oil platform tour

Museum Tour Information

We are delighted that you are interested in visiting the Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig and Museum. Our one-of-a-kind facility gives visitors the unique opportunity to learn all about the oil and gas industry while being aboard a retired jack-up drilling rig. The museum is designed to be a self-guided facility so that visitors can experience the exhibits at their own pace.

The Ocean Star Museum is open daily from 10am to 5pm, last ticket sold at 4pm. Regular admission tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors/military, and $6 for youth 7-18, with children under 6 being free. We offer a family package as well, which includes 2 adults and up to 4 youth for $30.

Reservations are not required for individuals or family groups and tickets can be purchased upon arrival in our gift shop. The following information applies to large groups ranging from student field trips, to scouts, to church groups, or even corporate companies planning to visit the museum.

Educational Tours/Field Trips

Educational tours are available for groups of students (K-12) that are organized through a school, home school, scout troop, or similar program. These tours are guided by museum staff at no additional charge and are available Monday through Friday from 10:00am to 3:00pm. Educational tours typically last about 1 ½ hours. An appropriate ratio of teachers and bus drivers are admitted free, and chaperones with the group receive a reduced adult rate. All tours must be booked at least two weeks in advance, and the payment must be made in one transaction in order to receive the special group rate.

Student Rate $4/person                                       Chaperone Rate $6/person

Tour + Activity Program

If your educational group has 30 people or less and wants to spend more time at the museum (about two hours), we can add an activity to the end of the guided tour. We have a variety of activities available and will be happy to discuss options at the time of booking. These activities are also described in the “See, Hear, Do” publication available for download.

Student Rate $6/person                                       Chaperone Rate $8/person

Adult Groups

Adult groups are eligible to receive a reduced rate when there are 25 people or more. The museum is designed to be a self-guided facility, and groups can visit at their leisure after an introduction and film. For a more in-depth experience, we can provide an audio tour system that consists of more than two hours of information recorded from a variety of museum, engineering, and oilfield professionals.  The cost is $5 in addition to admission, and the audio tour is available in English, Spanish and French. To receive the special group rate or reserve audio units, the payment must be made in one transaction and the tour must be booked at least two weeks in advance.

24 adults or less – $10/person                                       25 adults or more – $8/person

Senior Groups

Senior rates are available for those aged 55 and older, and groups of 25 people or more are eligible to receive a reduced group rate. The museum is designed to be a self-guided facility, and groups can visit at their leisure after an introduction and film. For a more in-depth experience, we can provide an audio tour system that consists of more than two hours of information recorded from a variety of museum, engineering, and oilfield professionals. The cost is $5 in addition to admission, and the audio tour is available in English, Spanish and French. To receive the special group rate or reserve audio units, the payment must be made in one transaction and the tour must be booked at least two weeks in advance.

24 seniors or less = $8/person                                       25 seniors or more = $6/person

Museum Tour FAQs

Where do i park.

Anywhere you can find a parking space! We do not control any of the parking around the museum. There are several paid parking lots within walking distance of the museum, as well as parallel parking in the downtown Strand district. Be prepared to pay between $3.00 and $10.00 for parking in the downtown Strand district. Buses may unload near our entrance, but are not allowed to remain on the pier. Some of the paid parking lots are able to accommodate buses.

Do I have to ride a boat?

No, we have a pedestrian bridge that takes you from our gift shop to the rig.

How long does a tour last?

A typical guided student tour can last anywhere from 1 hour to 1 ½ hours. Group size and interest can dictate the length of the tour. The audio guided tour contains more than two hours of recorded information and visitors can decide how much they want to listen to in a free roaming situation.

What do we see on the tour?

Your visit will start with a short introductory video. From there you will visit the three levels of the museum, featuring exhibits and models that explain offshore drilling and production. Additionally, you will be able to tour two exterior areas of the drilling rig.

How large can our group be?

One guide can easily handle a group of 30 people. If group size reaches 40, we will split the group into smaller numbers. The smaller groups will tour the museum simultaneously. Logistically, the largest group size our museum can accommodate simultaneously is 100 people.

What about lunch?

We do not have the facilities for your group to have lunch aboard the rig. There are several restaurants within walking distance of the museum. There is also a grassy area on the pier for picnic lunches, weather permitting.

What if it rains?

The majority of our site is indoors or covered. If there is inclement weather, the group can choose not visit the exterior areas of the rig.

If you have any questions or would like more information about planning your visit, please contact:

Phone: 409.766.7827

Email: [email protected]

 1414 Enclave Parkway Houston, TX 77077 Tel: 713-840-1753 Fax: 713-222-1885 Email: [email protected]

All Rights Reserved | Energy Education Foundation

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Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig & Museum

• 2002 Wharf Rd Galveston, Texas 77550
• (409) 766-7827
• Website Email Virtual Tour
• Hours: Monday 10AM-5PM Tuesday 10AM–5PM Wednesday 10AM–5PM Thursday 10AM–5PM Friday 10AM–5PM Saturday 10AM–5PM Sunday 10AM–5PM

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Where the Texas Coast begins.

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Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig Museum Hours and Admission Prices

Step aboard a retired oil rig at the Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig Museum in Galveston. This unique museum and learning center tells the story of the Gulf Coast's oil and gas industry through three floors of interactive displays and fascinating exhibits. 

Hours of operation and admission prices for the Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig Museum in Galveston are listed below. You'll also find information on tours and Family Day events.

The Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig Museum is available for weddings, corporate conferences, luncheons, dinners, and family reunions. Overnight Camp is also offered on the fourth Friday or fourth Saturday of each month for groups of 17 or more.

Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig Museum Hours

Open Daily: 10 AM - 5 PM

The museum is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day.

Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig Museum Admission Prices

Adults: $10 Seniors (55+): $8 Youth (7-18): $6 Children 6 and Under: Free

Active Duty Military and their Families: Free with photo ID from Memorial Day through Labor Day as part of the Blue Star Museums program .

Reduced rates are available for groups of 25 or more - call the museum for more information.

Note : Last admission tickets are sold one hour prior to closing.

Tours The museum is set up to be a self-guided facility; some people, however, desire a more in-depth learning experience. Printed guidebooks that contain exhibit photos and in-depth information on the museum’s displays are available for purchase and make for a great educational souvenir. Audio guide units may be rented for $5. The hand-held devices contain recorded tracks that correspond with museum exhibits and are available in English, Spanish, and French.

For larger groups of 25 or more, tours may be arranged in advance. For more information on Ocean Star’s tours, please visit the museum’s website .

Family Days Bring the kids to an educational event they'll love!

The second Saturday of each month is Family Day. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., special events for children focus on a theme related to the offshore oil industry. Kids learn about the process of drilling for oil, equipment on the oil rig, and products derived from hydrocarbons.  Demonstrations and hands-on activities provide fun for kids as they learn scientific concepts pertaining to the world around them. Parents are encouraged to get involved as well, creating a great family learning experience. Children younger than 18 years are admitted for free with a paying chaperone.

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Go On a Virtual Gulf of Mexico Oil Rig Tour

Valaris has created a virtual rig tour of its Valaris Relentless (Valaris DS-18) drillship, which is currently operating in the Gulf of Mexico.

Those taking the tour are greeted on the helideck by offshore installation manager Mike Ford, who welcomes travelers aboard with a short video message. Viewers can then move on to explore several areas of the asset, with 360 degree views of the entire drillship.

According to its official specifications, the Valaris Relentless has an overall length of 752 feet and a breadth of 118.1 feet. In operation since 2015, the ship has a maximum drilling depth of 40,000 feet and can accommodate 210 people.

Commenting on the virtual tour, industry body Oil & Gas UK (OGUK), which counts Valaris among its members, described it as “innovative” and said it was an “exciting new venture to encapsulate the experience of touring an oil rig from a digital lense”.

In November 2019, Valaris announced that its Relentless contract had been extended due to the exercise of a one-well priced option with EnVen in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, with an estimated duration of 45 days from February 2020 to March 2020. The company also disclosed at the time that the rig had been awarded a two-well contract with an undisclosed operator in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico that was expected to commence in June 2020, with an estimated duration of 180 days.

In June 2021, Valaris announced that it had been awarded a three-year contract with Chevron in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico for the Relentless drillship. The contract is expected to commence in the first quarter of 2022 in direct continuation of the current contract, Valaris noted at the time.

Valaris was created by the combination of two leading offshore drillers with decades of experience and knowledge, the company’s website highlights. The business has the world’s largest offshore fleet, according to its website. 

To explore the virtual tour  click here .  To contact the author, email  [email protected]

What do you think? We’d love to hear from you, join the conversation on the Rigzone Energy Network. The Rigzone Energy Network is a new social experience created for you and all energy professionals to Speak Up about our industry, share knowledge, connect with peers and industry insiders and engage in a professional community that will empower your career in energy.

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RoadsideAmerica.com Your Online Guide to Offbeat Tourist Attractions

Attraction:

Tour a Famous Oil Rig

Morgan City, Louisiana

"Mr. Charlie" was the world's first transportable, submersible drilling rig when it was built in 1953. (For a time it had a rival, "Mr. Gus," but Gus sank in a storm.) Mr. Charlie kept drilling until 1986, and was retired only because it had sucked all of oil that could be sucked out of the Gulf of Mexico within waters 40 feet deep, which was the length of Mr. Charlie's legs. The success of this rig made possible the entire offshore oil-drilling industry, so your opinion of Mr. Charlie will probably depend upon your politics.

Mr. Charlie was offered to the Smithsonian, but it didn't have the room to exhibit a drilling rig hundreds of feet long. So a museum was built around Mr. Charlie. Tours are given twice a day, and take anywhere from an hour to 90 minutes.

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3D Virtual Rig Tour

https://youtu.be/ydo7qUFPPdw

3D Oil Rig Tour Video Animation | John Perez Graphics – Federal Copyright # PA 1-901-682

Crown Block:  A device comprised of sheaves or pulleys at the top of the mast over which drilling line is run down to the hoisting drum.

Derrick Board:  A platform near the top of the mast on which the derrick man works. Also called a monkey board.

Mast:  A portable metal tower that is raised into working position as a unit, rather than assembled as a derrick. A mast is used as a component of the hoisting system of a drilling rig.

Traveling Block:  An arrangement of pulleys or sheaves suspended in a derrick with wire rope and used to raise and lower equipment in the well.

Top Drive:  A power swivel which rotates the drill string without the use of a rotary table or kelly. It is efficient due to its ability to drill three joints deep before another connection must be added.

Standpipe:  A seamless vertical steel pipe attached to one leg of the mast which carries drilling mud up to the rotary hose and swivel.

Driller’s Console:  A control panel on the drilling floor used to monitor drilling operations such as weight, speed, pressure, and torque.

Rotary Table:  A motorized, circular platform in the floor of the rig which rotates the kelly bushing and the kelly when the top drive is not in use. Turning the kelly turns all the pipe, therefore drilling the hole.

Mousehole:  A hole in the drilling floor, seven to ten inches wide, located near the rotary table. It is used to store a piece of drill pipe until it is pulled up and attached to the drill string.

Draw Works:  A large winch located on the drilling floor which uses steel wire rope to raise and lower the drilling equipment in the well.

Iron Roughneck:  A hydraulic powered wrench which can make up or break out pipe joints by applying correct torque. Most of the manual pipe handling operations previously performed by the drilling crew on the rig floor have been replaced by this piece of equipment.

BOP Controller:  A control panel on the drilling floor which can remotely and independently operate each preventer on the BOP stack.

Hydraulic Hoist:  Also known as an air hoist. A small cable crane that lifts pipe and equipment up the V door. Also used to hoist personnel for maintenance and repairs on the top drive.

Doghouse:  A small building on the rig floor which is used as the driller’s office. It also serves as a shelter for the drilling crew and storage for tools and small equipment.

BOP Stack:  Stands for Blowout Preventer Stack. This piece of equipment is attached to the well head under the rig floor and utilizes vertically arranged closing elements to either close off the well or control the release of fluids to and from the well bore.

Cellar:  A pit around the well head which provides space for the installation of equipment at the top of the well bore such as the BOP stack. Water and waste fluids also accumulate in the cellar for disposal.

Accumulator:  A tank which holds hydraulic fluids stored under pressure by compressed nitrogen. An accumulator is used to actuate the blowout preventer.

SCR House/Top Drive:  An electrical housing unit which balances and controls the energy used to power the top drive.

SCR House/Generator:  An electrical housing unit in close proximity to the generator, which balances and controls the energy used to power the rig site. Also called a breaker house.

Engine/Generator Sets:  Fueled most commonly by diesel, the engine converts fuel combustion into motion. The motion is then converted into electricity by the generator and is used as a power source for various drill site components.

Fuel Tank:  Storage tanks that hold the diesel fuel used for the power system.

Water Tank:  Stores water that is needed for various functions on the drill site, including circulating, cementing, cooling, and cleaning.

Mud Pumps:  A set of two or three piston driven pumps that are used to move circulating fluids on a rotary drilling rig.

Mud System:  The equipment that separates the earth cuttings coming out of the well bore and continues the circulating fluid back to the well bore.

Mud Pit:  Also known as a reserve pit. An open excavation near the drilling rig that holds used or waste mud and cuttings.

Shale Shakers:  A series of vibrating screens used to remove the earth cuttings from the circulating fluids from the well bore.

Mud/Gas Separator:  A vessel that is attached to the mud flow line to remove gas from the circulated mud when drilling through a high-pressure gas zone.

Substructure:  The steel platform and supports on which the mast and all drilling floor equipment sit. It also provides space for well control equipment and storage by elevating drilling floor components.

Mud Return Line:  A pipe which carries the circulating drilling mud from the mud pumps to the well bore.

Choke Manifold:  A series of pipes and valves that function to control pressures experienced during a kick once the blowout preventers are closed.

Catwalk:  A long, flat steel platform where pipe is laid before it is pulled up through the V door and placed into the mousehole.

Pipe Racks with Drill Pipe:  Steel platforms placed next to the rig near the catwalk that hold reserve drill pipe.

Company Man’s Quarters:  The trailer in which the representative of the operator of the well offices and resides while on location.

Tool Pusher’s Quarters:  The trailer in which the rig manager, also called rig superintendent or rig foreman, offices and resides while on location.

Rig Hands’ Quarters:  The trailer in which the drilling crew resides when off duty.

Security Station:  A structure at the entrance of the drilling location staffed by personnel that ensure controlled and authorized access to the site and enforces posted entrance requirements.

Sound Wall:  Panels which can be installed on the perimeter of a well site to effectively reduce noise to the surrounding environment that is generated by drilling operations.

Other Educational Animations

Multi-stage vertical frac.

This Multi-Stage Vertical Frac Crude Oil Animation explains and demonstrates how a vertical well is drilled, stimulated and produced from multiple formations to recover hydrocarbons. In this animation, we show a well targeting three sandstone layers. The well is initially drilled to a designated distance below the deepest fresh water source near the surface.

Impact Crater

The 10 biggest impact craters on Earth date back from 35 million to over 2 billion years ago.

When an asteroid or meteorite crashes into the surface of a planet or a moon, a circular depression is formed. To form a true impact crater, this object needs to be traveling at super-fast speeds – many thousands of miles per hour! It immediately vaporizes and creates enormous shockwaves through the ground that melt and recrystallize rock and are one of the most destructive forces in the solar system.

The Chicxulub crater, sometimes referred to as the deadliest location on earth, is buried beneath the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico. When the Chicxulub asteroid slammed into Earth about 66 million years ago, it obliterated 80 percent of Earth’s species, blasted out a crater about 200 kilometers (124 miles) across and 19 kilometers (12 miles) deep, and signaled an abrupt end to the Cretaceous Period.

CO2 EOR Carbon Dioxide Enhanced Oil Recovery

This CO2 EOR Educational Animation – created by John Perez Graphics & Design, LLC – explains the CO2-EOR process. We travel deep in to the Earth’s subsurface to demonstrate injection, miscibility, WAG, and increased oil production.

Saltwater Disposal

This Saltwater Disposal Well Animation – created by John Perez Graphics & Design, LLC – explains the steps necessary when disposing of salt water that is produced when drilling an oil or gas well. The animation takes you from the surface facilities, through the various protective casing strings down several thousand feet to the pre-approved formation zone where the salt water will be disposed of. This follows the EPA preferred method for the disposal of produced saltwater in Class II Saltwater Disposal wells.

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Oil rig, dead ahead! Could offshore platforms become the new cruise trend?

Norwegian company hopes tourists keen for ‘rig-spotting’ will help fill its berths left empty due to oil industry downturn

If you’re bored with palm-fringed beaches and turquoise seas, why not try the gigantic oil platforms of the North Sea?

The world’s first “rig-spotting” cruise has just ended off the coast of Norway , and tourists who were on board for the four-day trip have been talking about what they saw.

“I couldn’t believe that these big buildings could be made,” said passenger Kari Somme, 86, after seeing Statoil’s Troll A platform – the heaviest structure ever moved by humans – towering 200 metres (650ft) above the surface of the sea.

“It’s just wonderful, just wonderful. I was so excited because I didn’t know much about it. So when I came here and we went from rig to rig, or platform to platform, I was amazed,” she said.

The group of 120 tourists – all Norwegians except for a German and a Swedish couple – paid between 6,000 and 30,000 crowns ($700-$3,500) for four days on board the high-tech offshore vessel Edda Fides.

The trip was organised by Edda Accommodation, which provides housing for offshore oil workers; the company is looking for new ways to drum up business as oil firms cut costs after a 60% slump in the price of oil since mid-2014.

“There was little activity, so we used our creativity to come up with ideas,” said Bjön Erik Julseth, the hotel manager on board. “We organised this trip in six weeks.”

The inaugural group toured oil installations at the Troll, Balder or Ringhorn fields before a second tour departed for a trip further north to the fields of the Norwegian Sea.

Oil production is Norway’s biggest industry, but the bulk of the work is unseen as it takes place offshore.

“Every Norwegian knows that the oil has brought us wealth and welfare that can’t be compared to nothing or to no one,” said passenger Arnt Even Bøe, a journalist. The tourists were not allowed to board the rigs for security reasons, but the offshore workers seemed thrilled to see visitors.

“Some of them fired flares or used water cannon to welcome us … We even had a rescue helicopter, with one worker dangling above us,” said Julseth. The company would now evaluate whether to repeat the cruise, he said.

Passenger Nils Olav Nergaard brought his drone on the trip and said it had been “a real adventure”. “To be a part of a high-tech offshore vessel, almost as a crew, and get the experience to go to the oil platforms and see them for real, that was very amazing,” he said.

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Life On An Oil Rig – Do You Know What It Takes?

An offshore oil rig , a floating city on the ocean, is a city that never sleeps. Looming over passing ships , it works silently around the clock, performing its functions far from the nearest coast.

Billions of barrels of oil and gas are produced by oil rigs and gas wells to meet the world’s energy demand. The oil industry is central to the world economy, and changing crude prices impact all nations.

There are numerous resources on how the oil rig works, the equipment on board, and the qualifications to join offshore drilling rigs.

But has anyone considered the lifestyle and daily routine of someone living and working on an oil rig?

Though you must have heard about life on this beautiful floating platform, there are a few things you might not be aware of. The first thing to note is that life on an oil rig is not a party and is, in fact, a gamble with one’s own life. Though the sentence might sound a bit exaggerated, it is not all untrue, for offshore oil rig work is harsh and unsafe.

This article will discuss the dangerous life of a worker on an oil rig.

Table of Contents

Looking for a Life At Sea  & The Origin of Oil Rigs

Five hundred years ago, the oil demand was much higher than its supply. Besides collecting the oil seeping through the ground through land oil pipes and wells, oil companies started exploring beyond and developed drilling rigs to tap crude oil below the sea bed through hydraulic fracturing.

It was in the Gulf of Mexico that open water drilling first gained traction. This resulted in the first offshore oil well structure.

News spread and new fields have been discovered, including in the Scottish waters and the North Sea.

So why is there so much demand for offshore and crude oil rigs?

Most appliances these days are powered by conventional energy methods, which are mainly dependent on fossil fuel energy. It involves the combustion of these fuels to indirectly power factories, industries, cars, habitation sites, etc. The alternatives are natural resources such as wind, water, and solar-based power sources.

However, the highest efficiency rate at the present level of technology undoubtedly belongs to fossil fuels. Still, they generate enormous amounts of greenhouse gas emissions, which is one reason for climate change.

Coming to why offshore oil rigs have become a common sight, the reason lies in the effects of drilling on land. The sheer land required to maintain such an operation only compounds the problem of having an ever-expanding population without enough area.

Moreover, an accidental oil leak, oil spill , or sub-surface vent formation could potentially contaminate freshwater resources and lead to health issues for the surrounding regions.

Moreover, once an oil well is drained of all resources and capped, the rig must be dismantled and scrapped. The cost of changing location is far too great.

On the other hand, offshore oil platforms solve many problems in one go. For instance, they do not occupy land reserved for industries or habitation.

Special technology has been developed to prevent an accidental leak or blowout at such facilities, thereby nullifying the chances of water contamination. Lastly, they can be towed across different locations after an existing oil well has been drained.

People have been instrumental in these massive oil rigs’ safe and efficient operations. They handle a variety of tasks- from engineering to assistive.

For instance, specialists and inspectors ensure the rig is in working order, engineers work to rectify any potential flaws, and auxiliary staff keep the entire crew fed and provide other services.

While people are fundamental to these rigs’ functioning, efforts are gradually being made to shift to a safer and more remote alternative. This way, only essential visits would be required.

The Life Of A Worker On An Oil Rig

Life changes dramatically for one who decides to step foot in this industry. Earlier, life on an offshore oil rig was arduous, but there have been significant changes and improved living conditions.

One needs to get outfitted to start work on the rig; hence, safety glasses, hard hats, coveralls and steel-toed boots are issued on arrival.

Regular safety training is conducted before and during employment.

Oil rig workers have an 8-12 hour shift with breaks for food in the morning, noon and night. One might have to do night shifts since this industry operates 24 hours a day and seven days a week.

While this may seem tough, a two-week work session on the rig will earn the worker a holiday of almost three weeks. This is meant to compensate for the hard physical labour on the offshore platform.

And while onboard a rig, one need not worry about food, laundry or accommodation. Rooms with bunk beds are common, as it saves precious space and fosters a sense of camaraderie with one’s colleagues.

Also, the rig has designated smoking zones where safety matches are provided to smokers to ensure safety compliance at all times.

Cinema halls, televisions in every room, a fully-kitted gymnasium, indoor sports facilities like table tennis, and computers with internet are some benefits one enjoys on the rig.

A few decades earlier, rig staff could make calls back home only once in a fortnight, with the call times limited.

But with the advent of superior mobile and broadband technology, oil rigs are well equipped to provide the staff with the various comforts of the internet, including uninterrupted and unlimited voice calls and a super-fast Wi-Fi connection.

While the job might sound very interesting and rewarding, one point to keep in mind is the risk associated with it.

The environment in which the rig works is very hostile as the nature of these operations is unfortunate tragedies and accidents.

Highly flammable fluids are drawn out of the earth, some part of which is burnt in slack flares to separate poisonous sulfide gas. There is always the chance of accidental exposure to these chemicals, which can have severe consequences.

Dangerous and heavy machinery like cranes capable of lifting heavy loads is operated at all times. Work is even carried out at extreme heights despite weather, stormy or windy climatic conditions.

Be it for a worker on the rig or off rig workers like the paramedics, housekeepers, caterers etc., life on an oil rig is exciting and exhilarating, while it also has its fair share of danger.

With newer and safer systems, the risks involved have drastically decreased. Nevertheless, caution is always advised, and the best operating practices must be followed.

A Typical Day of a Crew Member on Board an Oil Rig

Work shifts on an oil rig are dependent on your time of arrival and state of work at that point. After that, you are assigned a 12-hour shift to work on and then a 12-hour off period.

The exact time can vary since it depends on the work you specialize in. Since you are on the rig for two whole weeks with limited sources of entertainment, the company often puts you to work for longer periods, with adequate breaks in between. So, it may be possible that you stay up for nearly 16 hours and then sleep for the remaining 8 hours.

While this may shock many of you as inhumane working hours , remember that any time not spent sleeping on an oil rig is termed “working”.

So, mealtimes are included in this period and designated relaxation times intended to improve staff welfare. To ensure no time is wasted, a roster with a detailed schedule is prepared for each crew member on board and is strictly followed.

Since your “day” might start at midnight, the oil rig follows a 24-hour operational system. This is a typical day for a worker beginning the midnight shift in this system:

1. 2330 hours, previous day: Wake up, and arrange gear for the shift. 2. 0000 hours: Major meal 1. Punch in for a shift and receive instructions for the “day”. 3. 0200 hours: Break1, as the work demands regular breaks for recovery. 4. 0400 hours: Break 2. 5. 0600 hours: Major meal 2. 6. 0800 hours: Personal time. 7. 1000 hours: Break 3. 8. 1200 hours: Break 4. 9. 1400 hours: Major meal 3. 10. 1530 hours: End of day. Last break for the shift. 11. 1600: Prepare for the next day, have a light snack, and then go to bed.

We can observe that while it may seem long, the day is filled with breaks intended to give the workers a gap. Moreover, during work hours, they can take a few minutes to talk to their family on the shore, catch up with their colleagues, or prepare a snack from the ever-full pantry.

Training Courses and Education for Life on an Oil Rig

Working on an oil rig is not a simple task a layperson can attempt. The machinery used is unique to this field, the type of work is different, and the physical intensity can be challenging. This is why most oil and gas companies have a long list of qualifications and requirements for their staff.

Those who have minimal education can apply for entry-level oil rig jobs after doing a diploma or the specified course. They can become stewards , galley hands, floor hands and welders.

The engineers will need degrees or certification in designing robust offshore structures, with particular attention paid to stability and other factors.

Workers who handle mechanical repairs, instrument installation, welding etc., need certifications in operating heavy equipment and specialized machinery.

For instance, offshore and marine welders have a comprehensive collection of courses and certifications required to work in this industry.

Lastly, operations and logistical experts have to factor many variables into their computations- weather conditions, man-hour requirements, safety guidelines, physical working conditions etc.

While companies often train their employees in these skills, they also seek proactive individuals with certifications. This helps them to stand apart from the crowd and offers them prior experience in the field.

Connecting with the Mainland

Connecting to the mainland is always important for any offshore work. It serves as the nearest source of replenishment, equipment, and aid in case of an emergency. That is why all companies in this industry pay special attention to how they plan the logistics behind mainland transportation.

The most common method of transporting crew, staff, and equipment is specialized modified VTOL helicopters. Reputed helicopter manufacturers include Airbus and the Bristow Group. There are different classes of such aircraft that serve different purposes.

Light helicopters handle passenger transport limited to less than ten people, including the pilot. This is used for ferrying small groups from the shore or inspecting offshore pipelines with a small crew. They can carry essential supplies but no hanging load.

Medium helicopters have two main variants. The passenger variant handles larger groups of passengers, often used for a shift-change operation with 15 people.

The cargo variant can handle larger loads and even mid-sized hanging loads.

Heavy-duty copters can transport large equipment, hanging loads, and passengers of up to 20 individuals. They are used for more robust and heavy-duty operations.

VTOL refers to Vertical Take-Off and Landing, meaning that the craft can rise or drop vertically without any off-centre motion. This is perfect for tight manoeuvring in locations with restricted space. There is also a lesser chance of the helicopter tail striking any equipment.

These helicopters operate in the following steps to drop goods and passengers at an offshore site:

The helicopter approaches the helipad upwind of the flare stack. This is to prevent noxious fumes from overwhelming the engine system and passengers.

It is gently lowered onto the deck and decoupled if it has an undercarriage hanging load. After that, the ground crew removes the cargo. The decoupler is an important component, as it is used in emergencies to rid the helicopter of the excess cargo load.

Finally, the helicopter touches down on the helipad once it is clear. They use navigation systems plus hand and light signals from the ground crew to safely land.

Other than aircraft, boats are the other method of connecting offshore platforms to land. These are less preferred, as an approach to large offshore platforms can be a safety issue.

Nevertheless, smaller platforms also have a fleet of dedicated motor-powered boats that can be used to quickly ferry goods, conduct inspections, or recover equipment from the sea.

Crew members on board the transport vessel need to climb the buoyancy columns of these rigs to reach the main deck, although elevators are common in modern times.

Salaries and Perks for Staff on an Oil Rig

Despite the tough lifestyle of a crew member on an oil rig, it is a satisfying opportunity to be at the forefront of an ever-evolving and complex industry. Rest assured, a select few can only handle these experts’ work. Besides the high salary, there are numerous perks for workers on an oil rig.

The pay is unparalleled, considering they handle state-of-the-art equipment that needs prior experience. There is also an opportunity to work at different locations spanning different regions and continents. For those who enjoy being at sea, this is an excellent opportunity to witness its beauty firsthand.

As work usually progresses for 2-3 weeks per shift, they receive an equal amount of time off once their shift is completed. This means you can spend time with your family once you are off-duty.

While you may occasionally be required to report to an office for briefings or team meetings, this time is reserved for you to relax.

As these workers leave their families and head to distant platforms, the parent company usually provides accommodation, a job to the spouse, or other family benefits. Moreover, there is complete family insurance coverage.

Lastly, for an adventurer, this would be a dream-come-true occupation, as it allows you to work in a dynamic field that demands a lot but also renumerates you for your hard work and commitment.

What happens to Oil Rigs at the end of their lives?

When an oil rig stops production, companies can seal the oil well and remove the platform or transform it into an artificial reef by removing only its upper section. Over the years of its operation, the rig pillars beneath the waves and mud become one with the marine ecosystem in many ways.

This practice of changing the defunct rigs into reefs in the United States began 40 years ago, after 1984. That year, the US Congress passed the National Fishing Enhancement Act, which underlined the advantages of converting rigs into reefs. The states of Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas have rigs to reefs programs which have transformed over 500 rigs into artificial reefs.

The subsurface rig is the perfect skeleton for coral reefs, mussels, tiny fish and other marine wildlife. Rigs like Platform Holly are one of the most flourishing man-made marine habitats with diverse fish populations. However, even these reefs face dangers as oil from original wells or pipelines can still leak. In 2021, a pipeline between Elly platform and Long Beach Port in the State of California leaked. It affected the marine animals living near the artificial reef.

However, around 27 marine ecosystems would be affected if California’s artificial reefs were toppled. Also, it would cause pollution and waste generation since some platforms like the Harmony rig in Santa Barbara Channel are taller than the Eiffel Tower!

Interestingly, many oil rigs near the Gulf Of Mexico have become productive fish habitats and hotspots for diving, snorkelling and recreational fishing. Scientists and Marine Biologists wish to replicate this success in other parts of the world.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. do workers sleep on oil rigs.

Oil rigs are close-knit communities in a way. Most oil rigs have worker bunker beds; some even offer private rooms. Showers and washrooms are also shared among the staff.

2. How long do workers stay on an oil rig?

Workers on an offshore oil rig may remain on the platform for six months to one year, depending on the company they’re working for, the project type and the duration of their contract.

3. What are the chances of dying on an oil rig?

Offshore oil rig workers are seven times more likely to die than an average American professional. According to a report, there are usually 27.1 fatalities per 100,000 workers compared to 3 to 4 death per 100,000 employees in normal jobs.

4. How many hours a week do workers work on an oil rig?

As the work on an oil rig is never-ending, most workers must have 12-hour shifts, seven days a week for even 28 days at a time. They might have to work overtime if the project requires so or if there is an emergency.

5. How much do you get paid on an oil rig?

Salaries depend on the position and company. But usually, specialised drilling engineers with sufficient experience and underground pipefitters can make around 200,000 USD every year.

You might also like to read:

• Types Of Mobile Offshore Drilling Units (MODU)
• What are Anchor Handling Tug Supply Vessels (AHTS)?
• A Guide To Types of Ships
• Main Reasons that Lead to Oil Rig Accidents

Disclaimer: The author’s views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of Marine Insight.  Data and charts, if used, in the article have been sourced from available information and have not been authenticated by any statutory authority. The author and Marine Insight do not claim it to be accurate nor accept any responsibility for the same. The views constitute only the opinions and do not constitute any guidelines or recommendations on any course of action to be followed by the reader.

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18 Comments

I like reading blog posts, and when I stumbled upon to this weblog, it just blew me away! Hey there I mean it! Your contents are rich and I discover them very useful! I wish I could post like you do but I don

Life is hard to be a cook out on the rig the pay not good they have who live across the world working housekeeping not the local peoples so your pay is very low so have to do 28 day to pay your Bill’s and have two weeks off its hard to just to said.iam out

Must a worker pay himself to get onshore when it is time for hip to take is break

Why would my friend ask for money when he makes good money as a Roughneck for 12 years

Because your “friend” and mine are liars and scammers. There was an article in a recent Toronto, Canada magazine warning that people to be claiming to work on oil rigs are scammers. Mine also asked for money and my girlfriend had it happen to her too. We both met our respective men via an on line Scrabble game during the summer. Just today, my guy reappeared after not speaking to me since October. I looked up “living on an oil rig” and the internet warned in big, bold letters that if you are ever asked for money, it is a SCAM because the rig employees have full access to their salary while on board. I am in the process of looking it up again to send to my creep. Maybe we should compare notes.

I have some questions about life on a rig for a supervisor. Do you all have to down load your specs from welds or dive to see the welds? And do you contract for water to be delivered. Or is that through the company like Exxon? And are there individuals contracted to do certain jobs?

Marie you are probably getting scammed

I have been in that situation.marie do not send any money ok They will make out they need it for data to keep in contact with you, I would love to know this person’s name

Quite hilarious. 2 weeks away for 3 weeks off. 8-12 hour shifts. lol Try the North Sea.some of us have lower salaries, then do 3 weeks away, 1 week home and BA k out again.Dont know anywhere where there’s an 8 hour shift. Try minimum 12, up to 17 hrs. Poor Blog. Do your homework.

I work on rig. Life is tough

I worked in offshore platforms for my different projects. It is hard work but there are lots of benefits. If you can pull through say 20 years you can retire and live comfortably. After that if you wish you can take a local job for pocket money. Hard life is over.

Hi I am 19 years old and I am currently studying . I have a choice . I can be a mining engineer or a petroleum engineer . If I become a petroleum engineer I will work only offshore . What do you think is the better choice???

An offshore workers pay depends on his job. Some jobs do not pay well and the worker has a second casual job, which he can do during his leave period. Why did i do it? I liked the work cycle. Shifts have always been 12 hours. For my job the money was good. The negative was your family carries on while you are away and you miss so much. The divorce rate in the industry is high.

I have worked in drilling and oil and gas for nearly 8 years, I’m sorry to say boys there is no off shore rigs anymore lol especially in Canada and the USA . 80% of Canada off shore rigs are decommissioned and rig day rates are not even worth the effort .get a job at McDonald’s or subway you’ll be much happier and probably get laid

Good saying on oil field guys as I have worked in oil industry overseas more than 31 years and still on look out for any new assignment

As a former oil rig employee and supervisor I can assure you there are several things wrong with the story. there is no such 8 hr. Shifts are always in 12 hour increments because 2 shifts of 12 hours equals 24 hours. Platform production work is totally different than”drilling rigs”. If you’re told by anyone a sob story of down luck you are being 100% scammed. 19 years total around the globe and worked believe me it’s a GREAT living.

I’ve got a person I’ve been talking to for a few months and wants me to buy him a Nike card for data for his computer on the rig. Says he’ll run out and won’t be able to talk to me or his daughter. He’s on there for a 4 month contract. So people stay on for 4 months to finish a contract?

I’ve got a person I’ve been talking to for a few months and wants me to buy him a Nike card for data for his computer on the rig. Says he’ll run out and won’t be able to talk to me or his daughter. He’s on there for a 4 month contract. Do people stay on for 4 months to finish a contract?

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Environmentalists protest as Biden administration approves huge oil export terminal off Texas coast

FILE - An oil tanker passes along a channel, March 2, 2022, in Port Aransas, Texas. President Joe Biden’s administration has approved construction of The Sea Port Oil Terminal, a deepwater oil export terminal off the Texas coast that would be the largest of its kind in the United States. Environmentalists called the move a betrayal of Biden’s climate agenda and said would lead to planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to nearly 90 coal fired-power plants. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)

FILE - Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, speaks to the media during a press conference on the border, Sept. 27, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington. President Joe Biden’s administration has approved construction of The Sea Port Oil Terminal, a deepwater oil export terminal off the Texas coast that would be the largest of its kind in the United States. Cruz hailed the license approval as “a major victory for Texas’s energy industry” and said the Biden administration had delayed the Sea Port terminal and other projects for years. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib, File)

FILE - Sunshine makes its way through a break in the clouds on Sept. 22, 2020, in Surfside Beach, Texas. President Joe Biden’s administration has approved construction of The Sea Port Oil Terminal, a deepwater oil export terminal off the Texas coast that would be the largest of its kind in the United States. Environmentalists called the move a betrayal of Biden’s climate agenda and said would lead to planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to nearly 90 coal fired-power plants.(Godofredo A. Vasquez/Houston Chronicle via AP, File)

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WASHINGTON (AP) — In a move that environmentalists called a betrayal, the Biden administration has approved the construction of a deepwater oil export terminal off the Texas coast that would be the largest of its kind in the United States.

The Sea Port Oil Terminal being developed off Freeport, Texas, will be able to load two supertankers at once, with an export capacity of 2 million barrels of crude oil per day. The $1.8 billion project by Houston-based Enterprise Products Partners received a deepwater port license from the Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration this week, the final step in a five-year federal review.

Environmentalists denounced the license approval, saying it contradicted President Joe Biden’s climate agenda and would lead to “disastrous” planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions, equivalent to nearly 90 coal-fired power plants. The action could jeopardize Biden’s support from environmental allies and young voters already disenchanted by the Democratic administration’s approval last year of the massive Willow oil project in Alaska .

“Nothing about this project is in alignment with President Biden’s climate and environmental justice goals,’' said Kelsey Crane, senior policy advocate at Earthworks, an environmental group that has long opposed the export terminal.

“The communities that will be impacted by (the oil terminal) have once again been ignored and will be forced to live with the threat of more oil spills, explosions and pollution,’' Crane said. “The best way to protect the public and the climate from the harms of oil is to keep it in the ground.”

In a statement after the license was approved, the Maritime Administration said the project meets a number of congressionally mandated requirements, including extensive environmental reviews and a federal determination that the port’s operation is in the national interest.

“While the Biden-Harris administration is accelerating America’s transition to a clean energy future, action is also being taken to manage the transition in the near term,’' said the agency, which is nicknamed MARAD.

The administration’s multiyear review included consultation with at least 20 federal, state and local agencies, MARAD said. The agency ultimately determined that the project would have no significant effect on the production or consumption of U.S. crude oil.

“Although the (greenhouse gas) emissions associated with the upstream production and downstream end use of the crude oil to be exported from the project may represent a significant amount of GHG emissions, these emissions largely already occur as part of the U.S. crude oil supply chain,’' the agency said in an email to The Associated Press. “Therefore, the project itself is likely to have minimal effect on the current GHG emissions associated with the overall U.S. crude oil supply chain.’'

Environmental groups scoffed at that claim.

“The Biden administration must stop flip-flopping on fossil fuels,’' said Cassidy DiPaola of Fossil Free Media, a nonprofit group that opposes the use of fossil fuels such as oil, coal and natural gas.

“Approving the Sea Port Oil Terminal after pausing LNG exports is not just bad news for our climate, it’s incoherent politics,’' DiPaola said. Biden “can’t claim to be a climate leader one day and then turn around and grant a massive handout to the oil industry the next. It’s time for President Biden to listen to the overwhelming majority of voters who want to see a shift away from fossil fuels, not a doubling down on dirty and deadly energy projects.’'

DiPaola was referring to the administration’s January announcement that it is delaying consideration of new natural gas export terminals in the United States, even as gas shipments to Europe and Asia have soared since Russia invaded Ukraine.

The decision, announced at the start of the 2024 presidential election year, aligned the Democratic president with environmentalists who fear the huge increase in exports of liquefied natural gas, or LNG, is locking in potentially catastrophic planet-warming emissions even as Biden has pledged to cut climate pollution in half by 2030 .

Industry groups and Republicans have condemned the pause, saying LNG exports stabilize global energy markets, support thousands of American jobs and reduce global greenhouse emissions by transitioning countries away from coal, a far dirtier fossil fuel.

Enterprise CEO Jim Teague hailed the oil project’s approval. The terminal will provide “a more environmentally friendly, safe, efficient and cost-effective way to deliver crude oil to global markets,’' he said in a statement.

The project will include two pipelines to carry crude from shore to the deepwater port, reducing the need for ship-to-ship transfers of oil. The terminal is expected to begin operations by 2027.

Since the project was first submitted for federal review in 2019, “Enterprise has worked diligently with various federal, state and local authorities, and participated in multiple public meetings that have allowed individuals and stakeholder groups to learn about the project and provide their comments,’' including some studies that have been translated into Spanish and Vietnamese, the company said in a statement. More than half of Freeport’s 10,600 residents are Hispanic, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, hailed the license approval as “a major victory for Texas’s energy industry” and said the Biden administration had delayed the Sea Port terminal and other projects for years.

“After tireless work by my office and many others to secure this deepwater port license, I’m thrilled that we’re helping bring more jobs to Texas and greater energy security to America and our allies,’' Cruz said in a statement. “That this victory was delayed by years of needless bureaucratic dithering shows why we need broader permitting reform in this country.’'

The oil export facility, one of several license applications under federal review, is located 30 miles offshore of Brazoria County, Texas, in the Gulf of Mexico.

The license approval followed a ruling by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals last week dismissing claims by environmental groups that federal agencies had failed to uphold federal environmental laws in their review of the project.

BP starts oil production at new offshore platform in Azerbaijan

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Wall St wavers, gold climbs amid economic, geopolitical crosswinds

U.S. stocks vacillated on Thursday, swinging from red to green and back as investors contended with the push-pull of a strong economy and restrictive Federal Reserve policy.

The International Monetary Fund urged Asian central banks on Thursday to focus on domestic inflation and avoid tying their policy decisions too closely to anticipated moves by the U.S. Federal Reserve.