May 2, 2009 – Saturday
Met and got to know a guy who works with Subsea (ROV) on the rig. He’s from Aberdeen (similar accent like Sir Alan Ferguson but fortunately his is easier to catch). We’re taking on the same chopper to the rig.
He told me that before his current job, he used to work as a crew of a ship, travelling through many countries, then he worked as part of a subsea team, moving between different rigs, sometimes he works from a submarine (Geez) and only since a year ago he started to work in CS. And the best part is, he is only 23. You know, it made me think, this kid is 6 year younger than I am and yet he already has so much working experience! What have I been doing all these years???
An interesting fact. So this Aberdeen guy, his father works in Sakhalin, in oilfield. His granddad used to work in oilfield. His brother is working in oilfield. J (my friend from school, also from Aberdeen), works in oilfield, the father of J also works in oilfield. I wonder how many percentage of people in Aberdeen that have jobs that have nothing to do at all to the oilfield. :p
After waiting for almost 4 hours in the airport, we were told that the flight was transferred to the next day early morning.
May 3, 2009 – Sunday
Arrived at the airport around 6.15 am. Met B the Scottish guy again. This time we didn’t talk too much, we were too sleepy I guess.
Around 07.45 am, the chopper took off. There were only 3 people on board; me, B, and a guy who seems to be responsible with the saver cargo. The flight lasted around 1 hour. From above, the ocean looked beautiful. Can somebody please explain to me why seawater has different colors? As the rig became visible from a distance, it looked like a small object in the middle of a vast ocean.
As I arrived on board, I was greeted by many people and procedures. First, they check my ID, then the medical team check my registration and my data. Then I had so many presentations; Schweine Flu, HSE Orientation, etc etc. I was shown around the accomodation building, which really feels like a maze. So many stairs and turns, and I can really get lost in it! I was shown around the outside area and the main deck too.
Geez, you know, I learnt something today. The four directions; Forward, Starboard, Aft, Port. :)
Oh, and as today is Sunday, we had an emergency drill today. My designated boat in case of emergency is 1, with secondary boat number 3. It’s good that we had a drill today, as this is my first time offshore and I haven’t done this before.
Most of the people here are foreigners, and they speak English. The company men are A (who, miracoulously used to live in Pondok Cabe, Indonesia for 18 years), and W (night shift, American from his accent). Then there’s the captain… then the QHSE guys (a Canadian-American and a Brazilian who acclaimed that I look exactly like the natives from where he comes from, North-East of Brazil. Hey, do I look like an Indian?)
And then there’s D, the Cementer I’m gonna be working with. Oh, so far, he’s been treating me nicely, hope it’s gonna stay like this. He’s 38 years old, has worked in various segments. Got a 15 year-old daughter (guess that means she was born when he was 23).
Today we did some preparation for the job. We finished around 05.30 pm. At that time, as I gazed to the sea, you know, its color is just AMAZING. It’s blue. Blue Blue Blue, and I have no words to describe which kind of blue it is. Ocean Blue, maybe. Oh, I wish I have my camera with me (we’re not allowed to bring it unfortunately). Oh at least, I wish I’ll remember this sight for a loong time. A few minutes later, from the window of my cabin, I can see the sun started to set and the sky color turns into a degradation of yellow, pink, reddish orange, and blue… such an amazing view, and I cant help it, my eyes started to get wet.
I feel sublime, and I’m just speechless.
P.S. my arms are aching due to carrying cans weighing more than 20 kg one floor up through stairs, back and forth. Oh, I really don’t think this job is meant for women…
May 9, 2009 – Saturday
Actually there are a lot of things I want to say here, just that I didn’t have time and also strength to do it before. Where should I start?
We had to pump 5 cement plugs. The first two went smoothly, and then we had problems with the 3rd and 4th plugs. Downtime of 29 hrs, we’re totally stressed out. D and I almost didnt sleep for 2 nights straight. On the 3rd day, I was like a walking zombie… couldnt think straight and would have done whatever anyone told me to. There were some moments that I was so close to pick up the phone and call my boss to tell him that I quit. It seemed that the problem was the design of the slurry, which means that it is not necessarily our fault.
We finished pumping the 5th plug on Thursday morning. I felt sooooo tired, body and mind. But this experience really made me realize some things about this job that I used to overlook/ignore before.
May 10, 2009 – Sunday
Hari ini bangun siang lagi, sekitar jam 08.00. Abis ngga nyalain alarm sih, lupa. Hari ini kita buat STEM post-job. D taught me a lot of things. It was very nice of him.
Malemnya, pas makan malem, D cerita2 banyak tentang pengalamannya. Dia bilang kalo at this point of his life, he feels very content and he doesnt want anything else. Dia cerita juga kalo on his 1st marriage, he used to live working hard seeking more money for his family. Then he got divorced and he’s left with 75.000 $ debt. He was depressed and decided to change the way he lived. He was poor and save every money he has, to pay the debt. And he found out that at that time, he was even happier than before. So he learnt that money really doesn’t bring him happiness and that’s why he’s just doing this job cause he’s enjoying it and for the time-off (his schedule is 28-28 – 28 days on the rig and 28 days off at home). He said he can earn more if he stays and works in Canada. He keeps telling me that his family is the most important for him right now (i.e. his wife and 3 children).
However, psssstttttt… he said that his family hasn’t had the chance to visit Brazil so far… But, about 2 weeks ago, in Macae, I saw him going out from our apartment building while hugging a GIRL. Who could that be??? DASAR LELAKI!!!!!
May 11, 2009 – Monday
Today I woke up earlier, and that’s 07.00 am, haha.
Had breakfast then I went to the computer room. Check my emails for a while and we started working around our unit.
Geez, I guess I’m working with quite a perfectionist guy here. I mean, we’ve been cleaning the floor since yesterday. To me, it’s perfect as it is now. Oh well, so we cleaned the floor around the unit again, and he even bother to put some surfactant on it, as if it’s the floor of his own house, haha.
You know, I think my company should really maintain and treat this kind of employee. I’m sure not all FS takes as much care about the equipment and the job as he does.
In the afternoon, we arranged the new materials the base has sent us. There are some new spare parts, grease and oil, etc.
Then we started some maintenance with the triplex pump. Actually, today we’re just gonna open the valves up, and tomorrow we’re gonna continue with changing the seats.
I felt tired today, bringing all those spare parts down stairs tires me. Around 4 pm I guess, we stopped, I think he’s tired too.
I stayed outside for a while, looking at the sea and the anchors being pulled up. It’s quite interesting. Too bad I can’t bring my camera on board; otherwise I can show you how it’s like. Had a chat with a guy from another company called Brandt. It turns out he also doesn’t wanna be working offshore for a long period. He also mentioned about having little days off and irregular work schedule in his company. I guess, then it’s everybody’s problem, isnt it? Well, at least in the oilfield.
After I had a shower, D told me that the mechanic has arrived and that he doesn’t speak any English. I went down to the galley to meet him (Hercules). So I guess tomorrow I will be sort of a translator between the two guys. Sounds cool huh. Hope we’re not gonna be lost in translation.
At night, D told me that in 7 days we’re gonna do another cement job, 20” casing, and as soon as he got the files from G (the engineer in charge of the rig), he’s gonna pass it to me.
What I’m thinking: “What??!! Am I gonna be here for another 7 days or even more? Oh no…”
What I’m saying: “Oh really? That soon? Ok, that’s cool…”
:-S
