Oil and Gas Pipelaying Jobs
Many pipeline jobs require a little more experience or specialized
knowledge, but overall many of the entry-level jobs on a pipeline
operation simply require a person who is capable of doing
the work.
A pipelaying fitter is responsible for helping with the alignment
of pipes being laid to form the pipeline.
The alignment is necessary to ensure that the pieces are
in the proper position before the pipeline welders get to
work. Failure to align the pipes correctly before welding
can result in lost time and possible leakage when oil is finally
run through the pipeline.
Pipelaying fitters are responsible for making sure that the
crane operators lowering the sections of pipe into the trench
are signaled when a new piece of pipe is needed or when one
in the trench needs to be moved slightly into alignment.
A cursory inspection of the joined sections is also carried
out by the pipelaying fitter as the work progresses.
Personnel in this position may also be asked to install equipment,
machines or wiring as related to the laying of the pipeline
sections.
Someone looking to get into this position should have a good
knowledge of machines, including their design, uses, repair
and maintenance procedures.
Persons looking to become good pipelaying fitters should
have the ability to quickly move your hands and feet and manipulate
various objects quickly and easily with both hands at once.
A high degree of flexibility is also required to get into
and move around the pipeline trenches easily and without any
problems.
You must also be able to hold your hands in one position for
long periods of time (while the crane operator lowers another
section of pipe for example).
You should have good lower body strength so that your body
doesn't get tired too easily from standing in one spot or lifting
objects repeatedly during your shift.
Because this is an entry-level position the salary is among
the lower scale on an oil field project with pipelaying fitters
generally earning $45,000 to $70,000 annually, depending on
the location of the work.
Construction in the offshore environment is a difficult and
dangerous activity. Construction and pre-commissioning is typically
performed as much as possible on land or inshore areas.
To optimize the costs and risks of installing large offshore
platforms, different construction strategies have been developed.
One strategy is to fully construct the offshore facility inshore,
and tow the installation to site floating on its own buoyancy.
Bottom founded structure are lowered to the seabed by de-ballasting
(see for instance Condeep or Cranefree), whilst floating structures
are held in position with substantial mooring systems.
