Working on oil rigs of Saudi Arabia

What are the peculiarities of the mentality of Saudi Arabia oil rig employees and workers, is it difficult for a foreigner to work together with them and how can be solved the issue of the language barrier?

Speaking of experts, working in Saudi Arabia in particular, and in the Middle East area in general, it's necessary to understand that the staff in the oil drilling companies, operating locally, is multinational. For the most part the labor force comes from India, Pakistan, the Philippines, the Arab countries (Egypt, Sudan, Jordan, Yemen, Syria, and others) and, of course, the local residents. The most critical positions are being held by experts from the USA, UK and Europe. It is local companies and private investors, who are sponsors, CEO's, and partners of the foreign oil drilling contractors and oilfield developers. Also it is worth mentioning that in the recent years there significantly increased the number of specialists from Russia and CIS countries, who get oil rig jobs in the Middle East thanks to the current major projects and the development of Saudi Arabia domestic business both in the oil drilling and in the oilfield service companies.

What foreign employee or worker needs to know in order to be able to work successfully in the industry in the oil drilling industry of Saudi Arabia, is that the crude oil production industry of the Kingdom is highly equipped with advanced technologies - the same as, for example, in Norway offshore drilling oil industry. The knowledge of the technologies and experience are considered very important in the region. Another key to the success in course of getting employment on offshore and onshore oil rigs should be the aptness to take responsibility. It's obviously for that reason the management positions are occupied by the ex-pats. Working in accordance with oil production plans and sticking to operational schedule is valued greatly and is well rewarded, and will inevitably contribute to oil rig workers promotion and rapid career growth. Patience is important too, because the business processes, meetings and negotiations take place slowly - you'll realize that quickly during the first months of getting a job.

Saudi Arabia's climate is rather hot, which makes the process of crude oil production rather complicated. For example, all ground equipment, especially electrical equipment, should be designed in in a superalloy variation or installed in air-conditioned premises. The hot climate of the country also complicates the work of people in the oil fields during summer months, especially in the month of Ramadan, which is moving ever closer to the middle of the summer. All local oil drilling companies are planning major field work so that it would start early in the morning and last till noon. After the midday break work gets resumed in the afternoon and continues until sunset (around 6 p.m.). In the deserts of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman and Iraq there occur frequent sand storms, which could be very dangerous and create risks for safe performance of operations on the wellhead or other facilities on oil field. In general, the risks are reduced through strictly following the required security measures and and the due training of the personnel.

Capital investment in construction and equipment of oil wells are high enough due to the necessity to stick to stringent requirements, established by the oil giants, operating in the region - Saudi Aramco, Kuwait Oil Company, Chevron, Shell, British Petroleum, and others.

OPEC, where Saudi Arabia is a major player, is a world's leader in the export of crude oil, and therefore decisions on the volumes of oil production always have political context. In periods of low oil prices the production of crude oil gets limited, which directly affects the service companies in the region. At times, when oil prices per barrel grow the majority of the previously mothballed wells get commissioned and resume oil production.