Pipeline or Subsea Engineering

Hello Guys.

I am considering going for my Masters in one of the above specialties this September,I will like to get some advice from engineers working in the Oil & Gas Industry.

I have a BEng and currently work as a Non-Destructive Testing Tech (NDT) for an Inspection company. My job has been mainly carrying out inspections & testings on Subsea components like Stab-plate Jumpers, BOP and Manifolds, recently some pipeline inspections as well.

I have a big interest in the O&G industry and will like to move into Pipeline section of it maybe in the future become a Subsea Pipeline engineer.

My problem is will a Msc in Pipeline engineering be a better choice for me in terms of my future goal and will my NDT experience coupled with the Msc help me stand out. I feel Subsea engineering sounds a little bit sophisticated if I haven’t got much experience to back it up with.

I will appreciate it if anyone currently in the industry could share or advise on how best to go about it and how the job market is as well.

Thanks in advance

I’m not an engineer but I work with subsea pipeline engineers and I would imagine your experience is more important than getting another degree. If you would consider working in Aberdeen I could pass your cv on and someone would be able to give you some better advice. London might also be a possibility within our company but I’m not totally sure.

Thanks Bigjim. Yes! I will be interested in working in Aberdeen or anywhere. at the moment I live in London. pls could you pm ur email, I could send you my CV to start with.

Hey anez, u sound a bit overqualified for an NDT tech mate. Who are u working for at the moment?

What is your BEng in?

I’d suggest a masters will be very useful if you want to get into pipeline engineering. You’ll inevitably have to do one at some point in your career if you want to become a chartered engineer. Once you’ve started the course (part time presumably) then I’m sure you won’t have too much trouble finding someone to take you on at graduate(ish) level. I can’t advise on the merits of either course, but suspect you’ll find that a pipeline engineer is a more technical vocation (design calculations etc) and a subsea engineer is something a bit more woolly. Subsea engineering will probably steer you toward Project Engineering.

Whilst your current experience will be valuable I’m not sure you’ll find many direct transferable technical skills. Two very different fields. If you enjoy NDT then it might be a lot easier to continue down that route and qualify as a Level III technician, moving into AUT, then earning more than most pipeline/subsea engineers.

Chris (Materials and welding engineer)

I am just finishing a part time MSc in Subsea Engineering at Cranfield. Trust me, if you have even the slightest interest in engineering you will have no problems passing with ease. The MSc really isn’t that sophisticated. Most of the modules are shared between the Pipeline and Subsea courses and you can pick the pipeline modules as your optional ones if you choose the Subsea course anyway.

Thanks guys for your contributions.

Mac…YGM mate

@Chris,My BEng is in Elect/Elect. I am thinking of doing it full time, am currently saving up for the living cost during the year.
I will be 28 later this year and feel that if I do it part time, I might not still appeal to recruiters after 2 yrs.( just my thoughts)

I wouldnt mind either of the Masters cos I also have some project Mgt training in-case I decide to do SSE.

@Jon, Am happy to hear from someone from Cranfield..I’ve seen the course online but I felt skeptical as I haven’t heard of the Uni’s name before and didnt know how the Certificate will be recognized in the job market. Interesting to hear that it isnt that complex.

FYI there’s a subsea/pipeline engineering (or similar, from the students I met* it’s kind of light on the engineering content but more about industry knowledge) course at Newcastle Uni? They might be worth a call to see if it’s up your street.

* I did 2 x recruitment fairs for my former employer, a Northumberland based engineering firm, designing subsea and pip-lay equipment.

Not sure it matters overly much how you start. Saw my stepdad (ex-navy diver) getting pushed from position to position with little regard for his specialised knowledge – more to do with his breadth of experience. Started off in Somerset working for Subsea7, ended up in the hyperbaric centre in Aberdeen, working first with the chambers and laterally with ROVs.

Finally ended up subcontracting to Subsea7’s Aberdeen office again, project managing (which he hated), before specialising in patent management for down-hole tech.

Now retired and owner of self catering cottages on Skye.

So don’t worry too much!

Jon-Taylor….Thats the Uni am thinking of, since its not so far from my base

@User,Thanks for your contribution mate!

@ Big Jim. I havent heard from you yet, my email is igwe_anez at yahoo.com

More suggestions pls:?

Hey Guys, I’ve just received my Offer letter from Cranfield University for MSc in Subsea.. I am quite excited and looking to use it kick start my future career in Subsea.

@Jonm81 please I need some information with regard to the part time in cranfield. I was offered an admission in Subsea at Cranfield and am thinking of doing it part time. pls get back to me igwe_anez at yahoo.com

Anybody got Jonm81 Contact pls?

Just thought I’d say Cranfield is a well respected primary post grad specialist uni for engineering, I expect you have not heard of it because its undergrad is very small and based on a army base in Oxfordshire main only educating forces people. Don’t worry about it not being recognised, quite the oposite a Masters from Cranfield should carry some good weight.

I agree with TheBrick, Cranfield is very well respected within the engineering community. I have been there several times for very specialised engineering courses.