STUDENTS UNDER 16
OFFSHORE TECHNOLOGY
Offshore technology covers all sorts of engineering and technology and so it offers lots of different career opportunities in engineering and science. People entering the offshore industry are likely to be qualified, for instance, as mechanical, marine or structural engineers, naval architects or specialists in electronics and systems control. Alternatively they may be physicists, biologists, geologists or oceanographers. The fields of opportunity for graduate engineers and scientists and for those who have technical or craft qualifications are diverse, but the underlying interest and theme that helps everyone to work together is the sea and the marine business offshore.
Technologists might be employed:
- Gaining practical experience on a crane–barge which is lifting topside modules on to an oil/gas platform under construction.
- Working as a member of a team designing a new generation of equipment that will allow oil to be moved safely from the seabed to the surface.
- Analysing the samples of rocks and minerals from the seabed to make sure the concrete platform is designed to deal with these conditions.
- Designing the ‘power station’ requirement and its control system for a floating production and storage system.
- Acting as a consultant during the inspection of subsea pipeline using a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV).
- Exploring deep–ocean features for a research laboratory using autonomous underwater vehicles.
Many university and college courses contain offshore related pathways or individual subjects. It is important that school pupils have a good foundation in science subjects – maths, physics, chemistry – because these will form the basis of the higher level courses in engineering and science.
You should aim to become a Chartered Engineer (or Incorporated Engineer or Engineering Technician) with one of the Institutions affiliated to the Engineering Council (UK). Technologists should aim to become Chartered Marine Technologists which you can now apply for through SUT Membership. The basic requirements are a combination of accredited academic course plus workplace training and/or professional experience.
Communication and presentation skills are also important, likewise the ability to write a report, to negotiate a contract or the way a particular job should be done. Computer applications are fairly widespread too.
There are plenty of challenges!
For more information contact:
Cogent – The Sector Skills Council for Oil & Gas Extraction, Chemicals Manufacturing & Petroleum Industries
5 Mandarin Court
Centre Park
Warrington WA1 1GG
UK
t: 01925 515 200
f: 01925 515 240
e: info@cogent–ssc.com
www.cogent–ssc.com
Institute of Energy
61 New Cavendish Street
London W1G 7AR
UK
t: 020 7467 7100
f: 020 7255 1472
e: [email protected]
www.energyinst.org.uk
Institution of Civil Engineers
One Great George Street
Westminster
London SW1P 3AA
UK
t: 020 7222 7722
f: 020 7222 7500
www.icenet.org.uk
Institution of Mechanical Engineers
1 Birdcage Walk
London SW1H 9JJ
UK
t: 020 7222 7899
f: 020 7222 4557
www.imeche.org.uk
Manager, Professional Affairs
The Institute of Marine Engineering Science and Technology
IMarEST
1 Birdcage Walk
London SW1H 9JJ
UK
t: 020 7382 2600
e: [email protected]
www.imarest.org
The Education and Training Officer
The Royal Institution of Naval Architects
10 Upper Belgrave Street
London SW1X 8BQ
UK
t: 020 7235 4622
f: 020 7259 5912
www.rina.org.uk