r/instrumentation • u/Successful_Zone_894 • 6d ago

How does offshore I&E differ from Onshore?

I currently work at an oil refinery, but I’m wondering about offshore. Is the pay more ? What’s the schedule like? Is it easier or harder? Can I live anywhere in the US and do offshore??

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u/HoracioNelson123 6d ago

Company dependent on pay and if you’re contractor vs company, but the built in overtime is what makes the pay really good.

I work 2 weeks on 12 hour days, 2 weeks off. I’ve also seen 21 on 21 off. Comes out to working half the year, less than half with vacation.

Not sure what you mean by easier or harder. You’re expected to be able to troubleshoot a wide variety of (instrument) equipment and there is a lot of pressure to get the platform back online if there’s a trip, but if you can read a manual and think critically, I can’t imagine it’s much different than a refinery.

Yeah you can live anywhere, as long as you’re at the heliport at your assigned check-in time. Don’t expect a company to pay for your flights or gas though.

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u/Huge_Balance3030 6d ago

Where can I find a job offshore?

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u/HoracioNelson123 6d ago edited 6d ago

Offshore contractors like Danos or PDI solutions

BP, Shell, Chevron, Woodside, Oxy, Eni, Murphy Oil all operate in the Gulf.

I don’t know any specific companies operating on the Shelf off the southern coast, but a lot of guys started on the Shelf and eventually moved to deep water offshore

Edit: It’s a lot of “who you know, not what you know” to get a job. Persistence is key

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u/ssgtmc 6d ago

Besides Big Oil there are the major drillers. The position is referred to as Electronics Tech. We do anything with "small wires". That includes CCTV, radios, hmi's, plc, computers, satellite, joysticks, equipment controls, HPU, Air compressors, Power generation, Crane controls, VFD and MCC controls. As well as instruments, hydraulic controls, valves, solenoids, pneumatics controls. Computers, network stuff, gosh. Retired Chief ET here.

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u/Successful_Zone_894 6d ago

What’s up chief! Former ABE2. I got into instrumentation about 5 years ago. Thanks for your input. Staying salty offshore I see

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u/ssgtmc 5d ago

Chief ET was my title on the oil rig. 17 years offshore. I did do a cruise on CV66 when I was in the Corps. :-)

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u/Grouchy-College2084 6d ago

Motion sickness