Subsea Engineer - What's the difference?

[sean77]

Hello to all my brothers here,

I have a question regarding Subsea Engineer and I hope someone can help me to clear my doubts.

As far as i know, there are two types of Subsea Engineer.

The first type are those who work in design/consultant firm while the second type are those who work for drilling contractors.

An example of the job scope for these two types of Subsea Engineer is as shown below:

Subsea Systems Engineer (Design/Consultant):
Assist with the performance of design / concept & engineering of the project solutions.
• Assist with the development of specification and selection of subsea control, umbilical and equipment for subsea production systems. The testing and commissioning requirements of such systems.• Directing and assisting in development of testing, installation, operation, and maintenance procedures.
• Attend Factory Acceptance Site Integration Tests of new equipment on Contractor's premises; in addition, coordinating the work of contractors employed to design, manufacture, and test subsea control systems, umbilicals and other equipment.
• Assisting with the preparation, checking and approving of procedures and working offshore to ensure successful completion of the procedures.
• Engage in vendor management.
• Ensure that the project conforms to appropriate safety standards and carries all necessary safety assessments.
• Carry out tasks within predefined/agreed time scales and budgets, reporting status to the departmental Manager/Project Manager.• Interact with department members to ensure that work is produced and issued in a timely manner and project information is distributed amongst them.• Complete work within budget and time scales


Subsea Engineer (Drilling Contractor):
Maintain the Blow Out Preventer (BOP), Diverter, and associated subsea equipment in accordance to the Preventive Maintenance System (PMS) guidelines.

• Operate and pressure test the BOP on the surface and on the seabed as required.

• Supervise the deck and drill crews in the running and recovery of the BOP and Marine Riser equipment.

• Assemble, install, and nipple down the BOP and all well control equipment as required.

• Operate, and maintain the repair of the subsea BOP control system

Excellent English skills would be an advantage as it will be required for report writing and management. Ideally the Subsea Engineers must have previous experience on Jack Up rigs, Drillships and Semis.
The salary for these positions is highly competitive and it offers an excellent benefits package.


My questions are:

1. Are there any significant difference between the two types of Subsea Engineers?

2. Can a Subsea Systems Engineer from a consultant work as a Subsea Engineer for a drilling contractor?

3. At times, i see position such as Subsea Engineer & Subsea Engineer (II). What is the difference?

Thank you to anyone who can clear my doubts. I hope that this thread can benefit others who are interested as well.

Cheers.

[13392017]

Sean,
To answer your question, please see a following :
1. Yes, there are a lot of different. The first subsea engineer mainly focus on the design of the facilities to produce/monitor/control the H/C from the wells. Its' related to safety issue, flow assurance etc. The second subsea engineer(drilling contractor) will mainly focus on how to drill subsea well, design a subsea completion to produce H/C safely (it's including subsea wellhead, Subsea X-mas tree, the running tools etc.)
2. It's depend, The first subsea engineer of course will know about the subsea work for second subsea engineer, but not too detail. With training and experience, everything can be achieved.

cheers,
RK

[sean77]

Greetings RK,

Thanks for the information. Really appreciate it.

Another question i would like to ask is between a subsea engineer and a petroleum engineer, which one has more opportunities to work/live abroad (for example in countries like Australia)? Also, which one earns more money?

THanks

[13392017]

Both have ability to work abroad. It's depend.

Subsea Engineer have good opportunity in Australia, as this expertise still scarce. For Petroleum Engineer, usually the local people already grab it.
So my suggest is, if you have opportunity go as subsea engineer... high pay but high risk as well.

Cheers,
RK

[Azad]

I would say that petroleum engineer falls in the subsurafce engineer grouping rather than subsea.

Subsurface - Petroleum, Reservoir, Petrophysicists, Geologists, well completions

Subsea - Controls, Flow Assurance/Process, Structural, Mechanical & Materials, Pipelines, Risers, Trees, Geotechnics, Installation, Pre-commissioning, Commissioning, Inspection and Integrity Management, Intervention

Generally reference to subsea engineer's is normally for Installation, Pre-commissioning, Commissioning, Inspection & Integrity Management and interventions.

Azad

[sean77]

Both have ability to work abroad. It's depend.

Subsea Engineer have good opportunity in Australia, as this expertise still scarce. For Petroleum Engineer, usually the local people already grab it.
So my suggest is, if you have opportunity go as subsea engineer... high pay but high risk as well.

Cheers,
RK

Hi RK,

Thanks for the reply.

Which type of subsea engineer do you mean here? As far as i'm concern, subsea engineers in design consultants (Controls, Flow Assurance/Process, Structural, Mechanical & Materials, Pipelines, Risers, Trees, Geotechnics, Installation, Pre-commissioning, Commissioning, Inspection and Integrity Management, Intervention) are generally office based and there's no risk at all.

I would say that petroleum engineer falls in the subsurafce engineer grouping rather than subsea.

Subsurface - Petroleum, Reservoir, Petrophysicists, Geologists, well completions

Subsea - Controls, Flow Assurance/Process, Structural, Mechanical & Materials, Pipelines, Risers, Trees, Geotechnics, Installation, Pre-commissioning, Commissioning, Inspection and Integrity Management, Intervention

Generally reference to subsea engineer's is normally for Installation, Pre-commissioning, Commissioning, Inspection & Integrity Management and interventions


Azad

Greetings Azad,

That's a correct categorization. However, there are two types of subsea engineers as i mentioned in my previous post.

The first type of subsea engineers work in design consultants/contractors (Controls, Flow Assurance/Process, Structural, Mechanical & Materials, Pipelines, Risers, Trees etc etc) while the second type work in drilling contractors (BOP, MUX) ...

[Azad]

Sean,

The original post job spec for subsea engineer (design) is too wide ranging, looks like spec for a controls engineer. We tend to split the job description by disciplines with subsea engineer's job spec for Installation, Pre-commissioning, Commissioning, Inspection & Integrity Management and interventions. Our subsea engineer's tend to go out and manage scope offshore and sub-contractors, liase with operations, vessels etc.

Subsea Engineers (drilling) may have the same qualifications but area of expertise is different. I would suggest that it would be very difficult to move jobs between these two areas. Subsea Engineer term is too widely used for all sorts of different disciplines.

Regards
Azad

[sean77]

Sean,

The original post job spec for subsea engineer (design) is too wide ranging, looks like spec for a controls engineer. We tend to split the job description by disciplines with subsea engineer's job spec for Installation, Pre-commissioning, Commissioning, Inspection & Integrity Management and interventions. Our subsea engineer's tend to go out and manage scope offshore and sub-contractors, liase with operations, vessels etc.

Subsea Engineers (drilling) may have the same qualifications but area of expertise is different. I would suggest that it would be very difficult to move jobs between these two areas. Subsea Engineer term is too widely used for all sorts of different disciplines.

Regards
Azad

Hi Azad,

I totally agree with your comments. Subsea is indeed a wide field with an array of areas of specialization.

By the way, which sub-discipline of subsea are you under? Where are you currently based? Are you working for a contractor? It's great to hear that subsea engineers in your place get to go offshore.

In addition, which sub-discipline of subsea eng do you think has very good prospect currently and which one would you recommend?

I was told by my superior that currently subsea system engineers (trees) are highly in demand in every region around the world. I was told that all the offices around the world are having difficulty looking for subsea engineers. They are desperately searching for any experienced subsea experts that they can get.


Cheers.

[Azad]

Hi Sean,

I work in Scotland . I am a Subsea Process / Flow Assurance Engineer. I work on a operations & engineering support contract for two existing subsea fields with FPSO's.

Regards
Azad

[sean77]

Hi Sean,

I work in Aberdeen, Scotland for Aker Solutions. I am a Subsea Process / Flow Assurance Engineer. I work on a operations & engineering support contract for two existing subsea fields with FPSO's.

Regards
Azad

Hi,

That's a very good sub-discipline because flow assurance is indeed a niche skill pool with very high demand once you have the experience. By the way, i am a Subsea Pipeline Engineer in Malaysia.

Regards,
Sean

[cashembassy]

hello all,
I intend studying any of the Masters degree courses below this September in the U.K
They are:
1.MSc Mechanical Engineering
2.Msc Subsea Engineering
3.Msc Petroleum Engineering

Which of these courses give more opportunities and pay more since i intend returning to Nigeria to work in a Multinational Oil and Gas firm and in case I change my mind to stay/work abroad too

[Azad]

1. Msc Petroleum Engineering - at Herriot Watt

2. Subsea Engineering
Cranfield, Newcastle, RGU, Aberdeen