(10-15-2014 03:19 PM)scotian Wrote:  

(10-15-2014 02:44 PM)WesternCancer Wrote:  forum meet up on Friday anyone ?

Ya lets have a meet up, I need to get really drunk. To the guy above wanting to know if he can get a gig up north with his missus, ya I suppose it could work but I've never encountered a guy/girl team like that, you sure you want to take your girl up in the patch where hundreds of guys are gonna be trying to fuck her all day long? good luck

haha I can handle them trying to fuck her, but I wouldn't want to be around to see their attempts. We don't want to work side by side as a team or even for the same company necessarily, we just want to eventually be on the same rotation. I just don't want to be working for a company and let's say I'm working 2 weeks on and 1 week off and shit hits the fan and they need me to work 3 weeks in a row and then all of a sudden our weeks off are opposite. So I'm wondering if rotations often get shifted, or if they are pretty much set in stone?

Sorry to bring all this relationship type shit to the table lol. I know it's irrelevant to 99% of ppl on here, but you guys are still the best source of information there is, so any feedback is appreciated!

(10-16-2014 05:34 PM)JustinS Wrote:  

(10-15-2014 03:19 PM)scotian Wrote:  

(10-15-2014 02:44 PM)WesternCancer Wrote:  forum meet up on Friday anyone ?

Ya lets have a meet up, I need to get really drunk. To the guy above wanting to know if he can get a gig up north with his missus, ya I suppose it could work but I've never encountered a guy/girl team like that, you sure you want to take your girl up in the patch where hundreds of guys are gonna be trying to fuck her all day long? good luck

haha I can handle them trying to fuck her, but I wouldn't want to be around to see their attempts. We don't want to work side by side as a team or even for the same company necessarily, we just want to eventually be on the same rotation. I just don't want to be working for a company and let's say I'm working 2 weeks on and 1 week off and shit hits the fan and they need me to work 3 weeks in a row and then all of a sudden our weeks off are opposite. So I'm wondering if rotations often get shifted, or if they are pretty much set in stone?

Sorry to bring all this relationship type shit to the table lol. I know it's irrelevant to 99% of ppl on here, but you guys are still the best source of information there is, so any feedback is appreciated!

The thing is the ratios are 10 to 1 or even higher. Even if she doesn't sleep with someone on the side or leave you right away, there are bound to be consequences.

It's going to be a massive ego stroke for her. A girl in the oilsands is a least 2 points higher than she would be in the city. So an 8 becomes a 10 and a 9 or 10 becomes a unicorn. Women who work in the oilsands are forever changed. They can get all the dick they want any time they want it. They get treated like they are the last woman on the planet.

I certainly wouldn't bring my girlfriend/future wife any where near the oilsands.

Everyone, meet up at the Pint on whyte like usual. Scotian's gona be there at 8pm, see everyone tomorrow.

This thread has fallen to the second page! Did everyone drink poison Koolaid at the meet up or something?

^^^I don't remember much of the meet up because as usual, I got shit faced and can't recall the fine details. I know that a few new guys showed up and that was great, I encourage the newbies to come out and meet us all to network. I also remember telling off VP, sorry about that man, I was a bit harsh, then we all left to another bar. Thankfully, we have a sober RVF Oil Sands crew member who never drinks and he filled me in on the rest of the night, apparently I convinced a chick to show us her titties on the street and that fucker got her digits, he 's probably putting the bone to her now. Like I said, I can't remember anything else but it was a good night and I look forward to partying with you crazy bastards again. I'm off to South America in two days to escape this Siberian waste land for another season but look forward to seeing you guys in the future and wish the best of luck to you all....you need it, oil dropped $20 in the last 2 weeks....good luck suckers!!!

(10-21-2014 01:02 AM)scotian Wrote:  ^^^I don't remember much of the meet up because as usual, I got shit faced and can't recall the fine details. I know that a few new guys showed up and that was great, I encourage the newbies to come out and meet us all to network. I also remember telling off VP, sorry about that man, I was a bit harsh, then we all left to another bar. Thankfully, we have a sober RVF Oil Sands crew member who never drinks and he filled me in on the rest of the night, apparently I convinced a chick to show us her titties on the street and that fucker got her digits, he 's probably putting the bone to her now. Like I said, I can't remember anything else but it was a good night and I look forward to partying with you crazy bastards again. I'm off to South America in two days to escape this Siberian waste land for another season but look forward to seeing you guys in the future and wish the best of luck to you all....you need it, oil dropped $20 in the last 2 weeks....good luck suckers!!!

The meet up was good! You're a wild boy Scotian!

Hey guys, haven't posted since last fall. I've been in Edmonton a year now, yes I pussied out and got a job in town haha. Coming here was the best choice I ever made though. Having trouble getting a new work permit but everything else has worked out for me thus far, where theres a will theres a way right? Cheers.

^^^^Nothing wrong with stucking around the city, I did it for two years and a lot of the original RVF oil sands guys who moved out here at first did the same. I recommend doing exactly that, getting used to Alberta, making friends and meeting women, get some tickets and experience before chasing the big dollars up north, that time will come. Of course, there's nothing wrong with going up north and doing camp work right away but its not an easy adjustment, I'm glad I stayed in the city at the beginning.

(10-10-2014 01:46 PM)scotian Wrote:  

(10-10-2014 01:39 PM)WesternCancer Wrote:  Sweet, I looked at a couple youtube videos. Seems pretty interesting. I would always hang around the maintenance dudes at work, looked hard at times but I like figuring out how shit works. My uni math/physics should definitely help. Told the guy I could come in at 2 but no reply back yet. Its in nisku. Google maps says it should take 30 mins, but if my experience with driving around here is anything then it'll be like 5 hours because I'll take a wrong turn and end up in red deer or something.

It pretty easy to get to Nisku man, if you see the airport, then you've gone too far! Edmonton is probably one of the easiest cities in Canada to get around in, unless you venture off into one of those far off suburbs.

(10-21-2014 01:02 AM)scotian Wrote:  ^^^I don't remember much of the meet up because as usual, I got shit faced and can't recall the fine details. I know that a few new guys showed up and that was great, I encourage the newbies to come out and meet us all to network. I also remember telling off VP, sorry about that man, I was a bit harsh, then we all left to another bar. Thankfully, we have a sober RVF Oil Sands crew member who never drinks and he filled me in on the rest of the night, apparently I convinced a chick to show us her titties on the street and that fucker got her digits, he 's probably putting the bone to her now. Like I said, I can't remember anything else but it was a good night and I look forward to partying with you crazy bastards again. I'm off to South America in two days to escape this Siberian waste land for another season but look forward to seeing you guys in the future and wish the best of luck to you all....you need it, oil dropped $20 in the last 2 weeks....good luck suckers!!!

She's not replying to me Should have just gone with her that night when she was all over me... But work at 8am on a Saturday with 4 hours of sleep was hard enough.

Thanks for this thread, a lot of useful informations.
Being at work, I can't read it all right now and have a lot of questions:

- Scotian often mentions that this work is not made for everyone and even compares it to prison.
I lived 1 month in Togo (humanitary mission) and had to stay with 10 nice people all the time, day AND night (1 room only in the house).
After 3 weeks it drove me almost insane, I needed to be alone.
I'm someone who needs private time and space outside of work: is this possible in these camps, or will I be surronded by people 24/7?

- I'm a 31 y/o french informatic engineer (Bac +5), worked during 4 years on Linux environments and used Shell scripting to automatize tasks: nothing to do with oil sands.
Do you think my profile could still be interesting to these companies?
I spent some time on their websites, looking at who they want to hire, and it seems to me they're searching for quite specialized people (what I'm not).

- About the money: I'm actually making 44K a year and the salaries exposed here are very attractive.
To be honest, I'd be the main (only?) reason for me to expatriate.
I don't spend much money to live and after a few calculations, I found that working there for around 10 years would be enough for me to stop working.
Do you think sticking around for this long is doable, or that it drains a man too much?

Thanks for your answers and have a good day.

Latan you need to give us a Togo datasheet, never heard of anybody that went there, members on here always want to read about an ''unknown'' place''.

(10-22-2014 06:49 AM)pitt Wrote:  Latan you need to give us a Togo datasheet, never heard of anybody that went there, members on here always want to read about an ''unknown'' place''.

With pleasure.
Being new here, just tell me what people would want to know about this country.

Can I take for example this thread?
http://www.rooshvforum.com/thread-37150.html

(10-22-2014 06:53 AM)Latan Wrote:  

(10-22-2014 06:49 AM)pitt Wrote:  Latan you need to give us a Togo datasheet, never heard of anybody that went there, members on here always want to read about an ''unknown'' place''.

With pleasure.
Being new here, just tell me what people would want to know about this country.

Can I take for example this thread?
http://www.rooshvforum.com/thread-37150.html

Yes but you can write it in your own way. Tell us what the girls look like, how easy are they, how are foreigners received there (whites or blacks), cost of living, infrastructure, is there a strong middle class? I am not sure how developed is Togo so you may want to come with an unique datasheet, just write anything that you think members will find valuable.

Also, do they speak french on the daily basis or their own dialect? Etc.

(10-22-2014 06:36 AM)Latan Wrote:  Thanks for this thread, a lot of useful informations.
Being at work, I can't read it all right now and have a lot of questions:

- Scotian often mentions that this work is not made for everyone and even compares it to prison.
I lived 1 month in Togo (humanitary mission) and had to stay with 10 nice people all the time, day AND night (1 room only in the house).
After 3 weeks it drove me almost insane, I needed to be alone.
I'm someone who needs private time and space outside of work: is this possible in these camps, or will I be surronded by people 24/7?

- I'm a 31 y/o french informatic engineer (Bac +5), worked during 4 years on Linux environments and used Shell scripting to automatize tasks: nothing to do with oil sands.
Do you think my profile could still be interesting to these companies?
I spent some time on their websites, looking at who they want to hire, and it seems to me they're searching for quite specialized people (what I'm not).

- About the money: I'm actually making 44K a year and the salaries exposed here are very attractive.
To be honest, I'd be the main (only?) reason for me to expatriate.
I don't spend much money to live and after a few calculations, I found that working there for around 10 years would be enough for me to stop working.
Do you think sticking around for this long is doable, or that it drains a man too much?

Thanks for your answers and have a good day.

I think one thing that needs to be emphasized is that you don't start out working in camps straight away, nor should that necessarily be your aim right off the bat (as Scotian's mentioned before as well). Now you could end up in camps while you're being trained in whatever trade you choose, but that's dependent on your trade and luck I guess (good or bad depending on how you see things).

I'm like you, I like being alone (a little too much). So far I've managed to avoid camps, but they're not that bad. You will get your own room, but bathroom/showers are shared usually (best case scenario is sharing b/in only two people). The camps can be very noisy too. I've stayed put in Edmonton for 1.5 years, but I'll be starting the nomadic life sooner than later it looks like. Even then I might luck out and manage to stay in hotels instead of camps.

In the end though, moving out here is a fantastic choice if you haven't got much going on where you are and need a change. You'll find a way to carve out a little something something for yourself and you'll manage to create a new comfort zone for yourself after a while.

(10-22-2014 07:11 AM)pitt Wrote:  Yes but you can write it in your own way. Tell us what the girls look like, how easy are they, how are foreigners received there (whites or blacks), cost of living, infrastructure, is there a strong middle class? I am not sure how developed is Togo so you may want to come with an unique datasheet, just write anything that you think members will find valuable.

Also, do they speak french on the daily basis or their own dialect? Etc.

Done:
http://www.rooshvforum.com/thread-41583.html

(10-22-2014 07:34 AM)Nima Wrote:  I think one thing that needs to be emphasized is that you don't start out working in camps straight away, nor should that necessarily be your aim right off the bat (as Scotian's mentioned before as well). Now you could end up in camps while you're being trained in whatever trade you choose, but that's dependent on your trade and luck I guess (good or bad depending on how you see things).

I'm like you, I like being alone (a little too much). So far I've managed to avoid camps, but they're not that bad. You will get your own room, but bathroom/showers are shared usually (best case scenario is sharing b/in only two people). The camps can be very noisy too. I've stayed put in Edmonton for 1.5 years, but I'll be starting the nomadic life sooner than later it looks like. Even then I might luck out and manage to stay in hotels instead of camps.

In the end though, moving out here is a fantastic choice if you haven't got much going on where you are and need a change. You'll find a way to carve out a little something something for yourself and you'll manage to create a new comfort zone for yourself after a while.

Thanks for your answer.
I'll take the time to read all Scotian has written, it seems there's much more information that I need to gather.

Hello all!

Want to start my first post by saying a thank you to Scotian for starting this thread and for all the others that have helped to keep it going. I wish that I had found it 2 years ago rather than 3 months. I am just saving up for the trip out west right now. I plan to hit E-town some time in Feb. Should be great weather then, not that Scotian will be feeling it is South America. Hopefully Oil prices will be rebounding in the new year so projects will not be put on hold.

The one question I do have is if anyone knows about how good the Grande Prairie Job Fair is? The next one is on Feb 25th. Is that too early in the year to get anything in short order - as someone without any Oil sands experience and no union trade(other that installing commercial PTAC units - air conditioners for hotels rooms mostly - both non-union and non-oilsands)

Of course as I indicated, lots will depend on the price of oil. I will swing by about 2 weeks before the fair to make sure I get all my certs in order, plus the licence turnover from Ontario(yeah another Ontario fool invading the sands - by what else to do)

While there has been great info in the thread, from the basic finding a room, pounding the beat, setting up a licence, to Atlantic's resume tips, any more advise is always appreciated!

Thanks again guys for all your contributions.

Cheers
MW

Guys. I need your advice on getting education in petroleum.

My aim is to get MWD positions in Alberta.

I hold a mechanical engineering degree from Turkey. I've been working on tanker vessels for more than 5 years. And the last 2 years of it with Chevron.

I will be moving to Edmonton in March or April. I know it will not be a good time to get a job in drilling, but I have to be there in April at the latest, as my visa's expiry date is end of April.

I will ask my company soon about getting a position in their Canadian projects when I get there and I hope they will consider me. But I am trying to shape a Plan-B, in case they will not consider me.

As I've read the whole thread, I can get in a company with an MWD position without taking a course at a school.

But some Canadian friends of mine advise me to take a course or master's program to get a job easily, because I don't have a Canadian degree or Canadian work experience. So, I am thinking to register a school in 2015 as a plan-B.

So, which school can you advise me to get an engineering related position in Alberta lateron? The petroleum engineering programs at NAIT and SAIT are 2 years, as I've checked. But the masters program at Memorial University is 1.5 years and it is a master degree. But NAIT and SAIT are in Alberta, just in the middle of industry. What do you think about these schools? Should I put my time and money on Alberta schools or well recognized Memorial University?

I am thinking to register a school until spring 2015 and I will be trying to find a job during selection period until fall. If I find an engineering related position in industry, I will cancel my registration with the school.

I would appreciate all your comments. Thanks in advance..

NAIT and SAIT are definitely good schools. I know that the Power Engineering Technology program is another good one. Steam and power engineers are among the most in demand positions in the oilfield.

I'm sure a Master's degree would look great on your resume as well though, so I'm not sure which way you should go.

^^^
what are your long term goals?
a masters in petroleum might land you a nice office job. MWD is like 1/1000 jobs you can do. I suggest just trying to get a job, get some field exp, then go to school. that way when you get your stuff you are ahead of classmates. You dont even really need a degree for mwd or any field positions. Wireline, coil, frac engineer, mud, frac tools.

(10-23-2014 08:02 AM)Darius Wrote:  NAIT and SAIT are definitely good schools. I know that the Power Engineering Technology program is another good one. Steam and power engineers are among the most in demand positions in the oilfield.

I know power engineering is in demand in Canada. But that position is very similar to my current position, which involves maintenance and repair, as I've searched. Frankly I am quite bored with maintenance part after having worked on tankers for more than 5 years. I want to get involved more in operational side. Thank you for the advice..

(10-23-2014 02:54 PM)oilbreh Wrote:  ^^^
what are your long term goals?
a masters in petroleum might land you a nice office job. MWD is like 1/1000 jobs you can do. I suggest just trying to get a job, get some field exp, then go to school. that way when you get your stuff you are ahead of classmates. You dont even really need a degree for mwd or any field positions. Wireline, coil, frac engineer, mud, frac tools.

Office jobs are not my priority, at least will not be until I get 45 years old. I am definitely interested in field positions. And as I've read in this thread hundreds of times, there is no need for degree for many of those positions, I know. However, I am always concerned about getting my first job as a new immigrant, even if I will be applying for oil field positions, which are in high demand.

Thank you guys for your comments. Appreciated..

@slowokan They won't give two shits about the masters degree...are you sharp? are you committed? can you work long hours?

You have a great undergrad degree + experience. You only need a strong ethic (and lack of alcohol/drug problem) and you'll be sorted.

(10-23-2014 04:13 PM)sammybiker Wrote:  @slowokan They won't give two shits about the masters degree...are you sharp? are you committed? can you work long hours?

You have a great undergrad degree + experience. You only need a strong ethic (and lack of alcohol/drug problem) and you'll be sorted.

Thank you sammybiker. I am very sure I have those qualities. On tankers we always work minimum 12 hours a day. And no Sundays. Non-stop working for at least 3 months. One of my contracts was 9 months straight and another one was 7.5 months. Being away from home would not be a big deal for me.

No drugs. And as for alcohol, I drink a few times a month. The tanker I've been working on is a dry ship. No alcohol for 3 months.

I think I have everything to get a job there. I just wanted to hear from you experienced guys. Thank you very much..

I'm working in BC, not Alberta, but most of it is transferrable. Skip the masters and apply yourself fully to the job market with the skills and education you have already. Good luck.

(10-23-2014 04:22 PM)slowokan Wrote:  

(10-23-2014 04:13 PM)sammybiker Wrote:  @slowokan They won't give two shits about the masters degree...are you sharp? are you committed? can you work long hours?

You have a great undergrad degree + experience. You only need a strong ethic (and lack of alcohol/drug problem) and you'll be sorted.

Thank you sammybiker. I am very sure I have those qualities. On tankers we always work minimum 12 hours a day. And no Sundays. Non-stop working for at least 3 months. One of my contracts was 9 months straight and another one was 7.5 months. Being away from home would not be a big deal for me.

No drugs. And as for alcohol, I drink a few times a month. The tanker I've been working on is a dry ship. No alcohol for 3 months.

I think I have everything to get a job there. I just wanted to hear from you experienced guys. Thank you very much..

what kinda tankers are these anyway? transport? boilers? refinery? I would suggest sticking in the same path if possible, will make it easy to find a job. All oil field jobs are pretty boring really. First couple months after you learn it you end up doing the same thing over and over again.

(10-23-2014 05:48 PM)oilbreh Wrote:  

(10-23-2014 04:22 PM)slowokan Wrote:  

(10-23-2014 04:13 PM)sammybiker Wrote:  @slowokan They won't give two shits about the masters degree...are you sharp? are you committed? can you work long hours?

You have a great undergrad degree + experience. You only need a strong ethic (and lack of alcohol/drug problem) and you'll be sorted.

Thank you sammybiker. I am very sure I have those qualities. On tankers we always work minimum 12 hours a day. And no Sundays. Non-stop working for at least 3 months. One of my contracts was 9 months straight and another one was 7.5 months. Being away from home would not be a big deal for me.

No drugs. And as for alcohol, I drink a few times a month. The tanker I've been working on is a dry ship. No alcohol for 3 months.

I think I have everything to get a job there. I just wanted to hear from you experienced guys. Thank you very much..

what kinda tankers are these anyway? transport? boilers? refinery? I would suggest sticking in the same path if possible, will make it easy to find a job. All oil field jobs are pretty boring really. First couple months after you learn it you end up doing the same thing over and over again.

Not really, in a sense yeah, but I get to see some cool shit every day. I've worked pretty much on everything from small vessels to towers that are worth a couple of millions. If you want to there's jobs where you'll do different stuff all the time.