GasBuddy Blog

Message Forum - Read Message

Category: Daily News Article Discussions > Topics	Add to favorite topics

Author	Topic: Offshore oil rig: Island living, but no paradise	Post a Reply Back to Topics

StanleyCup All-Star Author Chicago Posts:685 Points:527,200 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: May 26, 2012 12:06:19 AM Ignore StanleyCup Report Abuse Out past Louisiana's bayous, in the grey blue waters of the Gulf, you'll find a chain of iron islands that never sleep. An offshore oil rig is a noisy, grimy, cramped existence. But for the roustabouts on deck, and the roughnecks manning the drill, life on a mechanical island has rewards all its own. "I've raised a family off of it, three kids, sent them to college, own my own home," said Mike Pierce. "It's just a way of life. I don't think I could go back to a 7-3 job." That's "Biker Mike," as they call him, a Harley-riding, Bible-reading roustabout, who helped hoist us aboard. You see, there's no harbor for this island - no place for our..... Visit CBS Sunday Morning for full article

StanleyCup

All-Star Author
Chicago

Posts:685
Points:527,200
Joined:Mar 2011

Message Posted: May 26, 2012 12:06:19 AM

Ignore StanleyCup Report Abuse

Out past Louisiana's bayous, in the grey blue waters of the Gulf, you'll find a chain of iron islands that never sleep.

An offshore oil rig is a noisy, grimy, cramped existence.

But for the roustabouts on deck, and the roughnecks manning the drill, life on a mechanical island has rewards all its own.

"I've raised a family off of it, three kids, sent them to college, own my own home," said Mike Pierce. "It's just a way of life. I don't think I could go back to a 7-3 job."

That's "Biker Mike," as they call him, a Harley-riding, Bible-reading roustabout, who helped hoist us aboard.

You see, there's no harbor for this island - no place for our.....

Visit CBS Sunday Morning for full article

REPLIES (newest first)Ignore Short Messages

First

Next Last

DanMtz Champion Author Oakland Posts:3,355 Points:1,243,325 Joined:Oct 2009	Message Posted: May 27, 2012 9:48:19 AM Ignore DanMtz Report Abuse Two weeks on, two weeks off. Two weeks of 12 hour days would be tough.
southrob Champion Author Tucson Posts:3,600 Points:688,175 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: May 26, 2012 11:18:16 PM Ignore southrob Report Abuse good hard working people
gumbyrex Champion Author Fresno Posts:3,301 Points:760,040 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: May 26, 2012 11:04:10 PM Ignore gumbyrex Report Abuse Living and working on an oil rig must be depressing. But, somebody has to do it. Thank God it's not me. It would drive me to drink.
Ahking Champion Author Orange County Posts:3,507 Points:603,450 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: May 26, 2012 11:02:32 PM Ignore Ahking Report Abuse some folks like it.
Prodaddy Champion Author Houston Posts:8,380 Points:1,895,185 Joined:May 2007	Message Posted: May 26, 2012 11:01:33 PM Ignore Prodaddy Report Abuse These men are very hard workers and sacrifice for there families
gasmack Champion Author Ventura Posts:1,713 Points:668,460 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: May 26, 2012 10:54:02 PM Ignore gasmack Report Abuse Some body's got to do it. Thank God they do.
bif65 Champion Author Virginia Posts:1,023 Points:195,480 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: May 26, 2012 10:53:06 PM Ignore bif65 Report Abuse ok
Aviator_Rob Champion Author New York Posts:3,800 Points:414,390 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: May 26, 2012 10:52:40 PM Ignore Aviator_Rob Report Abuse Sure tidalwave3, the crew damaged the blowout preventer when it was installed on Deepwater Horizon, but the fact remains that there is still no way to quickly cap a well that deep under water if the blowout preventer fails. BP needed a serious Plan B and they had nothing.
Claudia01Soto Rookie Author Arizona Posts:1 Points:3,340 Joined:May 2012	Message Posted: May 26, 2012 10:52:33 PM Ignore Claudia01Soto Report Abuse not something i could do
themaninthehat Champion Author New Orleans Posts:1,824 Points:472,265 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: May 26, 2012 10:52:17 PM Ignore themaninthehat Report Abuse and plenty of free cancer, until you get no healthcare courtesy of teapublicans.
CritterNanny Veteran Author Washington Posts:298 Points:1,344,220 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: May 26, 2012 10:51:44 PM Ignore CritterNanny Report Abuse Whatever it takes to make a living...
jessek Champion Author Detroit Posts:2,657 Points:1,280,490 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: May 26, 2012 10:51:31 PM Ignore jessek Report Abuse It takes a certain type of personality for this lifestyle.
Killerbabydoll Champion Author Tucson Posts:1,272 Points:550,150 Joined:Sep 2010	Message Posted: May 26, 2012 10:51:06 PM Ignore Killerbabydoll Report Abuse sucks
kawayomaana Champion Author Salt Lake City Posts:1,688 Points:432,915 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: May 26, 2012 10:48:08 PM Ignore kawayomaana Report Abuse not a life for me
bcok Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:2,126 Points:1,544,495 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: May 26, 2012 10:47:44 PM Ignore bcok Report Abuse It s not a 7-3 job but that bank account if full.
mstearno Champion Author Dayton Posts:8,071 Points:1,732,210 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: May 26, 2012 10:47:27 PM Ignore mstearno Report Abuse that's why it's called work
DancingDee Champion Author Gary Posts:4,382 Points:1,055,850 Joined:Jul 2005	Message Posted: May 26, 2012 10:39:48 PM Ignore DancingDee Report Abuse It's not a life for everybody, especially when all those years of toxins have built up in your body!!!!!
tidalwave3 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:1,305 Points:1,464,545 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: May 26, 2012 10:39:23 PM Ignore tidalwave3 Report Abuse Yes they do Aviator Rob... check the North Sea riggs and they are required long before Deepwater Horizon's screw up. This was a engineering shortcut screw up! Sorry but man did it :(
orcar Champion Author Boise Posts:2,063 Points:778,740 Joined:Jun 2010	Message Posted: May 26, 2012 10:38:40 PM Ignore orcar Report Abuse ok
Aviator_Rob Champion Author New York Posts:3,800 Points:414,390 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: May 26, 2012 10:35:30 PM Ignore Aviator_Rob Report Abuse altima2008 said, "Maybe nobama can take a lesson from these guys about heart and sacrafice!" Really? Maybe you should say BP could learn a lesson from these guys, since the company killed 15 of them by cutting corners to get ever more profits. Oh by the way, they still don't have any technology to prevent another Deepwater Horizon disaster if the blowout preventers fail again.
FlyNFool Champion Author South Carolina Posts:8,244 Points:1,685,950 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: May 26, 2012 10:34:34 PM Ignore FlyNFool Report Abuse Not a life for everyone.
walkingtall Champion Author Toronto Posts:3,999 Points:1,121,680 Joined:Nov 2004	Message Posted: May 26, 2012 10:33:19 PM Ignore walkingtall Report Abuse It's not the life I want to live.
DrLyon Champion Author Michigan Posts:6,650 Points:1,211,830 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: May 26, 2012 10:32:05 PM Ignore DrLyon Report Abuse "It's a living..."
fenster66 Champion Author Pittsburgh Posts:3,355 Points:675,065 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: May 26, 2012 10:31:47 PM Ignore fenster66 Report Abuse interesting...
milespergallon Champion Author Illinois Posts:9,749 Points:1,909,335 Joined:Feb 2007	Message Posted: May 26, 2012 10:30:27 PM Ignore milespergallon Report Abuse Interesting article. Thank you
ByGuy Champion Author Dallas Posts:7,853 Points:1,709,240 Joined:Nov 2005	Message Posted: May 26, 2012 10:26:16 PM Ignore ByGuy Report Abuse Basic living?
iamforiu Champion Author Indiana Posts:3,575 Points:711,740 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: May 26, 2012 10:25:12 PM Ignore iamforiu Report Abuse ok
abcdMA Champion Author Worcester Posts:7,927 Points:1,575,955 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: May 26, 2012 10:24:05 PM Ignore abcdMA Report Abuse its an island in a tropical area
OOXXFF Champion Author Greensboro Posts:3,063 Points:1,079,405 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: May 26, 2012 10:23:59 PM Ignore OOXXFF Report Abuse It is not a life for me.
IUVidiot Champion Author Indiana Posts:3,590 Points:709,435 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: May 26, 2012 10:23:45 PM Ignore IUVidiot Report Abuse ok
cateyes8264 Champion Author Tennessee Posts:2,957 Points:642,615 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: May 26, 2012 10:22:48 PM Ignore cateyes8264 Report Abuse A very hard life.
petrpuck All-Star Author Hamilton Posts:559 Points:418,860 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: May 26, 2012 10:14:55 PM Ignore petrpuck Report Abuse no fun
silverfoxv65 Champion Author Michigan Posts:4,485 Points:1,230,875 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: May 26, 2012 10:13:28 PM Ignore silverfoxv65 Report Abuse Its not a life i would want. Its not even a life, no time to spend with family.
PoohMcGoo Champion Author Alabama Posts:3,067 Points:800,885 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: May 26, 2012 10:12:23 PM Ignore PoohMcGoo Report Abuse They're compensated extremely well, plus the 2wk on and 2wks off is great.
JamesCalvin Champion Author Lancaster Posts:3,191 Points:519,780 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: May 26, 2012 10:11:37 PM Ignore JamesCalvin Report Abuse Sounds a bit difficult to have good family life on an off shore drill rig!
TFowler513 Champion Author Memphis Posts:3,824 Points:1,414,110 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: May 26, 2012 10:09:37 PM Ignore TFowler513 Report Abuse It's a job!!!
skyking19 Champion Author Little Rock Posts:2,001 Points:1,699,815 Joined:Jan 2007	Message Posted: May 26, 2012 10:08:44 PM Ignore skyking19 Report Abuse Go for it.
Heltonw Champion Author Montana Posts:3,314 Points:1,660,340 Joined:Dec 2007	Message Posted: May 26, 2012 10:06:35 PM Ignore Heltonw Report Abuse Good job for anyone willing to work.
ILANGE9 Champion Author Illinois Posts:7,620 Points:1,598,175 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: May 26, 2012 10:06:04 PM Ignore ILANGE9 Report Abuse I agree with seabrz7
rver524 Veteran Author Colorado Posts:298 Points:14,320 Joined:Apr 2012	Message Posted: May 26, 2012 10:05:00 PM Ignore rver524 Report Abuse I don't know if I would want to work there or not.
WBBNC Veteran Author North Carolina Posts:499 Points:488,640 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: May 26, 2012 10:00:50 PM Ignore WBBNC Report Abuse I don't want the job for any money
96sc1 Champion Author El Paso Posts:8,517 Points:1,367,440 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: May 26, 2012 9:59:40 PM Ignore 96sc1 Report Abuse Too rough for me, but I would like two weeks on and two off
my2002m Champion Author Tulsa Posts:6,079 Points:1,671,125 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: May 26, 2012 9:59:17 PM Ignore my2002m Report Abuse Not for me.
Ray_10589 Champion Author New York Posts:4,951 Points:1,183,960 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: May 26, 2012 9:59:11 PM Ignore Ray_10589 Report Abuse OK
DustyHorse Champion Author Virginia Posts:6,090 Points:1,392,330 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: May 26, 2012 9:57:14 PM Ignore DustyHorse Report Abuse Sounds like a tough life
billy44bo Champion Author Mobile Posts:7,212 Points:1,491,845 Joined:Feb 2008	Message Posted: May 26, 2012 9:56:53 PM Ignore billy44bo Report Abuse Work is work
sydb7 Champion Author Atlanta Posts:3,557 Points:1,919,755 Joined:Mar 2003	Message Posted: May 26, 2012 9:56:46 PM Ignore sydb7 Report Abuse ok
gmcgas Champion Author Atlanta Posts:5,953 Points:1,714,170 Joined:Mar 2004	Message Posted: May 26, 2012 9:56:24 PM Ignore gmcgas Report Abuse glad someone does it.
boldrph Champion Author Topeka Posts:18,382 Points:3,452,615 Joined:Oct 2002	Message Posted: May 26, 2012 9:56:22 PM Ignore boldrph Report Abuse don't go boom
vroomputtputt Veteran Author Oregon Posts:275 Points:62,785 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: May 26, 2012 9:54:15 PM Ignore vroomputtputt Report Abuse ok