Subsea

Term from Oil Extraction industry explained for recruiters

Subsea refers to equipment, technology, and operations that take place underwater in oil and gas extraction. Think of it as underwater oil and gas production systems - everything from wells drilled on the ocean floor to the pipes and equipment that help get oil and gas from deep under the seabed to the surface. When someone mentions "subsea" in their resume, they're typically talking about working with underwater oil and gas equipment, either designing it, installing it, maintaining it, or managing these operations. Other common terms you might see include "underwater technology," "offshore equipment," or "deepwater operations."

Examples in Resumes

Managed installation of Subsea equipment for deepwater drilling project

Supervised maintenance of Subsea systems and Underwater production facilities

Led team of engineers in Subsea pipeline installation across 5-mile ocean floor segment

Typical job title: "Subsea Engineers"

Also try searching for:

Subsea Engineer Offshore Engineer Subsea Field Engineer Subsea Project Manager Underwater Technology Specialist Subsea Operations Engineer Deepwater Systems Engineer

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: Can you explain how you would manage a major subsea equipment installation project?

Expected Answer: A senior candidate should discuss project planning, team coordination, safety procedures, budget management, and how they would handle potential challenges like weather delays or equipment issues.

Q: What experience do you have with subsea field development planning?

Expected Answer: Should be able to explain their experience in planning underwater oil/gas fields, including equipment selection, layout planning, and consideration of environmental factors.

Mid Level Questions

Q: What types of subsea equipment have you worked with?

Expected Answer: Should be familiar with common underwater equipment like wellheads, manifolds, pipelines, and control systems, and be able to explain their basic functions.

Q: How do you ensure safety in subsea operations?

Expected Answer: Should discuss safety protocols, risk assessment, emergency procedures, and environmental protection measures for underwater operations.

Junior Level Questions

Q: What is your understanding of basic subsea systems?

Expected Answer: Should be able to describe the basic components of underwater oil and gas production systems and their general purpose.

Q: What safety considerations are important in subsea operations?

Expected Answer: Should demonstrate basic knowledge of safety requirements for working with underwater equipment and awareness of environmental concerns.

Experience Level Indicators

Junior (0-2 years)

  • Basic understanding of underwater equipment
  • Knowledge of safety procedures
  • Familiarity with technical drawings
  • Understanding of basic offshore operations

Mid (2-5 years)

  • Equipment installation and maintenance
  • Project coordination
  • Technical problem-solving
  • Field operation experience

Senior (5+ years)

  • Project management
  • Team leadership
  • Complex system design
  • Risk assessment and mitigation

Red Flags to Watch For

  • No offshore or marine experience
  • Lack of safety certification knowledge
  • No understanding of underwater equipment basics
  • No experience with relevant industry standards

Related Terms