Viral Socialite

The World Cup draw in Durban is only 400 days away now! I thought it’d be a good opportunity to think about which teams names will be in those little balls to be drawn out for the groups for 2010. Here are my predictions and why I think each team should be there:
(the UEFA section will be done later, it is the longest and hardest one)

AFC – Australia, Japan, Korea Republic, Saudi Arabia
& Iran. These are the best five teams in Asia. I don’t think there can be many objections. Uzbekistan or Bahrain will probably get into the playoff spot but they are likely to be overpowered by Saudi Arabia/Iran/Korea Republic. Two of the three teams mentioned will qualify automatically, the other will playoff and smash New Zealand.

CAF – Cameroon, Nigeria, Egypt, Ghana & Cote d’Ivoire
The final round for the CAF has taken shape. Five groups of four, with the top team in each group to qualify. Egypt and Cote d’Ivoire should not have any excuses not to qualify, they have relatively easy groups. Cameroon and Nigeria have tricky groups with Cameroon having to tackle Morocco and Togo, whilst the Nigerians have to face recent World Cup regulars Tunisia. Ghana have the threat of Mali to deal with but I think they’ll have too much quality.

CONCACAF – Mexico, USA & Costa Rica. There is quite a gulf between these three nations and the rest of CONCACAF, and its been obvious for the last ten years. They’ll get through easily, but the fourth placed team will lose the playoff, the South American team will be way too strong.

CONMEBOL – Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay &
Chile. The first three are the “usual suspects” and will definitely be there. Uruguay are looking good and will probably also be there this time, after the disappointment of not making Germany 2006. Ecuador, who usually have been World Cup regulars have had a slower start than usual. Their away form has been terrible which is in contrast to Chile, whose away form has been sound, so I’ve tipped them ahead of Ecuador. Whoever comes fifth will beat the CONCACAF qualifier in the playoff.

The UEFA qualifiers will be analyzed in another article in the future since it is too early to make a reasonable prediction. Overall, it seems that most of the teams that will be there in 2010 will be pretty much the same ones that fought it out in Germany 2 years ago. However, previous World Cups have shown that there are always first timers. Hence, surprises should expected when most qualifiers resume in 2009.

By: Robert Shaw

About the Author:

While many of the offshore oil rig jobs are physical in nature, many of the rig companies go out of their way to make sure your time spent onboard is an enjoyable one. For instance employees may find themselves living in accommodation wings that meet 4 or 5 star hotel standards – despite the fact that you a living in the middle of the ocean. While you are on board the company will usually meet all food, board and laundry expenses, along with travel and transfer costs.

There are a large number of offshore oil rig jobs that are available. The range of employment opportunities include:

Driller, Derrickman, Shakerhand or Mudman, Toolpusher, Floormen or Roughnecks, Motorman, Assistant Driller, Crane Operator, Roustabouts, Cleaner/Painter, Storekeeper, Mechanic/Electrician, Sub Sea Engineer, Rig Mechanic, Rig Electrician, Rig Welder, Barge Engineer, Ballast Controlman or Watchstander, Captain and Chief Engineer, Rig Medic and Safety Man.

Most offshore oil rig jobs call for a 14/21 day rotation that means you work for 14 days and have 21 off. This equates to you having approximately 3/5 of the year off on holiday.

In the offshore oil rig industry, there are opportunities for drilling employment and travel to countries such as: Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, the United States, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela, Mexico, Russia, Norway, China, Canada and the United Kingdom.

Typically salaries for roustabouts and roughnecks (drill deck workers) are approximately US $300 per day. Annual salaries work out to be approximately US $47,000.

More specialized jobs such as that of Driller is likely to make around $56,000 per annum, which Toolpushers, Drill Leaders and Supervisors are likely to earn around the US $75,000 – $100,000 mark per year.

Entry level positions typically make between US $50,000 – US $80,000 per annum. Trades, technical and professional positions will likely earn between US $70,000 – US $220,000 per annum.

Life Offshore

- You will be issued with safety boots hard hat safety glasses and coveralls.

- Keep a good attitude and be focused on why you wanted to work offshore.

- There are smoking rooms at various places on a rig where safety matches will be supplied.

- For meals you take off your work gear and eat in the galley.

- You may have to work a night shift or two as an oil rig is a 24 hour operation.

- Don’t upset the radio operator, medic or chef. Helicopters, medical attention and food are most important.

Aboard an oil rig every piece of lifting equipment has a color code on it – this is an indication that it was tested as safe to use on the last lifting equipment check. Only items with the current color code on them should be used.

When working in the petroleum industry, don’t bring alcohol, illegal drugs, weapons (of any description) including knives, flammable items, lighters and matches (safety matches will be provided in the smokers room) when working on energy jobs.

If working aboard an offshore rig, remove batteries from electrical equipment before checking in you luggage. If you are to be transported by helicopter your mobile phone may be taken from you before you board the helicopter.

A number of people working aboard oil rigs work are in support roles such as catering crew and doctors, etc. The following is an outline of what may be expected for doctors or medics. Because of the physical size of rigs, many of these types of roles are sole charged and one must be able to make do with the facilities and resources at end. In the case of doctors or medics based aboard oil rigs, it may be necessary to treat patients suffering from a huge variety of ailments and illnesses. Issues can arise as a lot of the workers aboard oil rig installations may speak foreign languages, so it is critical for the medical personnel to be able to quickly and effectively diagnose the problem. Generally medical staff will work one of two shifts, either day or night. Their role can often also include checking and maintaining stocks of emergency supplies, testing and verifying drinking water supplies are clean, as well as inspecting both raw and cooked foods from the kitchen. They are also often responsible for conducting weekly first aid seminars for all workers aboard the oil rig.

By: Gary Benefield

About the Author:

When thinking of oil and natural gas in the Middle East, the rich fields of Saudi Arabia or Iraq often come to mind, but few in the populace think of Israel as a burgeoning bastion of oil and natural gas reserves. Oil exploration has actually been going on in the Holy Land since the early 1900’s, with first drilling beginning in 1947, once licenses and permissions had been properly acquired. The first oil yield came in 1955 when an original oil well in the Heletz area was deepened, and initially 18 million barrels were extracted; this well is still in production currently. Seven years later, a report prepared by Lewis Weeks, then chief Geologist of Exxon, was released to the Israeli government detailing a preliminary estimate of 500 million to 2 billion barrels of oil lying beneath Israeli soil.

Following the 1967 war in Israel, oil exploration and drilling again became a focus within Israeli borders, primarily on offshore platforms in the Gulf of Suez and in the Sinai region on the mainland, resulting in the finding of significant reserves of oil and natural gas. The 1970’s and 80’s can be seen as a time of expanded on-shore operations, concentrating on the Coastal Plain resulting in live oil recoveries of smaller amounts of show, but no commercial discoveries.

From 1986-1988, the Israeli government put a halt to all drilling and exploration, requesting that a study of exploration data from the last forty years be conducted. The company assigned to this project, Oil Exploration Investment, Ltd., performed a basin analysis of the whole of Israeli lands, outlining all previous exploratory endeavors, yields, etc. The hope of the Israeli government was to locate trends or patterns that would help positively identify true hopes for larger, future discoveries underneath the nation’s soil or bodies of water. Following this survey, Israel opened various areas up to privatized oil and natural gas exploration. By the end of the 1990’s, several large international oil and natural gas companies including British Gas, Enserch, Reading & Bates, and Noble energy set up their operations in several areas, primarily conducting offshore drilling.

The current decade has seen a change of focus from oil to natural gas discovery in Israel. Most of these discoveries have taken place at offshore platforms, and yields of upwards of 3.5 trillion cubic feet of natural gas have been projected. These discoveries could prove quite advantageous for Israel and for its primary ally, the United States.

By: Gary Benefield

About the Author: