Understanding the Work Hours of Oil Rig Workers: 12-Hour Shifts and Beyond

How Many Hours Do Oil Rig Workers Typically Work in a Day or Week?

The work of oil rig workers is known to be demanding and can involve long hours. The safety and efficiency of operations are prioritized to prevent costly mistakes and ensure the well-being of employees. Because of the critical nature of their job, oil rig workers often operate on a 12-hour shift system or follow rotation schedules, which can result in significant workloads.

Understanding the Work Schedule

Oil rig workers typically work long hours due to the nature of their job. Here are the common work patterns:

12-Hour Shifts

A significant number of oil rig workers operate on a 12-hour shift system. This means they work either the day shift or the night shift. This schedule can be taxing and requires careful management to ensure worker safety and maintain operational efficiency.

Rotation Schedules

Many rigs employ a rotation schedule. For example, an employee might work 14 days on duty followed by 14 days off, or 21 days on followed by 21 days off. During their on-duty period, they might work 84 hours in a week. These rotations help to balance the workload and ensure that employees do not become overworked or too fatigued.

Common Work Hours per Week

Depending on the specific schedule and company policies, oil rig workers can expect to work between 70 to 84 hours per week during their shifts. This is a significant amount of work, especially given the demanding nature of the job.

Example of a Typical Rig Schedule

Over a 40-year career in the oil industry, I have observed various work schedules on rigs and production platforms worldwide. These can be summarized as follows:

Continuous 24/7 Operations: Almost every rig or production platform runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Workers are divided into two shifts. They work a 12-hour shift each 24-hour day. The shifts can be either 12 to 12 or 6 to 6. Crews alternate between day and night shifts on a weekly basis.

Weekend and Night Shifts: Offshore crews often work a 7-day on and 7-night off rotation, making up a 14-day trip. They then take 14 days off before returning to the rig. In particularly remote locations, the duration of the trip can be extended to 21 days on and 21 days off, or even 28 days on and 28 days off for extremely difficult locations.

No Days Off While Offshore: When working offshore, there are no days off unless the worker is rotating back to the beach. In bad weather, crew change flights may be delayed, causing the crew to continue their work until the weather improves and their replacements arrive.

Challenges and Safety Considerations

While the work schedule can be demanding, safety is always a top priority. During emergencies, such as when a pipe breaks or an emergency situation arises, the work hours can extend beyond the standard 12-hour shift. In such cases, additional hours may be necessary. Moreover, if an employee is injured, medical personnel are available, but the rig continues to operate, which can complicate logistics for both the emergency and the regular work schedule.

Understanding the work schedule and the risks involved is crucial for both workers and their employers. Effective communication and clear policies can help mitigate potential issues and ensure the safety and well-being of oil rig workers.

Key takeaways:

12-hour shifts are common, with day shifts or night shifts. Rotation schedules involve 14 or 21 days on and off duty. Overall, 70 to 84 hours per week is the typical work schedule. Guaranteed no days off while offshore.

Interested readers can find more detailed information and resources on the oil industry's work schedules and safety measures.