Offshore oil jobs: platforms, roles, and how hiring works

The producing platforms

Hibernia is a gravity-base structure (GBS) operated by a joint venture led by ExxonMobil Canada. Terra Nova is a floating production, storage, and offloading vessel (FPSO) operated by Suncor. SeaRose is the FPSO for the White Rose field, also operated by Suncor (following the Husky-Cenovus merger). Hebron is a second gravity-base structure operated by ExxonMobil Canada. Each platform has its own operator, safety culture, and mix of directly-employed staff versus marine, drilling, and catering contractors.

What roles do the platforms actually hire for?

Drilling and well-servicing crews hire toolpushers, drillers, derrickhands, and roughnecks/roustabouts. Production platforms hire production operators, process technicians, instrumentation techs, and electricians. Every platform needs crane operators, mechanics, scaffolders, medics, radio operators, helicopter landing officers (HLOs), catering staff, and safety advisors (see /pay/ for what these roles typically pay).

How does offshore hiring actually work?

Lead operators hire directly for skilled trades and production roles, while marine, drilling, and catering crews often run through contractors like Transocean, Schlumberger, Halliburton, Baker Hughes, Oceaneering, and Subsea 7. Roustabout and catering roles are the easiest way in with no offshore experience. Hiring volume is not steady year-round: spring turnaround season, once ice management winds down, is historically the biggest hiring push, alongside periodic hiring blocks tied to specific platform campaigns (see /rotations/ for how that interacts with rotation scheduling).

What tickets do you need before your first hitch?

Before you apply, expect to need Basic Survival Training (BST) -- which already includes Helicopter Underwater Escape Training (HUET) as part of the same five-day course -- at minimum, plus a valid offshore medical certificate and passport. Training is offered through the Marine Institute and other approved providers around St. John's -- getting these done before you apply is the single highest-leverage move for a first application. See our tickets page for the full ticket matrix: cost, validity, who issues each one, and whether a UK or Norwegian offshore ticket is accepted. Pre-access drug and alcohol testing is standard across the industry.