organisational skills will be essential to help you prioritise your workload and to plan the activities of others (e.g. other engineers, engineering technicians and operators). Generally, you will need quick thinking, leadership skills and the ability to motivate and encourage other people.

Technology plays a vital part in offshore engineering, from computer aided design (CAD) to satellite communications. You need good IT skills and must be willing to keep up-to-date with advances in technology and ideas.

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Pay and Opportunities

Salaries for offshore engineers vary.

The pay rates given below are approximate.

Offshore engineers earn in the range of £21,500 - £26,000 a year, rising to £32,000 - £42,000. Higher earners can make around £50,000 a year. Higher salaries are available depending on employer, role and responsibilities.

Most offshore engineers work 35-40 hours, Monday to Friday. However, early starts, late finishes and some weekend work may be required. Engineers employed on offshore platforms normally work shifts.

Employers are oil and gas producing organisations and companies that provide support services to these organisations. Other employers include design consultancies, project management firms and classification societies such as Lloyds Register of Shipping.

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Adult Opportunities

It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

If you don't have the qualifications needed to enter your chosen degree or HND course, a college or university Access course (eg, Access to Engineering) could be the way in.

These courses are designed for people who have not followed the usual routes into higher education. No formal qualifications are usually needed, but you should check this with individual colleges.

Funding for postgraduate study is available through universities from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council.

Distance learning courses are available from Petroleum Open Learning and the Oxford Princeton Programme.

Other pathways to registration as a Chartered or Incorporated Engineer include career progression from other levels of registration and routes based on the achievement of Occupational Standards.

• 4% of people in occupations such as offshore engineer work part-time.
• 15% have flexible hours.
• 3% of employees work on a temporary basis.

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New Developments

Some people working in this occupation may be involved in the green jobs sector in areas such as renewable energy.