Why I Love Being Offshore!

I love being offshore. I have told that practically to everybody I have met. And, the most common response I get is "Why? " ... Here I will explain why:

Being offshore is really fun! It is like a totally different world, different country here. Teamwork is evident all over the place. Each with their own responsibilities and specific tasks. All of them are all very dedicated and committed to their work. And most of all, they love what they do! Yes! I am inspired to do my best at all times too!

Each day, on the rig, I wake up very energetic. The worksite is so near to my sleeping quarters. I can just sleep and wake up any time and my work place is there. I don't have to take the walk 5 minutes, take the LRT for half an hour, and walk another 10 minutes to reach my work place.

Another reason is because I don't have to worry about what to eat or what to wear! I don't have to think after work, "Hmm.. what shall I have for dinner today? Salad? Beef? Chicken? Or shall I go to the pasar malam (Night market)? " Everything is prepared onboard by the talented galley crew!

I also don't have to think , "Hmm.. shall I wear slacks or skirt today? Shall I wear this brown blouse, blue blouse, or red blouse? Hmm.. which looks better on me? " All I have to do everyday after I wake up is wear the yellow uniform provided! I don't even have to comb hair because I wear a safety helmet out everyday! But of course, I do comb my hair! hehehe!

The rig is also constantly filled with activities. At any time of the day you walk out, you will definitely see somebody doing something. Each trip out is a different learning experience. I get to ask different people about their varying area of expertise, and literally, learn so many things under the sun. As long as I am on the rig, each trip there is a learning experience for me.

Best of all, the rig crew are so co-operative. As long as we're brave, not shy, and willing to ask questions, they will definitely answer us. Of course, as females and first timers, the men tend to look to us as little kids... trying to venture into the men's world. Probably, their first thought would be "hahah! Why are they here? Ok ! Ok! Let them watch! They definitely don't like the heat! Let them stay there and stand a little longer! See how long they can last! ahhahah!" They smile to themselves, and whistle while they work, laughing and talking.

But, as we, persistent, stubborn new staff stand there and watch them working, listing down all our questions and asking them when they're finally free, they are only too glad to share whatever they know with us and give us such clear cut answers. Learning here is so much better than learning in the university. Answers are direct. No round-abouts. 90% practical, 10% theory. Great!

Gradually, as we new crew begin to warm up to the life on the rig, we begin to regard the rest of the crew as friends. New friends found, new entertainment encountered, and a totally different perspective on life and countries are introduced. We get to learn new languages and new words! For example, in Myanmar, you say "Minglaba" (hello) when you see people, and say "Tiezebe" Thank you! Through talking to the people there, we get to know about countries that we've never been to. After staying there, I feel as if I've been to the country itself! As a person who loves travelling, I really love it!

One of the things I love most about being on the rig is I get to be closer to Mother Nature. In the morning, offshore Miri, the sun rises at about 6.30 am,

sets at 5.30pm.

Ocassionally, if we're lucky enough, we get to see dolphins jumping in and out of the water! Especially when the rig moves to a new location, the dolphins attracted to the sounds made on the rig, will definitely circle around the rig a few times before leaving! How interesting! So far, I haven't had the luck to see one yet. Soon! Soon! I'll definitely get to see them one day!

One of the most amazing feelings on the rig is to see the things that we study, materialize right in front of our eyes.





Can you imagine a simple diagram on the left, will look like this big, white thing standing right in front of you? (diagram below)

This BOP ( a Blow Out Preventor), is about 4 stories high.

An underwater camera is located at one of the parts of this equipment to detect whether the well is straight or tilted. Ocassionally, lots of colourful fishes will swim past it and it will be like watching National Geographic on TV!

Life on the rig is really tough. Looking at all these people, hanging on a mere suspension wire, wearing only a small life jacket, with no platforms below, about 6-10 metres above the deep blue sea...

I wonder , "Are all the cause and means of obtaining oil and gas justified? Is it really worthwhile to go through everything? All the hard work, risks, sweat and toil?"

Drilling for oil and gas, is certainly not an easy job. It is no child's play. People who work on the rig have to be very tough and brave. Not everyone can do it. You got to have guts. We need to work in a team, not alone. Millions and Billions of people are involved in the process of searching for oil. Through exploration, planning, drilling, producing and exporting.. so many people and so many lives are risked. Not to forget the amount of cash too!

As I stood there, watching these people risking their lives, it made me very angry and frustrated that some people would think of using all this oil and gas to make bombs. They use it to bomb themselves up, bomb people, robbing away precious lives and joy out of people's lives! They waste the effort of the people, the risks that everybody take and also disappoint the hopes of the nation and the world. As a part of the petroleum industry, it saddens me to see oil and gas mis-used for all the wrong reasons!

One of the most important lessons the people on the rig taught me was "Jean! On the rig, you must be happy always! Otherwise, if you are sad or unhappy, then ... hoh hoh hoh... you will definitely suffer! Cannot let even a seed of negative thought enter your head."

That is why, people on the rig, even though they work very very hard, they are still able to laugh. Their work is tough enough already. If they're sad or unhappy, then life will be much more difficult. To lighten their burden, they must take everything in the light. "Think positive. Humour! Make Jokes! " That's their philosophy.

That is why a lot of singles enjoy life on the rig. When they go back, they find it so hard to live onshore. Because life on the rig.. is much more interesting! People are serious in their job.. but they are humorous as well! People who are attached on the other hand... miss their families so much so that they yearn to go back at all times! hehehehe!