Some guys buy big trucks, others become crack heads, then we have Kick who becomes an amateur ornithologist to deal with the stress of working away from home, whatever works I guess! Man I almost spit my coffee all over my computer screen when I read about your new found hobby. I wouldn't worry too much about the stresses of working out of town, its entirely normal, it affects everyone and is the main reason why every time I meet up with you guys in Etown I end up getting super wasted. The good thing is that you've recognized that it isn't normal for you and you're not too keen on doing it, some guys end up doing it for years and end up fucked in the head but never take the time for self reflection and wonder why they're spending all their money on useless shit, smoking rocks, or chasing birds in the tundra.

You've been at this for over two years now and you're doing fine, you have a ticket (and should go for more of course) and are making good money, if I remember correctly, you have a few weeks off coming up, so take that time to chill and recharge the batteries. If I was you, I'd go hard until the end of the year and then just quit your job and fuck off somewhere nice and warm for 2-4 months and re-evaluate everything. Come up with some kind of plan for the next couple of years, if that includes getting out of the trades and into something else, then that's fine, at least you'll have a couple of tickets to fall back on if you ever need to come up with some quick cash.

What would be the best trade for part time or seasonal work, not just oil field but all over Canada?

I ask cause I'd like be able to pick up seasonal work during the summers and vacation in Mexico for 6 months during the winters. I was thinking maybe Carpentry as most of that type of work is done in the summer months back home. I think all the trades are pretty cool, I wouldn't be opposed to Heavy Equipment OP or something, just as long as my employer would be cool with letting me out during the winter. I don't even know if that's an option... so what are the jobs you can do in the oil field on contract?

Also what are the hardest trades physically and the easiest.. also asking cause had a previous altercation that left my right hand somewhat disfigured, have a knuckle in the wrong place... doesn't really impair using it but I wouldn't want to screw it up twice. The only one that I can kind of see doing that wouldn't require a massive amount of pounding on my hands looks like CNC Machinist or Welding (done MIG previously).

Is anyone here a pipefitter/steamfitter?

Ive read the thread over but cant seem to find that much on it.

Im in edmonton. The pipefitter apprentice jobs say I need experience wtf? Whats the difference between starter and apprentice? They make it sound so difficult

Excellent question ! Thats whats stopping me in either doing a trade like a pipefitter or start a career on the drilling rigs.

If you're going on the weekend let me know Kick, I've done a bit of bird photography before:

http://i.imgur.com/FayvSpn.jpg
(Just blacked out my copyright)

I'm heading to the Stampede this weekend. PM me if you're going too.

@scotian , @tresdus

are you guys thinking what I'm thinking?
Rooshv Oilsands Aspiring Amateur Ornithologist Meetup 2014!?!?

What can I say, the patch has refined my tastes hahah

(07-09-2014 03:16 AM)BadWolf Wrote:  What would be the best trade for part time or seasonal work, not just oil field but all over Canada?

I ask cause I'd like be able to pick up seasonal work during the summers and vacation in Mexico for 6 months during the winters. I was thinking maybe Carpentry as most of that type of work is done in the summer months back home. I think all the trades are pretty cool, I wouldn't be opposed to Heavy Equipment OP or something, just as long as my employer would be cool with letting me out during the winter. I don't even know if that's an option... so what are the jobs you can do in the oil field on contract?

Also what are the hardest trades physically and the easiest.. also asking cause had a previous altercation that left my right hand somewhat disfigured, have a knuckle in the wrong place... doesn't really impair using it but I wouldn't want to screw it up twice. The only one that I can kind of see doing that wouldn't require a massive amount of pounding on my hands looks like CNC Machinist or Welding (done MIG previously).

If you want to work seasonal, then you should look into shutdowns, that's mostly what I've been doing over the past few years and it allows me to travel for several months each year, fortunately there's no shut downs from November until about March so I keep busy from April until late October. The busiest trades during shut downs are the metal trades: pipefitter/steam fitter, welder, boiler maker but also scaffolders who build the staging for the metal trades to work on.

As far as easiest/hardest trades goes, its really hard to say because it depends on the gig. Normally welding is quite labour intensive (especially pipeline welding), but on this job I"m working now, each welder only welds three hours out of a twelve hour shift and the rest of the time they do confined space watch or sit around and sleep and smoke. The metal trades are hard, no doubt, and that includes iron workers, scaffolder can be hard too as they hammer scaffold tubes all day long. One thing about a scaffolder though is that they're never out of work, they are usually the first on site and the last to leave, they're also members of the carpenter's union and have one of the biggest pension contributions of all the trades, I think its $7.25/hour, which is huge, mine is $5.50. Take a look at the Carpenter's union website and look at the "job list" section and you'll see a bunch of positions at various oil sands sites, most are temporary gigs (shut downs and such), so a guy could go work at one site for 2-4 weeks and finish the job then go back to the union and take another job at a different location, this is called "pulling a slip".: http://www.albertacarpenters.com/

I know that industrial insulator is pretty easy, no heavy lifting really, only insulation. Crane operator is easy too, once you get to the JM level and sit in the cab all day doing lifts, the apprentices do the grunt work (as they do in all trades).

(07-09-2014 03:46 PM)alecks Wrote:  Is anyone here a pipefitter/steamfitter?

Ive read the thread over but cant seem to find that much on it.

Im in edmonton. The pipefitter apprentice jobs say I need experience wtf? Whats the difference between starter and apprentice? They make it sound so difficult

Basically you have two options:

#1) Go down to the UA 488 office and tell them that you want to become a pipefitter, call first to ask what you need to bring, I think they may have a test to do, then you go on a list to become a helper. You should have some safety tickets: H2S, confined space, fall arrest, etc, again, ask 488 for more specific advice.

#2) Apply to one of the many non-union contractors (CLAC) who hire pipefitters and try to get on a labourer, tell them you want to become a pipefitter, if they take you on, you'll work a few months busting your ass and impressing the right people (its isn't that hard, really) and if you play your cards right, they'll put you into an apprenticeship. Here's a couple of companies off the top of my head: JV Driver, Ledcor, Kiewit, Clear Stream, etc.

(07-10-2014 07:15 AM)?Kick Wrote:  @scotian , @tresdus

are you guys thinking what I'm thinking?
Rooshv Oilsands Aspiring Amateur Ornithologist Meetup 2014!?!?

What can I say, the patch has refined my tastes hahah

I only bird watch on Whyte Ave bro!

Hi guys, another German reporting in.

I stumbled across this thread in December, got my visa in January and landed two days ago in Edmonton. Thanks to everyone, especially Scotia for providing such valuable information!

If anyone wants to meet for the World Cup Final on whyte ave this sunday just pm me.

Cheers, HamburgerJung

This all looks very interesting. I would like to do it, I have zero background in trades and i'm in my late 20's (if that means anything). I don't have a whole lot of money, so if I wanted to relocate it would be a one way trip. What's the best way I can be successful with finding work at the oil sands?

You can start by reading this thread.

(07-10-2014 11:02 AM)JustJay Wrote:  This all looks very interesting. I would like to do it, I have zero background in trades and i'm in my late 20's (if that means anything). I don't have a whole lot of money, so if I wanted to relocate it would be a one way trip. What's the best way I can be successful with finding work at the oil sands?

(07-10-2014 10:02 AM)HamburgerJung Wrote:  Hi guys, another German reporting in.

I stumbled across this thread in December, got my visa in January and landed two days ago in Edmonton. Thanks to everyone, especially Scotia for providing such valuable information!

If anyone wants to meet for the World Cup Final on whyte ave this sunday just pm me.

Cheers, HamburgerJung

Congrats to making this far HamburgerJung ! Congrats to Germany for raping my team aswell haha !

As for people still wanting to come out here; its simple; book a flight straight to Edmonton with atleast 3000CAD, book the Hi Edmonton Hostel for atleast a week (approx 230CAD) and Kijiji your way to jobs ! I'm flying out there again on the 9th August, and was just looking at basic Labourer jobs, and almost all of them pay around $20-$26 with 50-70hrs per week, paid weekly, and some even pay cash daily !

My foreman once told me, if you cant find a job in Alberta, then you have to be the biggest dumbass in the province, or a raging crackhead

(01-26-2012 01:53 AM)scotian Wrote:  Hey Americans, I forgot all about this place, you guys have your own Fort Mac style boom town in you own back yard, Williston North Dakota!

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/26/us/nor...wanted=all

The Bakken oil field (which stretches into Canada) is huge and crazy busy now, if you really want to get into the oil biz, why not move there, get the experience and make some good, quick cash then explore other options, such as working in Canada. Remember, if you want to come to Canada, the visa process can be a very loooong one, it could be a year or more before you get one!

One thing though, this is a different type of oil than we have in Fort Mac, its mostly rig work there if I'm not mistaken, Fort Mac is oil sands mining with on-site upgraders and refineries, I personally would never work on an oil rig!!!

Thanks for the lead. Will look into it.

(07-10-2014 08:23 AM)scotian Wrote:  

(07-10-2014 07:15 AM)?Kick Wrote:  @scotian , @tresdus

are you guys thinking what I'm thinking?
Rooshv Oilsands Aspiring Amateur Ornithologist Meetup 2014!?!?

What can I say, the patch has refined my tastes hahah

I only bird watch on Whyte Ave bro!

Some very fine female specimen of the Homo sapiens sapiens species walking around there.

(07-10-2014 12:46 PM)PakiRambo Wrote:  

(07-10-2014 10:02 AM)HamburgerJung Wrote:  Hi guys, another German reporting in.

I stumbled across this thread in December, got my visa in January and landed two days ago in Edmonton. Thanks to everyone, especially Scotia for providing such valuable information!

If anyone wants to meet for the World Cup Final on whyte ave this sunday just pm me.

Cheers, HamburgerJung

Congrats to making this far HamburgerJung ! Congrats to Germany for raping my team aswell haha !

As for people still wanting to come out here; its simple; book a flight straight to Edmonton with atleast 3000CAD, book the Hi Edmonton Hostel for atleast a week (approx 230CAD) and Kijiji your way to jobs ! I'm flying out there again on the 9th August, and was just looking at basic Labourer jobs, and almost all of them pay around $20-$26 with 50-70hrs per week, paid weekly, and some even pay cash daily !

My foreman once told me, if you cant find a job in Alberta, then you have to be the biggest dumbass in the province, or a raging crackhead

What an inspirational post, thanks.

(07-10-2014 10:02 AM)HamburgerJung Wrote:  Hi guys, another German reporting in.

I stumbled across this thread in December, got my visa in January and landed two days ago in Edmonton. Thanks to everyone, especially Scotia for providing such valuable information!

If anyone wants to meet for the World Cup Final on whyte ave this sunday just pm me.

Cheers, HamburgerJung

Welcome to Edmonton. I would love to meet up in Whyte Ave and watch the game, but I will be wearing a Messi jersey

(07-10-2014 07:15 AM)?Kick Wrote:  @scotian , @tresdus

are you guys thinking what I'm thinking?
Rooshv Oilsands Aspiring Amateur Ornithologist Meetup 2014!?!?

What can I say, the patch has refined my tastes hahah

Out of curiosity how do you actually go about it. Do you randomly walk around looking for birds or is there certain times/places/trees for each bird. I got a pidgeon who keeps shifting on my outdoor bbq if ya want somewhere to start ha.

One thing I'd like to point out about the carpentry trade is everyone seems to think we all work with wood. I haven't touched a 2x4 in years.

It's all prefab metal gang forms or peri style form-work which is akin to building Lego blocks. The framing side of things is all steel stud sheathed with exterior composites similar to dri-wall. Even interior finishing has moved towards metal cladding or in the very least cement/MDF panels, mouldings...etc.

Doors, hardware, railings, etc...all metal.
Exteriors, all metal cladding or cement composites such as hardie plank/panel/shingle.
Roof coverings for commercial/industrial...metal clad.

The Carpenter of today rarely touches ANY wood let alone drives any nails since there are so many fire related issues involved with commercial/industrial structures.

Now if you're a residential house carpenter...then ya, sure you'll be banging together wooden finger joint studs and sheathing with cornflake panels such as OSB...But I don't think this thread would be of any help to you if that was your intention.

Just wanted to state the carpentry trade is much more involved than driving nails into wood.

(07-10-2014 08:13 PM)vanisle Wrote:  One thing I'd like to point out about the carpentry trade is everyone seems to think we all work with wood. I haven't touched a 2x4 in years.

It's all prefab metal gang forms or peri style form-work which is akin to building Lego blocks. The framing side of things is all steel stud sheathed with exterior composites similar to dri-wall. Even interior finishing has moved towards metal cladding or in the very least cement/MDF panels, mouldings...etc.

Doors, hardware, railings, etc...all metal.
Exteriors, all metal cladding or cement composites such as hardie plank/panel/shingle.
Roof coverings for commercial/industrial...metal clad.

The Carpenter of today rarely touches ANY wood let alone drives any nails since there are so many fire related issues involved with commercial/industrial structures.

Now if you're a residential house carpenter...then ya, sure you'll be banging together wooden finger joint studs and sheathing with cornflake panels such as OSB...But I don't think this thread would be of any help to you if that was your intention.

Just wanted to state the carpentry trade is much more involved than driving nails into wood.

Thanks for the informative post, I'll admit that I was one of those people who just assume carpenters work mostly with wood but it does make sense that there isn't much wooden structures on an industrial job site. I've never actually meet very many carpenters out in the oil sands, just the scaffolders who are in the union, but I imagine, just like any other trade that carpenters are in pretty high demand in Alberta. One benefit that carpentry has over other trades (such as pipefitter, crane operator, etc) is that if you get sick of working in the oil biz, you can always do residential carpentry, there's always people building houses somewhere, or you could also do commercial work. Same with plumbing, a plumber can do industrial, commercial and residential as well, something to think about if you're considering a trade.

So, I have been doing some research and been asking a few questions from people on the topic of Well testing/Production testing operators. Now most of the company ads that I have seen, they pay a day rate of $250 to operators, $300-350 to lead hands. Some Jack also told me, that If you are an operator, and own a truck, they will pay you $200 per day extra for the use of that truck with the company. Now im not too sure if thats true or not, but if anyone here has been in well testing or knows about it, can you shed some wisdom on this ?

Also the other way to confirm this would be the individual company itself. Before making myself look like a fool and just cold calling companies and demanding a $200 per day for my truck, I think it would be safe to have some information form a reliable source.

I get 85 a day for my truck (to just sit there) and 95 cent per km when I drive anywhere.

200 a day seems a little high but probably not too far off the mark. If the truck has specialised equipment I would say they could demand that figure if not I doubt it.

Yea that pretty much makes sense. What are you doung out there now Atlantic ? If im not mistaken, you were an MWD a couple of forum pages ago haha Thats how i have started to track time of people from here

Ya im still an MWD. Ive covered my job so I only really post about other stuff now.

I was working in Well Testing before.
200$ is correct.
You get 100$ Truck Allowance for every field day and 1$ per km (minimum 100km) for every field day.
If you're towing the shack or a Flare Stack you get a bonus.
You don't need any specialized equipment, just a radio

Just the Supervisor get paid for the Truck, not the Operator. As an Operator the Supervisor picks you up at the company shop and you go together to site in his truck. Maybe there are a few exceptions.

(07-11-2014 01:50 PM)PakiRambo Wrote:  So, I have been doing some research and been asking a few questions from people on the topic of Well testing/Production testing operators. Now most of the company ads that I have seen, they pay a day rate of $250 to operators, $300-350 to lead hands. Some Jack also told me, that If you are an operator, and own a truck, they will pay you $200 per day extra for the use of that truck with the company. Now im not too sure if thats true or not, but if anyone here has been in well testing or knows about it, can you shed some wisdom on this ?

Also the other way to confirm this would be the individual company itself. Before making myself look like a fool and just cold calling companies and demanding a $200 per day for my truck, I think it would be safe to have some information form a reliable source.

There's all kinds of different jobs that pay for guys' trucks, and more. I have a friend who used to do surveying in northern Alberta and he'd get about $200/day for his truck then $100 for each of his two quads (4-wheeler ATVs) which he used in the summer and the same rate for his two snow machines (sleds) that he used in the winter, he also got paid for the two chainsaw's he's bring up, but not sure how much. By going the independent contractor route, you can do this more often and also do a lot of business tax write offs.