Oil and Gas Installations at sea are their own world in many respects. A different jargon of slang is used day-to-day offshore.

Back Scratcher - Safety feature on high ladders installed offshore. Instead of falling down from the top to the bottom the theory is it catches you part way, saving you from a full-fall.

Bed Buster - A fortunate occurrence that results in an early trip finish on full pay. Usually decided via a lottery decision by supervisors. Reasons include a lack of bed-spaces.

Bell-to-Bell - Shipyard term for working on jobs solidly from start to finish and being unable to finish early, even if said jobs are already completed. This is more usual onshore than offshore.

Billy Pugh - Older method of transporting crew via a crane and carriage to boat / platform and vice versa.

Black-balled - See NRB.

Boot Locker - Workers changing rooms and transit area to work areas. Normally found in the lower levels of the accommodation module.

Bunkering - Taking on diesel fuel, water and drilling fluids from a supply boat from great hoses being lowered down by the crane.

Cat's Head - Part of the derricks mechanical works that, historically, would allow roughnecks to tighten and torque up drill pipe using chain and rope. Potentially fatal if mishandled.

Choppers Eve - The day previous to when the chopper arrives.

Days - Dayshift.

Dog House - Area within the derrick where the toolpusher, driller and other high-ranking types plan and carry out drilling operations.

DONUT - Abseiling equipment installed as an escape system offshore.

Dopes-on-Ropes - Rope Access Workers who abseil off the side of platform. A somewhat pejorative and offensive term, possibly coined by the Scaffolders.

Down-manned - Early finish / rotation off platform due to job completion. Also rumoured to be used in lieu of NRB in some cases.

Dunny - Bottom of the rig.

Fab Shop - Fabrication Workshop.

Fogged-In - When Fog descends on a rig, preventing helicopter flights from landing / talking off. See Money Mist.

Galley - Designated restaurant offshore. Serves food at meal times. Food quality can vary...

Golden Ticket - See Bed-Buster.

Grabbin' B*****D - See Hungry B*****D.

Half-Height - A short and lengthy container that's open on top.

Ham - Overtime Work / Money.

Hard Lie - Having to sleep elsewhere from your normal accommodation offshore. Usual when shuttling to remote satellite rigs by helicopter.

Head Steward - See House Mouse.

Helideck Shuffle - Style of walking or gait used by Helideck Crew while on the Heli-deck.

House Mouse - Rig Handyman, go-to-guy for everyday fixes in the accommodation module. May be Head Steward or Technician by trade / job.

Hungry B*****D - Normally used with regard to a worker who is keen to earn money via working extra hours on top of normal, extra trips, 3 weekers. See 'Grabbin B*****D.

In-betweenee - Minor, unofficial breaks outside of official tea breaks. Sometimes discouraged and loathed by supervisors / foreman.

Industrial Maniac - A more intense, fanatical and driven worker who exceeds the speed and work-rate of those around him. When found near One-Man-Shutdowns strange levels of productivity occur.. As individuals they are often the talk of the platform. As a combination they are often the talk of the North Sea.

Mechys - Mechanics. Also known as Mechy Fitters.

Money Mist - While fog is around a platform no helicopters can land or take off. Workers therefore get paid for extra days spent on the platform. Normally they have to work for it hence, strictly speaking the term 'money mist' is arguable. See Fogged-in.

MSF - Main Support Frame.

Nights - Nightshift.

NRB - Not Required Back. Acronym describing the 'black-balling' of a worker for reasons that can range from 'creative differences' with supervisors up to violent conduct offshore. This is normally every oil workers worst nightmare due to the stigma and financial implications.

OCS - Offshore Construction Superintendent. The Construction Head Honcho and the go-to-guru for black-hat trades. Not known for their sense of humour.

OIM - Offshore Installation Manager. Head Honcho of the Platform. The buck starts (and often stops) here.

One-Man-Shutdown - A supervisor, chargehand or worker who sets out to complete as much of a shutdown as humanly possible using either his workforce or individual drive and skill. They can be glory-seekers, grafters or simply workaholics. They tend to be loved and loathed in equal measure.

Pipey's - Pipefitters

Policin' the bridge - Applicable to multi-platform installations with a singular access bridge between accommodation module platform and others. Supervisors who linger and watch over it for oil workers attempting to either finish early or sneak off for an in-betweenee.

Policin' the Tea Shack - A supervisor who actively ensures workers are either not allowed in-betweenee's and/or reprimands those who are in the tea shack outside official break-times.

Policin' the job - Phrase used to describe an over-zealous supervisor who directly scrutinizes workers for a longer duration than is necessary.

Red Eye - Early morning check-in time (for helicopter).

Scaffs - Nickname for Scaffolders, arguably

Sky-Walkers - Rope Access Workers preferred nickname. See Dopes-on-Ropes.

Smoggee - Nickname given to city-dwellers in a certain North-Eastern urban area in England.

Smoke Shack - Platform smoking room, normally external to the accommodation module.

Smoko's - Can mean Smoke Shack or an internal accommodation module smoking room. The latter is usually more comfortable.

Spider Deck - Lowest level on a platform and normally requiring special access from the OIM. Mind your step down here, it's normally subject to the major corrosive effects of the sea and handrails are often missing.

Stand-by Boat - A patrolling vessel that acts as a rescue and recovery craft. Man overboard, rig emergency's requiring evacuation and fire-fighting can be called upon by these craft.

Tea Break - Official break time, usually in the morning and afternoon.

Tea Shack - Brew and rest area for oil and gas workers. Often a place for loose talk, banter and animated discussion.

Paraffin Pigeon - See Whirly Bird.

Whirly Bird - Helicopter that transports oil and gas workers to and from the platform. It's arrival and departure are much lauded and spoken about. Types of helicopter can vary, some are better than others.