(02-25-2014 07:52 AM)youngmobileglobal Wrote:  -

Does anyone know what the deal is with headhunters and working in and around the recruitment, talent management, and headhunting space for the oil sands in both the US and CAN?

This strikes me as a lucrative opportunity as manpower seems to constantly be a huge problem.

Anyone with the inside track on this please PM me to discuss potential collaboration ideas. I've been keeping a keen eye on this for a while.

-

You aren't the first one with this brilliant idea...

http://www.diversifiedstaffing.com/
https://www.aplin.com/calgary.html
http://www.markstaffing.com/about-us/contact
http://www.teksystems.com/locations/teks...da/calgary
http://www.genesisexecutive.ca/

etc, etc... I know tons of people in this industry, it is extremely competitive

(02-25-2014 07:16 AM)TravellingSoldier Wrote:  

(02-23-2014 01:13 PM)alphaspiraton Wrote:  Well gents, I have taken the plunge. After 3 weeks of thoughtful consideration and planning I am driving to Edmonton tomorrow. I will be trying to obtain employment as an electrician starter or an apprentice helper, and then hopefully I can secure an apprenticeship.

The trip is roughly 40 hours by car. I have decided to spread this across 5 days. So I will leave Monday and be there for Friday. I have enough savings to last me for 1 solid month (and rent for the 2nd). And then I'll be in trouble after that.

Coincidently my friend is going there now so I plan to arrive at his family's house Friday and look for a new place over the weekend where I can rent most likely in a family house. That will be about $450-700.

Adios my Toronto brethren, I will not miss thee. If you want a change from the drama and torture that is known as Toronto then you know where you should be heading. The office environment is toxic to my health. Maybe I will revisit in my 30s or 40s.

Thank you to Scotian, VP, Irishman, TS, etc, and countless others who have provided a wealth of knowledge.

If all fails, I will come back to this shitty city, borrow some cash, do a pre employment course, and then head right back West! I am in it for the long haul.

I will keep you guys updated on my progress.

I would say good luck, but with hard work you don't need any haha. You'll do well man don't worry just be persistent and network like you've never had a friend.

I'm heading to Mexico in an hour but I'll be back on the 6th we should get a beer on whyte! Also if you're looking for a place I know this dope party house, big rooms low rent about to open up a couple rooms. Thinking 425 with utilities. Anyways man enjoy the nice weather it's been pretty mild lately!

Thanks for the info dude! I have reached Thunder Bay and will be reaching Edmonton on Friday if all goes well and my car keeps holding up. We should definitely meet up when you get back.

Also - any other previous posters who have contributed to this thread and are in Edmonton (Scotian, etc) next month, a nice cold one is on me!

dupe

(02-25-2014 08:02 AM)Spickpaddy Wrote:  Hey Folks,
Does anyone here know anything about working as a Helicopter or fixed wing pilot up there?
I have a chance to get licenses pretty cheap in Brazil(15,000€)
but want to get work asap after to start paying that off and start making money.

Any info, other forums etc would be greatly apprieciated.
regards

I know they are alway looking for lineman pilots. They need to be super confident in their abilites.

You need to fly Power linemen to remote transmission line towers. You either drop them off on the line or hover while they fix what they need to fix. You need to be steady and trust each other. Many times the pilot just knows the linemans next step and adjusts the helicopter a few inches just to make his job easier, faster and safer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UTb0dEbUN4

search : aerial lineman

Its a badass job. Once I get my sparky ticket, I'll probably move to an aerial lineman. Maybe you can be my pilot.

(02-25-2014 10:35 PM)Zeus Wrote:  

(02-25-2014 08:02 AM)Spickpaddy Wrote:  Hey Folks,
Does anyone here know anything about working as a Helicopter or fixed wing pilot up there?
I have a chance to get licenses pretty cheap in Brazil(15,000€)
but want to get work asap after to start paying that off and start making money.

Any info, other forums etc would be greatly apprieciated.
regards

I know they are alway looking for lineman pilots. They need to be super confident in their abilites.

You need to fly Power linemen to remote transmission line towers. You either drop them off on the line or hover while they fix what they need to fix. You need to be steady and trust each other. Many times the pilot just knows the linemans next step and adjusts the helicopter a few inches just to make his job easier, faster and safer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UTb0dEbUN4

search : aerial lineman

Its a badass job. Once I get my sparky ticket, I'll probably move to an aerial lineman. Maybe you can be my pilot.

I don't know much about linemen, but from my experience, this is what I know regarding pilots up here in the natural resources sector to add to what Zeus said:

Lots of helicopter pilot jobs and float plane pilot jobs are actually more likely to be in mining, when you fly geologists up to remote bush zones so they can do exploration. Any small town that is in the middle of nowhere in the Canadian Shield likely will have little airports for this purpose. During the winter when there is too much snow to do geological mapping, there is still work, as the companies will often drill out core as part of the exploration process. As well, there is year long hunting and fishing charters that use these air services. Great walleye, arctic char and lake trout fishing up there, as well as moose, elk, bear etc hunting!

In the oil patch, I would say the biggest use for helicopter pilots is in seismic. Seismic is a technique used in oil exploration in which dynamite is drilled underground OR huge trucks with vibrating pads on them send sound waves down through the underground rock formations. Little recorders at ground surface called geophones time the travel paths of these sound waves, and the data is processed by geophysicists in order to create structural images of the underground geology- it helps narrow down structures like folds and faults that may trap petroleum. Seismic companies send out huge crews of surveyors and jughounds (the guys who stick geophones on the ground) to remote areas every day, so helicopters are a required expense.

Aerial lineman is a badass job holy shit

(02-25-2014 05:04 AM)Seanchaí Wrote:  Salmon,

Thanks for the info I hadn't heard that the process is being changed, although it doesn't surprise me, word is out that 'there's gold in them there hills' and it only makes sense that the Canadians want to tighten up the borders.

From what I read about applying for PR status was that all you needed was a minimum of one years employment in a specified job along with the basic requirements of not getting arrested for pissing on a cop car.

How are you getting on over there? Are you in the process of applying for PR?

As a side note about emigration does anyone else think that with Canada becoming the new promised land and so many American's trying to get in that Yanks will become to Canada what Mexicans are to America.

You could Marry a Canadian lass ?

Its funny all this talk of tightening who actually gets accepted (is fair) but Im sure I heard talk about Aussies in future being able to get a WHV up until the age of 35. Now im unsure if they are going to scrap the 4 year Maximum working time in Canada. Seems kind of odd to offer schemes to get workers but only offer them 4 years.

Im not sure how this applies the Brits. Its interesting none the less.

I think Americans should kindly f*ck off. Those spots should be reserved for Aussies and maybe a few poms (Irish need not apply)

Want the Canadian lifestyle Americano ? Move to Montana

Got my call to the rig today. Got myself a fly in/fly out gig. Exactly what I was hoping for since I didn't want to rely on my own set of wheels to drive somewhere.

Thanks again to Atlantic for listing off the essential items a rig worker needs!

(02-27-2014 12:42 AM)Laurifer Wrote:  Got my call to the rig today. Got myself a fly in/fly out gig. Exactly what I was hoping for since I didn't want to rely on my own set of wheels to drive somewhere.

Thanks again to Atlantic for listing off the essential items a rig worker needs!

Cool man. Congrats

Oilsands PSA: Get on tinder.

Check out the tinder thread and follow the advice given.

I have never been a fan of online game but this is showing a lot of results after only two days.

I should hopefully have a good tinder story for tomorrow and Ill drop some data when I am back on the rigs and have time.

Short version: great for daytime meet ups and for when you are only back in town for a few days.

I have been reading the thread and making a pdf file with the stuff I have copy and pasted. During that time I got a better grasp on things such as logistics and companies and I decided to make move in septmeber.


What kind of work does a shut down involve and what qualifications/tickets do you need?
I am thinking I can use the experience after a couple to go into Project managment after getting my CET later down the road but thats in the future.

Talked to an old timer to take me on as an helper so ill see how welding goes.

(02-27-2014 04:54 PM)Atlantic Wrote:  Oilsands PSA: Get on tinder.

Check out the tinder thread and follow the advice given.

I have never been a fan of online game but this is showing a lot of results after only two days.

I should hopefully have a good tinder story for tomorrow and Ill drop some data when I am back on the rigs and have time.

Short version: great for daytime meet ups and for when you are only back in town for a few days.

Yeah Tinder is great. Also OKCupid and MeetMe.
Talk to her online -> meet at cafe/bar -> go back to her/your place. Works on pretty much everyone.

This video is pretty true:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jgD5k1CDzM

Quote: I know they are alway looking for lineman pilots. They need to be super confident in their abilites.

Lineman Pilot jobs will require over a 1000 hours of experience. Even more I'd imagine. A very highly skilled job!

Just an update on my first shift rotation on a service rig.

Man oh man, the most f#&ed up past few days of my life. 12 hour shifts and than binge drinking with a crazy crew and showing up to work with 4 hours of sleep the next day. I've turned into a zombie.

I am on a service rig and on the 4th day I was up on the floor working on the elevators. This work is not for faint hearted and hot heads who like to "keep it real". I have made some good friends, some hardened veterans who can work 12 hours, drink like fish after work and go back to work with 2 hours of sleep and work like a horse again. I have learned a lot about oil and gas and I am taking my days off to do more research on this topic. I am not sure how long I will be able to do this, service rig rig in/out almost every 2 days, it's a very high paced environment when compared to drilling rigs. I am trying to hold off on this until drilling break up is over and than move to drilling rigs.

My roommate works for Trinidad Drilling and his break up starts march 15th, not sure how long it will last, sounds a bit too good to be true, any opinions?

Any of you guys ever worked on a rod rig (flushby rig)? It has a 2 man crew with operator and assistant which seems easier and the money is same. Also, is anyone a field mechanic or apprentice for oil field services? I have some offers of apprenticeships for field mechanic and apparently I would be running my own half ton truck within a year with a positive attitude and strong work ethic.

I'm now in Edmonton. If anyone wants to meet up this weekend and go for drinks feel free to message me.

Well my fly in/fly out gig didn't happen. Said they contacted me accidentally about it, wtf Trinidad. So instead I was given 4 hours notice to be in a "Texas Camp" (bring my own food and bedding) outside of Edson (2 1/2 hours from me) for an overnight stay.

So I rush home grab a sleeping bag, drive to my brother's work to borrow his truck, grab two microwave mac'n'cheese's and kolbasa sausage from the local grocery and hit the road. Worked three hours when I got there and a full 12 today, now I'm home. I'm getting a full 2 days pay though

It was a good introduction to the work and lifestyle, but I definitely would prefer a staffed camp next round, or at least more notice for Texas Camp. The guys I worked with seem to like Texas Camp since you get the daily $140 on top of your hourly pay.

The derrickhand is out there till the end of March if I heard him correctly, and had been there probably since February at least. Now that would be an impressive pay check.

(02-25-2014 11:09 PM)komatiite Wrote:  

(02-25-2014 10:35 PM)Zeus Wrote:  

(02-25-2014 08:02 AM)Spickpaddy Wrote:  Hey Folks,
Does anyone here know anything about working as a Helicopter or fixed wing pilot up there?
I have a chance to get licenses pretty cheap in Brazil(15,000€)
but want to get work asap after to start paying that off and start making money.

Any info, other forums etc would be greatly apprieciated.
regards

I know they are alway looking for lineman pilots. They need to be super confident in their abilites.

You need to fly Power linemen to remote transmission line towers. You either drop them off on the line or hover while they fix what they need to fix. You need to be steady and trust each other. Many times the pilot just knows the linemans next step and adjusts the helicopter a few inches just to make his job easier, faster and safer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UTb0dEbUN4

search : aerial lineman

Its a badass job. Once I get my sparky ticket, I'll probably move to an aerial lineman. Maybe you can be my pilot.

I don't know much about linemen, but from my experience, this is what I know regarding pilots up here in the natural resources sector to add to what Zeus said:

Lots of helicopter pilot jobs and float plane pilot jobs are actually more likely to be in mining, when you fly geologists up to remote bush zones so they can do exploration. Any small town that is in the middle of nowhere in the Canadian Shield likely will have little airports for this purpose. During the winter when there is too much snow to do geological mapping, there is still work, as the companies will often drill out core as part of the exploration process. As well, there is year long hunting and fishing charters that use these air services. Great walleye, arctic char and lake trout fishing up there, as well as moose, elk, bear etc hunting!

In the oil patch, I would say the biggest use for helicopter pilots is in seismic. Seismic is a technique used in oil exploration in which dynamite is drilled underground OR huge trucks with vibrating pads on them send sound waves down through the underground rock formations. Little recorders at ground surface called geophones time the travel paths of these sound waves, and the data is processed by geophysicists in order to create structural images of the underground geology- it helps narrow down structures like folds and faults that may trap petroleum. Seismic companies send out huge crews of surveyors and jughounds (the guys who stick geophones on the ground) to remote areas every day, so helicopters are a required expense.

Thanks for such an excellent answer!!

Well got some welding done and I am liking it more than I thought I would but I am gonna wait awhile and see if its something I can see myself doing for a long period of time.

Currently I am doing some stick/mig welding in maintenance work but I am mostly on surface prep and clean up. I usually get the parts that wont be affected by fuck ups.

. Still idk how to go about the tickets or certs needed to work a shut down in the oil sands , I am gonna have to pick a day to do some serious research on it because I am getting nothing with the quick google searches.

goal is pipeline work which i know u need to challenge the b pressure ticket after getting JM status or something ( might be talking out my ass) but I am interested in cutting and making things fit (fabrication) since I am into sand/tarmac racing and want to work on my own car.


Basically 4 months left in mechanical engineering course ( 2 yrs long) so I am going to give NAIT a ring and contact my embassy for some details.

All in all I am pumped to make the move to canada

Seismic: Data Sheet

I don't think anyone in this thread has mentioned seismic until I mentioned it in the post regarding pilot jobs. As someone who had their first oil-related job in seismic exploration which has led to a life-long career in the patch, I thought it may be good to at least explain the industry to the forum to people new to the whole petroleum business as to what role it plays and whether to consider it as an option. Note that this post applies to American guys too, so if you are struggling to get work in Canada, this is always an option Stateside.

So what is Seismic?

Check out these video, easier to visualize this process with videos instead of a complex explanation:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxJa7EvYoFI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9ghjrq5pV4

Note that this video simply focuses on "Vibe Trucks" as the primary source of energy. Often times, you will see large trucks with drills on them that drill holes about 100 feet deep underground. Then, they drop in dynamite and plug the hole with bentonite clay. Either way, the surface environment dictates which process will be used. Cannot use vibe trucks in muskeg in northern Alberta or swampy Louisiana for example, only dynamite drilling.

So What Jobs Are Available?

First, understand the process. An oil company (ie, Chevron) will have rights to drill in a tract of land, but may not have confidence on where exactly the oil may be trapped underground. So they will hire a geophysical company (ie CGGVeritas) to run seismic on this land.

Permit agent: These guys are seismic's version of landmen. They get paid well. Their job is to convince landowners to let the seismic process happen on their land as cheaply as possible. They generally have tons of knowledge on landowner law and mineral rights law. Great job for guys with the gift of gab, and are invaluable in places with very complex landowner laws such as in the USA that vary state to state. In Canada, the laws are much more oil-company friendly and people are generally easier to deal with than redneck ranchers in the US, so they are less important in Canada. Usually a third party company.

Surveyor: This is the first step in the geophysical process. These guys are generally employed through a third party company that focuses solely on surveying/geomatics. The oil company rep (generally a geophysicist) plans out a survey model on the land surface. For 3D seismic (the most accurate method), this entails of creating a grid over the tract of land. The vertical lines of the grid may be the 'receiver line' where they lay out geophones, and the horizontal gridlines will be where they plan to have shot points where the vibe truck or dynamite drill will provide the energy source. Surveyors go in with GPS technology and will first map the area for hazards, roads, houses, powerlines, etc, and then mark these source and receiver points along this proposed grid. It often requires a lot of thinking when you are encountered with hazards and how to properly skid points out of the way. You will either do this job on foot, on boats, or quads.
Jobs: Surveyor, surveyor assistant, brush cutter (they cut lines through forests to make it easier for subsequent crews to follow these lines) and flaggers (just marking points and lines with flagging and spraypaint to help subesequent crews follow the grid lines). Surveying is a great job, it pays very well. You often see guys with SAIT diplomas in GIS or Geomatics Technology running these crews, and reporting to geomatics engineers.

Linemen/Jughounds: These guys follow the receiver lines and place the geophones in the surveyed receiver locations. The geophones are connected via extension cords to the doghouse/recorder truck, so the job is pretty physically intensive- tons of stuff to carry around. Employed by the seismic company.

Energy Source: The guys who operate the vibe trucks are generally a one man show, but drilling trucks require a couple of assistants to help jab that dynamite in the holes, and subsequently plug them Employed by the seismic company.

Powder man: This is the dude who transports the dynamite and keeps it under locks in a magazine on site. Very important on dynamite jobs that are near civilization- can't have dynamite accessible to the public! Employed by either a seismic company or is third party.

Teardown Crew: These guys rehabilitate the surface land that has been affected by the process. They clean up flagging, plant trees if the landowner requests it, etc. Employed by the seismic company, these guys often also work as jughounds.

Recorders: Guys who sit in the recorder truck all day and gather the geophysical data. Employed by the seismic company.

Safety: Obviously, a key part on any crew. Generally employed by the seismic company or individual safety companies.

Project Manager: These guys are generally just grizzled veterans of the seismic company with no formal education.

Geophysicist: The top dog, and generally a huge nerd- very math intensive job! You need a Bachelor of Science degree at the minimum to do this job. You are paid big bucks to process and interpret that seismic data. Employed by both the seismic company (processing) and the oil company (interpret the resulting data).

Job Search
The biggest company is CGGVeritas, they are worldwide. But in Canada, you may find work with smaller outfits such as Eagle/TGC or Polaris. However, the best bet may be via contractors. Survey jobs are the best, so look up smaller companies that are involved with surveying, geomatics or GIS. I won't rattle off a bunch of companies because I don't want to piss people off if they aren't hiring, but a search like this:
http://ca.indeed.com/Seismic-jobs-in-Alberta
or things like "surveyor jobs alberta" reveals a decent amount of work. It is a much chiller side of the industry when compared to working on rigs, so if you like being outside but don't want to lose your fingers, it's a good bet!

Anyways, even if you don't have any intentions of working in this side of the oil business then at the very least you may have learned something new today! I just noticed that it had not been covered much on the forum so figured I would add in my two cents. I worked in the surveyor side in my younger days and really enjoyed the experience.

EDIT: just want to add this process is for DEEP hydrocarbon reserves, and is generally not part of the oil sands. It is a global industry though, and used in your more conventional oil zones such as NE BC, Sask and the rest of Alberta...

(02-28-2014 09:35 PM)Zarathustra Wrote:  Man oh man, the most f#&ed up past few days of my life. 12 hour shifts and than binge drinking with a crazy crew and showing up to work with 4 hours of sleep the next day. I've turned into a zombie.

Hahah Welcome to the patch bro. 8 year veteran here (which is actually a long time for around here), she isn't for everyone. Just be careful man. I know from experience when new guys hit that zombie stage (We all have been their), that's were the big accidents happen or even death. Just keep your head on and bail on a few binge nights if you have too. Defiantly don't feel pressured to keep up with these guys (probably the most important thing I tell my new green hands). Whats wild is it was even way worse 5-10 years ago. Not even nearly as tame as it is today.

(03-01-2014 10:32 PM)Snuke Wrote:  

(02-28-2014 09:35 PM)Zarathustra Wrote:  Man oh man, the most f#&ed up past few days of my life. 12 hour shifts and than binge drinking with a crazy crew and showing up to work with 4 hours of sleep the next day. I've turned into a zombie.

Hahah Welcome to the patch bro. 8 year veteran here (which is actually a long time for around here), she isn't for everyone. Just be careful man. I know from experience when new guys hit that zombie stage (We all have been their), that's were the big accidents happen or even death. Just keep your head on and bail on a few binge nights if you have too. Defiantly don't feel pressured to keep up with these guys (probably the most important thing I tell my new green hands). Whats wild is it was even way worse 5-10 years ago. Not even nearly as tame as it is today.

do you know what certs are needed twork a shut down?

Buddy check out the shutdown job you want and see what the requirements are each job will say them.

Quote:do you know what certs are needed twork a shut down?

Best to have First Aid, H2S, fall arrest, Confined Space, WHIMIS as basics to fall back on. Almost everyone requires these. I have also seen some shutdowns ask to also have Petroleum Safety Course, CSTS and fire extinguisher training to.

Been contemplating the move from Ontario for the last couple years but never pulled the trigger do to lack of info/contacts. Got serious and made a couple of "solid" contacts this past summer (both my neighbours) so I figured this would be the perfect time to make the move, cool. So just before xmas I have a solid plan worked out with one of my contacts who wants a ride out as he doesn't like to fly, a 30 year vet Iron worker (contact #1). I get geared up, sell off what's not needed to fatin the bank roll and I'm good to go for the 6am departure... long story short he disappears the day of... fuck! on to contact #2, another 30 year vet now back to work in Fort St John who offered me a heavy equipment operator position. Gave him a ring the same day and he says he wants to retire and pretty much brushed me off with a dead end contact number... double fuck!
Extremely angry, hating humanity and myself for letting this happen I find myself searching the internet for a answer, to what I don't know, I just typed in oil sands and BOOM! 6IN6!. I cant say enough to the contributors of this thread/forum, so informative, slick and comical.
Reading about all these single guys living life, working hard, travelling, fucking girls, making stacks was truly inspiring and totally changed my way of thinking.

I gave myself a couple more weeks of organizing/ partying with friends then I'm out. Regardless of what happens I will #1 enjoy myself and #2 find my calling.

Once again thanks to all the solid peeps in this thread, hopefully Ill be able to make it to a gathering for some dranks

Survived my first week in the patch, couple more days to go... Couple nights at -35~ but it's starting to warm up now. Taking the rig down this week, almost finished with the well. Pretty well eat, work, sleep repeat... haven't eaten this well ever. Breakfast, lunch, dinner buffet hoping to get some more work in before shutdowns but we'll see if I can get another gig or not. Going smoother than I expected! Got on with a good group of guys, everyone's looking out for me and showing me the ropes. Looking forward to payday and what should be my best haul to date $$ wise. Ridiculous amount of hours + overtime + isolation pay.

Thanks to everyone who dropped info in this thread! Wouldn't be here without all the advice given.. Another lifechanger to chalk up to the RVF.