Post: #4051

Maybe check out the new stadium downtown. I am sure as they move into the next stage they will have a lot of plumbing related jobs. Not sure what the timeline on that project is but its huge.

As for rigs plumbing is usually taken care of by the lower rig guys or by service hands that work for a particular company: camp services, hvac services, shack company etc. It is normally integrated into other jobs. I am sure that bigger projects (non drilling) would require more specialized plumbing trade guys.

Post: #4052

(06-29-2015 04:11 PM)scotian Wrote:  

(06-29-2015 01:48 PM)ReligionLOL Wrote:  well i was gaming the other day and i met a girl from canada who worked for an oil company, she also said that things are slow now but if i wanted to take a shot i should maybe go next year. plumbing isnt really connected to the oilrigs though is it? either working in canada or lets say i wanted to work offshore in the future i would have a better chance as a welder or something like that right? the impression im getting from various info online is that my plumbing background wouldnt really help me unless i just wanted to be a plumber in canada, ur saying there is need for them on and around the rigs?

Probably not on the rigs but do you want to be a rig pig like Atlantic or a greasy tradesman like myself? It depends what you're looking for I guess but they are both very different options, both can make big $$$ but the rig pig will only ever work on an oil rig, whether offshore or onshore whereas a a tradesman can work in many different areas: oil and gas, nuclear, ship building, commercial construction, etc.

I'd go with greasy tradesman as well. Work less harder and you always have a piece of paper to fall back on if deciding to do something else.

Post: #4053

(06-29-2015 05:23 PM)Atlantic Wrote:  Maybe check out the new stadium downtown. I am sure as they move into the next stage they will have a lot of plumbing related jobs. Not sure what the timeline on that project is but its huge.

As for rigs plumbing is usually taken care of by the lower rig guys or by service hands that work for a particular company: camp services, hvac services, shack company etc. It is normally integrated into other jobs. I am sure that bigger projects (non drilling) would require more specialized plumbing trade guys.

Knew a guy once who used to work for Trinidad and he told me they always had welders on site. Big demand for those guys everywhere.

Post: #4054

There is still a lot of construction work in Calgary. Working on a project with 1200~ homes going up in Airdrie, just north of the city. Anything related; concrete, framing, roofing, painting, interiors, exteriors, plumbing, electrical, eavestroughing, drywall, flooring ETC. are all still in demand all over the city. Huge projects in all corners of the city still going fairly strong.

Post: #4055

(06-29-2015 11:24 PM)rdvirus Wrote:  There is still a lot of construction work in Calgary. Working on a project with 1200~ homes going up in Airdrie, just north of the city. Anything related; concrete, framing, roofing, painting, interiors, exteriors, plumbing, electrical, eavestroughing, drywall, flooring ETC. are all still in demand all over the city. Huge projects in all corners of the city still going fairly strong.

Still quite a bit of residential and commercial construction happening in Edmonton as well, a lot of condos and office buildings going up downtown and as Atlantic mentioned, the arena is a really big job right now. The major slow down has been in oil and gas construction, many of the fly in guys from all over the country and the TFWs have been sent home but a lot of the local tradesmen such as myself have kept fairly busy although my client has been fucking me over lately with my schedule and I may be dragging up soon, we'll see.

Post: #4056

(06-29-2015 04:11 PM)scotian Wrote:  Probably not on the rigs but do you want to be a rig pig like Atlantic or a greasy tradesman like myself? It depends what you're looking for I guess but they are both very different options, both can make big $$$ but the rig pig will only ever work on an oil rig, whether offshore or onshore whereas a a tradesman can work in many different areas: oil and gas, nuclear, ship building, commercial construction, etc.

absolutely a tradesman since thats easier to fall back on and i can do that in my country or anywhere in the world so thats obviously more practical but what is the most valuable trade to learn to get on and around the oil rigs? i dont really even want to do plumbing, very willing to spend couple years learning a new trade. anything would work really.

Post: #4057

(06-30-2015 04:44 AM)ReligionLOL Wrote:  

(06-29-2015 04:11 PM)scotian Wrote:  Probably not on the rigs but do you want to be a rig pig like Atlantic or a greasy tradesman like myself? It depends what you're looking for I guess but they are both very different options, both can make big $$$ but the rig pig will only ever work on an oil rig, whether offshore or onshore whereas a a tradesman can work in many different areas: oil and gas, nuclear, ship building, commercial construction, etc.

absolutely a tradesman since thats easier to fall back on and i can do that in my country or anywhere in the world so thats obviously more practical but what is the most valuable trade to learn to get on and around the oil rigs? i dont really even want to do plumbing, very willing to spend couple years learning a new trade. anything would work really.

Good welders are paid extremely well. Do skim through whole thread, this has been answered so many times here.

Post: #4058

http://globalnews.ca/news/2083812/two-pe...work-camp/

Quote:EDMONTON – RCMP say two people have been killed at a work camp in Fox Creek, Alberta after a man attacked people with a knife.

The RCMP was called at about 1:50 a.m. Tuesday. Officers found two deceased people when they arrived at the camp.

I have drilled here before and I am fairly sure I know which camp it is.

Post: #4059

(06-30-2015 09:13 AM)Atlantic Wrote:  http://globalnews.ca/news/2083812/two-pe...work-camp/

Quote:EDMONTON – RCMP say two people have been killed at a work camp in Fox Creek, Alberta after a man attacked people with a knife.

The RCMP was called at about 1:50 a.m. Tuesday. Officers found two deceased people when they arrived at the camp.

I have drilled here before and I am fairly sure I know which camp it is.

Well I hope that it wasn't random innocent people who are dead, this is a pretty crazy story but I guess things like that can happen. There isn't much security at the camp I'm staying at, the night security is a 65 year old woman and she wouldn't be able to do much besides call the RCMP, who are located two hours away.

Post: #4060

If its the camp I am thinking of its quite large (at least a 1000) and has terrible security. I used to stop on the way to the rig and pick up 'free' snacks and meals. I wasn't even working on anything related to the company and never got stopped. Would be easy for someone from town to come over and get in without being checked. Also from the stories I heard while drilling out there, that town is a huge stop off point for drugs between BC and Edmonton, and as such has a lot of gang violence and shootings. Will be interesting to see what happened.

Post: #4061

(06-30-2015 04:49 PM)Atlantic Wrote:  If its the camp I am thinking of its quite large (at least a 1000) and has terrible security. I used to stop on the way to the rig and pick up 'free' snacks and meals. I wasn't even working on anything related to the company and never got stopped. Would be easy for someone from town to come over and get in without being checked. Also from the stories I heard while drilling out there, that town is a huge stop off point for drugs between BC and Edmonton, and as such has a lot of gang violence and shootings. Will be interesting to see what happened.

As I was driving to site a couple of days ago my co-worker and I stopped in Whitecourt and he said that its a pretty decent town, then we passed by Fox Creek and I asked him what that town was like, he said its a dump and went on to tell me about how a guy he knows was working there and staying in a motel. The guy woke up to knocking on his door at 3am, so he opened it and a guy game in with a shot gun to his face, took his money, laptop and truck keys then led the police on a high speed chase!

As far as I'm concerned, all of these small oil and gas towns are fucking dumps and I would be hard pressed to ever live in one, here is a funny video about Whitecourt featuring a pretty hot stripper: WHITECOURT FUCKING BLOWS!

Post: #4062

(06-30-2015 05:39 PM)scotian Wrote:  

(06-30-2015 04:49 PM)Atlantic Wrote:  If its the camp I am thinking of its quite large (at least a 1000) and has terrible security. I used to stop on the way to the rig and pick up 'free' snacks and meals. I wasn't even working on anything related to the company and never got stopped. Would be easy for someone from town to come over and get in without being checked. Also from the stories I heard while drilling out there, that town is a huge stop off point for drugs between BC and Edmonton, and as such has a lot of gang violence and shootings. Will be interesting to see what happened.

As I was driving to site a couple of days ago my co-worker and I stopped in Whitecourt and he said that its a pretty decent town, then we passed by Fox Creek and I asked him what that town was like, he said its a dump and went on to tell me about how a guy he knows was working there and staying in a motel. The guy woke up to knocking on his door at 3am, so he opened it and a guy game in with a shot gun to his face, took his money, laptop and truck keys then led the police on a high speed chase!

As far as I'm concerned, all of these small oil and gas towns are fucking dumps and I would be hard pressed to ever live in one, here is a funny video about Whitecourt featuring a pretty hot stripper: [b]WHITECOURT FUCKING BLOWS![/b]

They're one real recession away from becoming no go zones. They don't even have good pussy to fall back on.

Post: #4063

(06-30-2015 09:51 PM)DjembaDjemba Wrote:  They don't even have good pussy to fall back on.

Fox Creek is the only town where a fat girl has ever straight up asked me for sex too. I walked into a bar with a drilling buddy and a hideous fat girl came right over and asked me to take my dick out. I just ignored her. She told my buddy (who doesn't look like me) 'your brother is hot'. Later I seen her making out with some normal looking welder guy. The bar girl said she gets laid every night with a new guy. She was disgustingly ugly. Only in that town would she have the balls to run direct game lol. Fuck that place.

Post: #4064

Is Fox Creek the town where they are widening out the highway and you see natives walking back and forth from the bars and reservation in the middle of the night?

Post: #4065

Wb that stripper.

Post: #4066

I haven't really seen this being addressed much in this thread but does anyone know what the starting pay is for something like coil tubing? And how is it like compared to roughnecking?

Post: #4067

(06-30-2015 10:55 PM)Laurifer Wrote:  Is Fox Creek the town where they are widening out the highway and you see natives walking back and forth from the bars and reservation in the middle of the night?

You are thinking of Valleyview, which incidentally only exists because residents of Ft Mac, Fox Creek and Whitecourt need a town worse than theirs to ridicule. This thread brings back a lot of memories; depressing ones.

Post: #4068

The Valleyview Shell service station has "Canada's Best Washrooms", I wasn't that impressed with the shitters but they do have pretty good food there, for a gas station. Another thing that caught me off guard there was the 4 or 5 really cute girls who were in the store, probably not locals as it was a Sunday evening and they were likely just passing through but I was surprised.

Post: #4069

http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/oil-rigs...-1.3136079

Post: #4070

(07-01-2015 10:33 PM)scotian Wrote:  The Valleyview Shell service station has "Canada's Best Washrooms", I wasn't that impressed with the shitters but they do have pretty good food there, for a gas station. Another thing that caught me off guard there was the 4 or 5 really cute girls who were in the store, probably not locals as it was a Sunday evening and they were likely just passing through but I was surprised.

That was my favorite stop off place of all last year. They do a good freshly made grilled sandwich and have excellent fresh egg salad. I even bought one of their massive teddy bears for a girl after a rotation (beta!). Ya there is some talent usually kicking around. I think the 'worlds best shitter' claim gets the girls to stop off. You know you have been working here a while when you can discuss gas stations haha.

Post: #4071

Something that came up at work during an orientation, and something I have dealt with several times already, and it's always good to get a reminder on.

Your duty to refuse unsafe work.

If your employer asks you to do something unsafe, don't fucking do it. In fact, if you do it, YOU are liable for a fine, not just your employer. It's not your right to refuse unsafe work in Alberta, it's your duty.

Two examples of where I have refused unsafe work in the last few months:

My supervisor had asked me to climb a rickety scaffold that had no tag and looked like it was put together in the 80s. I refused because if I fall, WCB won't cover me because as a worker, I made the conscious decision to climb on an untagged raggedy structure. I'd be in a wheelchair and won't get a penny. So fuck that, not going up that thing. There's a good chance your employer won't give you shit. It's bad for them if you get hurt.

Another time we saw lighting near our site and then heard thunder shortly after. I immediately climbed down my ladder and told both my supervisor and co-worker I saw lighting and we're done. Lightning = no work. 30/30 rule. It's quite simple, no arguments there.

For the young enthusiastic guys out here. Money comes and goes, but your health won't recover so fast if you're unlucky. Don't let old school oil sands veterans bully you into doing something you feel is unsafe or you can't do.

Post: #4072

(07-02-2015 06:55 PM)DjembaDjemba Wrote:  Something that came up at work during an orientation, and something I have dealt with several times already, and it's always good to get a reminder on.

Your duty to refuse unsafe work.

If your employer asks you to do something unsafe, don't fucking do it. In fact, if you do it, YOU are liable for a fine, not just your employer. It's not your right to refuse unsafe work in Alberta, it's your duty.

Two examples of where I have refused unsafe work in the last few months:

My supervisor had asked me to climb a rickety scaffold that had no tag and looked like it was put together in the 80s. I refused because if I fall, WCB won't cover me because as a worker, I made the conscious decision to climb on an untagged raggedy structure. I'd be in a wheelchair and won't get a penny. So fuck that, not going up that thing. There's a good chance your employer won't give you shit. It's bad for them if you get hurt.

Another time we saw lighting near our site and then heard thunder shortly after. I immediately climbed down my ladder and told both my supervisor and co-worker I saw lighting and we're done. Lightning = no work. 30/30 rule. It's quite simple, no arguments there.

For the young enthusiastic guys out here. Money comes and goes, but your health won't recover so fast if you're unlucky. Don't let old school oil sands veterans bully you into doing something you feel is unsafe or you can't do.

I'm really bad for this. I don't even think twice about doing dumb shit and some of the stuff I've done over the past year would make you shake your head. I've been getting worse and worse with time too. But you know how my side of the trade is lol (you've been there, done that).

Now that I'm up in Ft. Mac I really need to watch myself. Safety is all up in your business up there in the plants. Twice now I've almost been caught by safety doing really dumb shit and both times we hadn't done our FLHA/tail gate.

But you're right, getting kicked off site shouldn't be the main motivation. Injuring yourself over some dumb preventable thing and not even being able to go to WCB after would be horrible. It's not worth it.

Post: #4073

Don't know if this has been posted but its a doco on fort mac/oilsands/karaoke

http://osk.knowledge.ca/

it could be utter shit, I haven't watched yet

Post: #4074

delete

Post: #4075

(07-02-2015 06:55 PM)DjembaDjemba Wrote:  Something that came up at work during an orientation, and something I have dealt with several times already, and it's always good to get a reminder on.

Your duty to refuse unsafe work.

If your employer asks you to do something unsafe, don't fucking do it. In fact, if you do it, YOU are liable for a fine, not just your employer. It's not your right to refuse unsafe work in Alberta, it's your duty.

Two examples of where I have refused unsafe work in the last few months:

My supervisor had asked me to climb a rickety scaffold that had no tag and looked like it was put together in the 80s. I refused because if I fall, WCB won't cover me because as a worker, I made the conscious decision to climb on an untagged raggedy structure. I'd be in a wheelchair and won't get a penny. So fuck that, not going up that thing. There's a good chance your employer won't give you shit. It's bad for them if you get hurt.

Another time we saw lighting near our site and then heard thunder shortly after. I immediately climbed down my ladder and told both my supervisor and co-worker I saw lighting and we're done. Lightning = no work. 30/30 rule. It's quite simple, no arguments there.

For the young enthusiastic guys out here. Money comes and goes, but your health won't recover so fast if you're unlucky. Don't let old school oil sands veterans bully you into doing something you feel is unsafe or you can't do.

This is very true, again my experience is logging/forestry but I did all of the accident claims and investigations for our company as well as being on a regional investigation team and 90% of the time it is shortcuts or not thinking a risky job through that results not in just injury but death or dismemberment.

The biggest culprit was repairs, fixing equipment is always risky because its a unique situation every time but do not get under, in between or on top of anything until you have thought out the 'what ifs' and safety. Don't jump down from/off of anything always climb down all of the steps and be damn careful if it is raining.

Its alot of the minor things that turn into big things...for example, slipping on a wet rock and falling on your ass is no big deal, but falling onto your operating chain saw is.

Again, don't rush and really think through 'abnormal' tasks like repairs and new job sites before you start.