| For a a few hardy, industrious men a 2,000 foot | | | | in one of the most hazardous jobs in the world? |
| high metal behemoth of a rig in the Gulf of | | | | Well one thing is the money. On the Petronius |
| Mexico is home; well two weeks out of every | | | | salaries start at about $50k a year, which is a |
| four, that is. They work, sleep and relax aboard | | | | great starting salary for relatively unskilled work. |
| the Petronius oil platform, operated by Marathon | | | | Those with trade qualifications and skills, and those |
| Oil and the Chevron corporation. | | | | with several years of experience can command |
| The Petronius is one of the most mindboggling of | | | | six figure salaries. |
| all the giant oil platforms scattered across the | | | | Another draw to oil rig jobs is the generous time |
| oceans of the world. Named for the Roman | | | | off. Workers aboard the Petronius work a two |
| writer it was the world's tallest free standing | | | | weeks on, two weeks off schedule. This means |
| structure until 2008 when it was suppassed by | | | | that they typically work less than six months of |
| the Burj Dubai. The platform serves 14 different | | | | the year and still earn a very competitive wage. |
| wells outputting millions of barrels of oil. At over | | | | While they are on board the Petronius the oil rig |
| 500 million dollars the Petronius is one of the most | | | | workers are also more than amply fed, noshing |
| expensive offshore civil construction projects in | | | | down on four hearty meals a day, all of which are |
| the world | | | | included in their compensation package. Recreation |
| Working aboard the rig is one the most hazardous | | | | facilities on the 'floating town' also include a gym |
| jobs there is. Oil rigs are usually dozens or | | | | and satellite TV to fill the few hours that the men |
| hundreds of miles from land and bear the brunt of | | | | are not hard at work. These oil rig jobs are tough, |
| some of the harshest weather that mother | | | | but they aren't without their own rewards. |
| nature unleashes. Rocked and rolled by waves, | | | | Even though this work is noisy, in a remote |
| ripped at by gales and frozen by bitter cold - | | | | location and the work conditions are high risk, |
| these are just some of the natural hazards an oil | | | | employment aboard the Petronius and other oil |
| rig is subjected to. For the average rig worker | | | | platforms still has a huge draw for a certain kind |
| the man-made dangers can be even more of a | | | | of man. Tough, resilient, hardworking and perhaps |
| threat. Swinging cranes, the constant moving of | | | | slightly thrilled by the threat of danger there is a |
| heavy equipment, dangerous power tools which | | | | constant stream of hardy men applying for these |
| can rend a limb from a body in a second and | | | | jobs. Although they work hard aboard the rig, |
| being only a short drop from near certain death | | | | most of them more than make up for it in their |
| into an ocean seventy five metres below take | | | | time off. If you have ever seen a rig worker on |
| more than a few lives each year. | | | | his frequent leave, you will know that they know |
| So what attracts men to work far out at sea, | | | | how to 'unwind' in style. |
| living in cramped quarters of up to four to a room | | | | |