Chapter 8

Domestic and Overseas

Most of the larger companies that work offshore have interests overseas. The reason for this is because America leads the world in offshore technology. Overseas contracts vary according to a company's type of work and job location. The following represents the two most common types of overseas work:

Commuting

This is when the drilling company sends its employees overseas to work and then sends them back home when their hitch is completed. This usually involves the 21/21 or 28/28 day schedule. Then on your time off, you can tour the country you are working in or go home. How's that for adventure?

Any time you commute back and forth to the US like this, all expenses are paid by the oil company that has leased the rig. Some will even give you a little carry-around cash for drinks, cigarettes, etc.

Overseas Contract

On this type of assignment the employee and sometimes his entire family and household goods are moved into the country in which the drilling or work will take place, or into a nearby country. Before this can be done, the employee must sign a contract stating that he will remain on the job until his contract expires. This is anywhere from 12 months to 24 months. At the end of that time you may either renew it or return to the US. A bonus is usually paid for employees staying the entire length of the contract. Once you've moved into the country, you'll most likely work a schedule similar to state-side US, usually 7/7 or 14/14 day schedules.

Transporting employees overseas is a major expensive for the oil companies. Because of this, they will not usually even consider sending a worker overseas unless he has had at least two years offshore experience. Again, this is determined by their particular needs. If they need you, they'll send you. The first offshore job I ever had was in the waters off Brazil. I got that job with no previous offshore experience.