For a few tough and industrious men, a 2,000 foot tall metal giant from a platform in the Gulf of Mexico is home; well, two weeks out of four, that is. They work, sleep and relax aboard the Petronius oil platform, operated by Marathon Oil and the Chevron corporation.
The Petronius is one of the most amazing giant oil platforms to be found scattered throughout the world’s oceans. Named for the Roman writer, it was the tallest freestanding structure in the world until 2008, when it was surpassed by the Burj Dubai. The platform serves 14 different wells that produce millions of barrels of oil. At more than $ 500 million, the Petronius is one of the most expensive offshore civil construction projects in the world.
Working aboard the platform is one of the most dangerous jobs out there. Oil rigs are typically tens or hundreds of miles from land and are hit the hardest by some of the harshest weather conditions that Mother Nature unleashes. Rocked and rolled by waves, ripped apart by gales and frozen by intense cold, these are just a few of the natural hazards an oil rig is subjected to. For the average rig worker, man-made hazards can be an even bigger threat. Oscillating cranes, the constant movement of heavy equipment, dangerous power tools that can tear a limb from a body in a second and be only a small drop from almost certain death to an ocean 75 meters below, charge more than a few lives each year.
So what draws men to work offshore, living in cramped quarters of up to four people in one room in one of the most dangerous jobs in the world? Well, money is one thing. At Petronius, salaries start at around $ 50,000 a year, which is a great starting salary for relatively unskilled jobs. Those with business qualifications and skills, and those with several years of experience can earn six-figure salaries.
Another attraction of oil rig jobs is the generous free time. Workers on board the Petronius work two weeks in a row, two weeks off-hours. This means that they typically work less than six months a year and still earn a very competitive salary. While aboard the Petronius, the oil rig workers are also more than amply fed, eating four hearty meals a day, all of which are included in their compensation package. Recreational facilities in the “floating city” also include a gym and satellite television to occupy the few hours that the men are not working hard. These oil rig jobs are tough, but they are not without rewards.
Even though this job is noisy, in a remote location and the working conditions are high risk, employment aboard the Petronius and other oil rigs still holds great appeal to a certain type of man. Tough, tough, hardworking, and perhaps a little excited by the threat of danger, there is a constant stream of tough men applying for these jobs. Although they work hard aboard the rig, most of them more than make up for it in their spare time. If you’ve ever seen a rig worker on their frequent leave, you know they know how to “kick back” in style.