Post: #76

(10-24-2013 10:58 AM)Aliblahba Wrote:  I'm currently offering resume writing services and career advice for anyone wanting to break into the oil fields or offshore. PM me if interested.

Did you make it to the lone star state?

Post: #77

I used to work for one of the premier companies in the gulf, and lived down there in good ole Houston. In a few months I'll return and cash in on the Odessa oil boom.

Post: #78

Considering the other option (ND), West Texas is looking a hell of a lot better. Lots of girls on POF, and Texas does have good food. A quick search of Hispanic girls:




   



   


   



Texas has had a long standing Mexican population, and the ethinticities usually get mixed by the 2nd/3rd generations. Hispanic/Caucasian is about as good as it gets.

Post: #79

Can anyone just show up in West Texas and work on a rig making $2400 a week with no experience the way they can in ND?

Post: #80

(10-27-2013 02:45 AM)speakeasy Wrote:  Can anyone just show up in West Texas and work on a rig making $2400 a week with no experience the way they can in ND?

Good question. I can ask my brother. He just got on and has another job offer already. He has his CDL though. Also right now it is slow so he is only getting 50-60 hours a week.

I dont know where 2400 a week comes from. Unless you are able to find a comoany who pays 20-25 and giving 100 a week then maybe. Most jobs start you at 15-18 with no experience.

Shitty but easiest job is the hole watch. You watch the hole and/or test for gas for 12-16 hour shifts. Could you imagine getting 17hr just to stand there and stay awake? Third day starts the OT so 23.5hr. I have two buddies who have done it. They hated it.

Post: #81

(10-27-2013 03:50 PM)TexasMade Wrote:  I dont know where 2400 a week comes from.

This dude worked up there and did a video series on his experience. He says he was making 2400 a week after tax as a basic rig hand.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gps8zc3A2...91F803394E

Post: #82

As TM said, entry level jobs are paying 15-18 hr, but some rig hand positions are advertising for 16 hr shifts. I don't know if it is straight 1.5x after 40 hours, or double time comes into play past 50. Big difference. But yes, on $17 hr and only overtime, at 16 hr days, you will gross over $2400.

Post: #83

I just got a job working on the pipline in the midwest. It was dumb fucking luck how I got the gig.

I'm making 20 an hour working 60-70 hours a week, plus 3k a month in per diem.

Networking here seems to be pretty difficult, since there are very few people on this job.

Post: #84

(10-27-2013 06:14 PM)speakeasy Wrote:  

(10-27-2013 03:50 PM)TexasMade Wrote:  I dont know where 2400 a week comes from.

This dude worked up there and did a video series on his experience. He says he was making 2400 a week after tax as a basic rig hand.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gps8zc3A2...91F803394E

Keep in mind the cost of living is pretty high up there.

Post: #85

Im sitting on a frac site as I type making 26hr 96hrs a week. The money is 1k better than the 70hrs a week capped by hours of service when we dont have a frac. Ive been slinging fuel for 2yrs w 60k saved. I see the kind of money a guy can make having thier own truck and I am eyeing that option pretty hard...especially when you can only choose to work 6months out of the year.

Post: #86

Odessa/Midland is where its at right now. Companies are paying $21 hr for mechanics with no experience, up to $37 hr for guys with diverse tech backgrounds. Right now my plan is to be out there early next year, through the fall, then hit NYC, U.K. then on to Dubai. Texas is now what ND was. Get it while the getting is good.

Post: #87

why Dubai?

Post: #88

(11-27-2013 12:47 PM)metalhaze Wrote:  why Dubai?

Dubai is full of money and opportunity, and one of the few places left Americans get a +1 in the job market. To me its centrally located to fly every other month to SEA or Europe, although there is enough to do there not to leave.

Post: #89

(11-26-2013 02:23 PM)Aliblahba Wrote:  Odessa/Midland is where its at right now. Companies are paying $21 hr for mechanics with no experience, up to $37 hr for guys with diverse tech backgrounds. Right now my plan is to be out there early next year, through the fall, then hit NYC, U.K. then on to Dubai. Texas is now what ND was. Get it while the getting is good.

So what happened to ND, they didn't run out of oil already did they?

Post: #90

(11-27-2013 01:03 PM)scotian Wrote:  

(11-26-2013 02:23 PM)Aliblahba Wrote:  Odessa/Midland is where its at right now. Companies are paying $21 hr for mechanics with no experience, up to $37 hr for guys with diverse tech backgrounds. Right now my plan is to be out there early next year, through the fall, then hit NYC, U.K. then on to Dubai. Texas is now what ND was. Get it while the getting is good.

So what happened to ND, they didn't run out of oil already did they?

We're siphoning it out of Canada.

No really, the job market is saturated up there. I only know one guy up there (MWD) that's making money. The rest have had their hours cut and now are paying for housing. I blanketed my resume out earlier this year and only got shit responses from hack companies like Halliburton. That bird has flown.

As far as I know Western PA is still hot with the fracing, but I didn't get any responses until I used a local address.

Post: #91

cool
have you thought about Abu Dhabi ? Qatar ? what field are you looking to get into?

Post: #92

(11-27-2013 05:52 PM)metalhaze Wrote:  cool
have you thought about Abu Dhabi ? Qatar ? what field are you looking to get into?

In Qatar, the pay is high(er) compared to Dubai but you cant switch employers quickly. Its not allowed to move to a guy paying higher than you're making now. You have to get a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from your employer to switch jobs and most dont give it easily. Else you got to leave the country for 2 years and apply again to come back in.

Post: #93

Im finally about done with ND in Feb here..just sticking around to get my 2yrs experience.

The "shale" plays in ND and TX only have a few years left. Here is the scoop:Party is Over

>>>>I believe Art Berman and Bill Powers are two of the best energy analysts who understand the shale industry. Art Berman believes we have maybe 4-5 years left at the Eagle Ford and the Bakken maybe 3-5 years. That is before peak.

Post: #94

(10-21-2013 04:59 PM)Fender_Bender Wrote:  Are there any geologists on RVF ? I have a B.S. in geology from 2008 and have worked in Environmental Consulting (using some aspects of my degree) but the money and the worldwide utility of the skills learned are not so good. I have realized my true goals of independence, travel, and music will require a serious chunk of money and am eyeing offshore rig work as a way to earn money quickly. It seems the jobs available to someone with my background are mudlogging, monitoring while drilling (MWD) and logging while drilling (LWD). Anyone out there doing these jobs offshore and can kick some advice my way? Unfortunately I don't have oil and gas experience and it might hurt me in my job search since I'm now 28, but I hope (and think) the opportunities are out there.

Hey man, I have a geology degree from a Canadian school. I am not much of an expert when it comes to American geo jobs because the expectations and educational requirements are much different for geoscientists between USA and Canada. With just a BSc, you will struggle to get into an office setting for a major player like Chevron, Continental, Exxon etc but mudlogging is an option. In Canada, BSc is generally all you need for an office gig either developing plays or running drilling ops from a geological perspective, however that may change as the job market is really becoming saturated with young geos... Your best bet would actually be to check out some good subreddits and just search terms like mudlogging or wellsite geologist. I like these ones: http://www.reddit.com/r/geology and http://www.reddit.com/r/geologycareers ... probably a better bet to find info on these rather than this site, simply because these are communities absolutely loaded with geologists.


It is quite rough for geologists right now IMO, due to the incredible gains made in drilling technology, many oil companies don't really need geologists because they can now tap into formations that they have known to contain oil for over 50 years, and are only now able to unlock the hydrocarbons within. However, field geology has actually doubled its positions due to horizontal drilling- generally in the past, wellsite geologists would be by themselves and log the entire hole alone and only sleep during bit trips, but now they like having a night shift geologist on site. It is definitely an engineer's game right now!

Post: #95

Anyone I no want to give me a pm?

Post: #96

Can you expand a bit on the tech related opportunities. As complex as rigs are they must need everything from tech support to network guys but I'm having trouble finding info. I also heard tell that some companies hire people to program some sort of automated welders?? But again can't find info.

Also do tech guys have the same chances for overtime, shifts...or is it a salary 8-5 kind of thing.


Scotian, does your friend who got a job still work there? One thing I've always read about mining and oil work is that the burn out rate can be through the roof.

Post: #97

I'm a Petroleum Landman in West Tx.
If you can get into that, it's fairly easy to learn. Problem is, getting into the business. Have to network.
Luckily when I was doing this in Pittsburgh I got a lot of contacts in the industry. I left the industry to get back to Texas. Oil boom hit again in West Tx. My old boss was working in that area. Called her up...got a job the next day. It's BIG money...especially for someone in their 20s like me.

Post: #98

I work on a rig in ND right now. We drill out frac plugs. It's the finishing step after a well is fracked. Plenty of work for my crew. 25 an hour, 90 to 100 hours a week steady. I take home 2500 a week. Haven't heard anything about work slowing down for us. We just finished three wells. My experience here has probably been above average so far.

Just giving my perspective of the scene up here. It's fucking cold.

Post: #99

You guys are talking about fracking and exploration on upstream but have you guys thought about downstream side? There are about 40-50 projects expected to come up between now and 2020 that labor is expected to be a big issue. There are requirements for welders, pipe fitters, excavators etc… for the new LNG, petrochemical plants and pipelines coming up.

As part of my job, we track shortages in labor in North America. The shortage is now primarily in the Gulf Coast region and I know the EPC firms are starting to bulk up on people now to manage these projects.

Post: #100

What's the drill for someone who has no oil industry experience?
In other words: If you could give advice to a newbie, what would it be?

I don't have any welding, engineering, etc experience and it would be good to get some advice on how to start from the bottom considering some of the positioned mentioned need experience.

What should one take to West Texas or the Gulf if they want to work there?