There are many jobs that are available in the oil and gas industry and the types of careers that people can pursue are very varied. Jobs are available both offshore and onshore. Carrying out an oil and gas jobs search will give you some idea about the types of job that there are in this industry.
Geologists and Geophysicists
These are not careers that many people would associate with the oil and gas industry but they are both important roles. These two roles are closely entwined and the people in these jobs will spend a lot of time working together. When a potential site for oil and gas is found, and a company has permission to survey this area, then the geologists and geophysicists will use the seismic data from the area to identify whether there are likely to be any deposits of oil and gas there. They will also be able to determine whether these deposits could be accessed easily and whether it would be worthwhile drilling in that location. People who have recently obtained degrees in these subjects may like to apply for these jobs as knowledge of the geology of the seabed is a more specific requirement for these jobs than previous experience in this industry.
Drilling jobs
Drilling for gas and oil is one of the main activities that are carried out on a rig and there are a variety of different drilling jobs that need to be done in order to ensure the whole process of drilling runs smoothly and efficiently. This area of the industry probably has more different job opportunities than any other area. Jobs range from the roustabout, ideal for people who are just starting work in the oil and gas industry as no previous experience is required, to a drilling engineer. The role of the drilling engineer involves organizing the drilling program. This is a highly skilled position and the person doing this job will probably have many years of experience in the oil and gas industry.
Production jobs
After the oil or gas has been drilled it needs to be sent ashore and this is where people who are employed in production jobs are needed. Most of these jobs are based in a control room where each well can be monitored and the volume of gas and oil that is being produced can be calculated. Examples of production jobs include the production engineer whose role it is to monitor each well and improve the efficiency of the production process if such measures are needed. The production operator will be in charge of maintaining the flow of gas and oil through the entire system. From retrieving it from the well, to ensuring it has been processed correctly and finally to sending it ashore.
The range of jobs that there are available in the oil and gas industry mean that there are roles suitable for most people from school leavers who have not had a great deal of experience, to university graduates. There is plenty of scope within the industry for career progression and it is considered to be an industry that can offer a high level of job security. Many of the skills involved in working within this industry may have been learned in other jobs which can also make it the ideal career for people looking for a change of direction from their previous employment.