LIFE IN OFFSHORE OIL & GAS FIELDS

By
K.THANUMOORTHY, SUBSEA PANEL OPERATOR
KAOMBO NORTE FPSO PROJECT, SAIPEM,SINGAPORE

What is the upstream oil & gas industry?
When you fill up your car with gasoline or pay your natural gas
heating bill, you are the final link in a long chain of businesses
that make it possible for us to enjoy these clean, convenient and
economical forms of energy. The entire chain is known as the
petroleum industry. However, the industry is usually divided into
three major components: upstream, midstream and
downstream.
The upstream industry finds and produces crude oil and natural
gas. The upstream is sometimes known as the exploration and
production (E&P) sector..

OVER VIEW
CONTD…….
The midstream industry processes, stores, markets and transports
commodities such as crude oil, natural gas, natural gas liquids (NGLs, mainly
ethane, propane and butane) and sulphur. The midstream provides the vital
link between the far-flung petroleum producing areas and the population
centres where most consumers are located.
The downstream industry includes oil refineries, petrochemical plants,
petroleum products distributors, retail outlets and natural gas distribution
companies. The downstream industry touches every province and territorywherever
consumers are located-and provides thousands of products such as
gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, heating oil, asphalt, lubricants, synthetic rubber,
plastics, fertilizers, antifreeze, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, natural gas and
propane.
Upstream industry revenues totaled $63 billion in 2000, of which 53 per cent
came from the sale of crude oil. The remainder was from sales of natural gas,
natural gas liquids and sulphur.

OVER VIEW
CONTD…….
‣Off shore Industry inclusive of Oil and gas,Offshore
Wind forms ,Drill rigs,barges and tankers etc...
‣The petroleum industry includes the global processes of exploration,
extraction, refining, transporting (often by oil tankers and pipelines), and
marketing petroleum products
‣Mostly the up stream activities comes under offshore as well as on
shore ,like desert fields
‣Without petroleum products ,the whole world will stuck by all means.
What ever we are using, except the food items, most of them are the
product of petroleum. So It is vital for our life.

‣ Drill Rigs are having major roles in oil and gas
industry.
‣ Exploration of oil or Gas achieved by drill rigs
‣ Maintenance activities by wire line rigs
‣ Here where ,first off shore life starts
‣ Personnel encountered major risks in drill rigs in
olden days.
‣ Now due to latest technological advancement ,all
become safe.

‣ Offshore platforms normally having minimum
man power with essential facilities
Some platforms are normally unmanned
Major jobs can be performed by staying in
accommodation barges and boats
Floating barges used to move platforms from one
place to another

Now a days are FPSOs are very common in oil & gas
Industries.
75% of the FPSOs are converted from Tankers.Only 25%
are newly built.
All the FPSOs are connected with various types of
mooring systems such as, SYMP, TURRET,SBM etc....
Storage capacities varies depends on the size and
capacities of the plant production
Newly built FPSOs are well equipped.
They have their stand alone power facilitues like Gas
turbines.
To date all the FPSOs have been installed water depths
less the 3000 ft.

OFF SHORE WELL HEAD PLATFORMS
PLATFORM BASED WELL HEADS
OFFSHORE WELL SLOTS

FPSO
Production
risers &
manifold
Subsea well
structures
OIL
TANKER
Subsea Wells

CONTROL ROOM
GOING TO REMOTE FIELD
TOPSIDE FIELD
EMERGENCY ESCAPE

‣Normal work will be on 12 hrs shift duties
‣Work can in Central Control room, Field or in remote platforms
‣Encountering with natural changes like, Heavy rain, lightning, storm,
sea swells, Rolling and pitching, sand storm etc...
‣Expecting the unexpected and be prepared is our normal .
‣Multi national, multi lingual and multi cultural people can be met
‣Lots of language barrier – So Effective as well as clear
communication is must
‣Should not be caught under emotional feelings and threats. Doing
mistakes due to individual’s emotional impact can affect everybody in
the platform.

‣Excellent kitchen and mess room will be available
‣Multinational ,continental Chef will be on board.
‣Fruits according to the season and Juices and soft drinks will be available
‣Occasional buffet dinner will be there depends on occassions.

‣BUNK BEDS
(EITHER 2 SHARING
OR FOUR SHARING)
‣Attached or common
bathrooms
‣Common laundry
‣Regular cleaning

‣ ON BOARD RECREATIONS FACILITIES
SUCH AS BILLIORDS,CARROMS ETC..
‣ 24 HRS WIFI CONNECTIONS
‣ WELL RQUIPPED GYMNASIUM
‣ SATALLITE CHANNELS IN THE ROOMS

Home travel by
International Flights
Shore to site by
Chopper or Boat
Local platform
transfer by boat,
frogs, Billy boughs

Travel Risks – Flying from long distance gives jet lag,
Giddiness etc..
Stress – Uncertain climate changes, unusual living
conditions.
Stressful conditions like frequent shut downs & Start ups
etc..
Stress from Supervisors ,pressurising the jobs
Abnormal sea conditions Like rough Sea, swells, high wind
etc..
Multiple shift duties can reverse your body clock.

‣ Basic Offshore Safety and Escape Training
‣ Fire Fighting Training
‣ First Aid and advanced First Aider training
‣ CRO –Emergency response Training
‣ Helicopter Landing Officer Training –Deck Crew
‣ Coxwain Training – Deck crew

BASIC OFFSHORE SAFETY & ESCAPE TRAINING

Conclusion :-
In general,
Industrial life is different than normal office work.
Oil field life is entirely different from onshore industries
Remunerations and salary Packages can be varied from one
to another depends on the working condition, nature of
duty, risk factors , hidden risks like radio active material
exposure etc..
Early aging , Hair fall due to wearing helmets always, knee
pain, leg pains due to unusual climbing in the stairs in the
plant
Proper medical benefits and Insurance can be obtained.
Finally , No Pain, No Gain- High Risk, High Pay.