Life on an oil rig.

Guess more of you guys thinking of it must be fun to work on the oil rig. Or it is fun to visit the oil rig. But I would like to say....It is no fun at all. (Well..it is a working place. No Fun Fair. Of coz it is not for fun. :p) I was like one of you. Feeling so excited and can't sleep at all when told by my manager that I need to fly to oil rig for some networking related issue.

My first visit to the oil rig is somewhere near the Vietnam. Which took around 1hour and 45 minutes fly from the Ketir air-port by helicopter. Before step onto the helicopter, thought that it is something like the Donald Trump's private helicopter. Must have air-conditional, drinks and wash room. Hahaha...dream on!


This is the one which can take up to 14 people.


Before I am step inside this helicopter, were arranged to sit inside a room for the safety briefing. Teaching you on how to escape from the helicopter if there is any emergency. (Yes. I've learnt that from the survivor training.) And you need to have the HSE Safety passport to work in the oil rig. Different company have different rules applied. And you will need to attend the survivor training and pass few "escape from helicopter exam" to get the safety passport.

Due to the first time, i was quite worrying about not to turn on the mobile, laptop, camera and other eletric equipments. So, unable to snap the picture of the beautiful oil rig which located in the middle of the blue sea.

The pictures in here were taken on my second trip to oil rig which located near the Labuan, Sabah. The first trip was kind of rush and it was "a day trip". Second trip was a 2 weeks trip which need to setup some servers and network equipments. As it was a new oil rig. So, there is no bridge was up to link the DTU (drilling area) with the cabin/office where we are staying. The only way to go up to the DTU is by the crane and a bucket.

So this is the crane which "trasnfering" people and goods. The DTU was around 8 storeys high from the sea surface. If you are lifting up by the crane, then you will be around 10-12 storeys high. The view from top to the bottom is scary but cool. Unable to snap the picture because of both hands were holding the bucket tight.


This is the bucket...Look steady?


This is how we lifting up by the crane. And need to follow the correct steps and position to stand and hold on the bucket. Else, you will make the bucket swing and might have chance to fall into the sea.


There are lot of rules need to be followed while on the rig. Once you break one of the rule and caused the injury. You might be blacklisted and send back to onshore. So, when i was arrived together with other engineers. We were briefing by the rig doctor or the safety officer about all the rules and regulations.

Here is the life boat which can take up to 22 people. And our name tag just place on the board next to the lift boat. Once you are going to the DTU, you need to bring along the name tag and place on the board which next to the life boat on the DTU.


Since i am just a small tinny engineer, I was arranged to stay in a 4 men room. The room is clean and comfy. But the air-conditional is very strong. I was wearing a long-sleve shirt with a jacket + blanket at night.


The laundry workers will clean up your bed and blanket daily. Just like the 5 stars hotel...


I had spent nights here. Most of the time i slept at 8pm. Since there is not much entertain or things to do after worked. So, sleep early and wake up early. (Need to wake up at 5am. Wash up and breakfast. Start work at 6am till 6pm. 12 hours shift.)


Everyone assigned with a blue basket which you can place your dirty clothes including your underwear, stocking and etc inside. Then put it infront of the door. The laundry worker will collect, wash and fold it nicely for you. So, normally i will change mine and put it there at night. And i will get it back on the next morning.


Blue...one of my favourite color. Especially from the deep blue sea.


Imagine you are on the staircase at the raining day...


Sunny day yeah... But we can't really predict the weather... Especially you are in the middle of the ocean.




The fishing boats.... The far big ship is the cubin/office from another vendor. And yes, there are few companies and vendors involving in this billion dollars project.


Check out the top left corner. The screen showing the Katrina was going to passby the rig. And we were advise to abandon the DTU and stop all the works for 2 weeks. So i was there for a week plus and do nothing. Just surfing net...watching the movies. (We have a wall hang 52 inches LCD TV inside the entertainment room.) And can you believe that I had watched The Speed for 7 times!


Overall, this is a very good and healthy place to work with if you have works to do everyday. If not, you will get bored very fast. As you can't simply walk around the rig. You can have nice food everyday. The food here as nice as 5 stars hotel. They will provide the local and western food for you to choose in every meal. And you can eat as many as you want. I love the smoke beef...

I can't stand of the days spending on the rig without doing anything. Jumping on my boss several times. Muahahaha...finally, i am managed to come back before the Christmas.

Here is the last picture taken from the DTU at the late afternoon while waiting the crane to "bring" me back to the cabin.