i used to work for ENSCO. i worked on a drilling rig (ENSCO 94 jackup rig) in the Gulf of Mexico. it really depends on the crew and what you are actually doing. my adoptive brother is a driller and my brother-in-law was a welder. i also know a couple of guys that work on production rigs, but they had worked longer and their pay was much lower than mine at the time.
my schedule was 2 weeks on and 2 weeks off. i started as a roustabout and was a roughneck before i left. there wasn't a lot of turnover on our rig, but other rigs people can move up the ladder reasonably well.
if you are single i recommend it. the job and stress can cause strife in a marriage. divorce rates are probably higher with these jobs since couples can easily get disconnected.
oh, my Brother-in-Law no longer works offshore. he missed his family and found a land job after 16 years of the rig. my adoptive brother normally works 30 days on and 30 days off and i believe he is back in Egypt now. not sure which company he is working for. he's changed a few times in the last 20 years.
