Leak in a unit tripped it and had a cascading effect on other units. We are nearing the end of a turnaround and some of the units in similar trains are yet to be started up.

(05-16-2015 01:13 AM)scotian Wrote:  ^^^WTF happened at Syncrude, did something blow up?

I have 5 tickets trained up from a company named CSTS (UK). This includes confined spaces in a dangerous environment several miles underground without easy access/egress.

First aid, fire control and height access through cable are some of the others.

I won't get them until I do the job this autumn but are these recognised across anglo countries? With a orientation period ofcourse for the local area.

They're land and marine related.

(05-17-2015 04:28 PM)Foolsgo1d Wrote:  I have 5 tickets trained up from a company named CSTS (UK). This includes confined spaces in a dangerous environment several miles underground without easy access/egress.

First aid, fire control and height access through cable are some of the others.

I won't get them until I do the job this autumn but are these recognised across anglo countries? With a orientation period ofcourse for the local area.

They're land and marine related.

Nope. Most tickets for the oilsands based companies are OSSA. But if you were hired here, the companies would pay for your tickets and orientations.

^^^Syncrude has had some serious maintenance issues in the past but chaos equals cash and as long as no one gets hurt, unscheduled shut downs or fuck ups like that are good money makers!

Anyone here part of local 146 boilermakers by any chance?

Someone told me about this song up in the oilsands....
Kinda describes the lifestyle at work AND days off
ROFL @ the video still

Calgary/Alberta based forum with a thread on becoming an MWD. Good read for cats looking to get into it.

http://forums.beyond.ca/st2/looking-for-...genumber=1

Hello everyone, finally posting on here after 4 months. I came across this post back in December and have been lurking in the background ever since. I've got about a third of the way through the this thread so far and read the newer updates regularly.

It's brilliant... and thanks Scotian for getting the ball rolling on such an epic thread and everyone else who has contributed. I especially liked following atlantics posts from Ireland to getting there and get the job. As I'm still only a third of the way through (I will finish, its more time consuming then expected but good stuff , I haven't met a lot of you yet but it's all been great.

Like many of you I'm going to make the move over (all based on this thread). It will be in early 2016 though, as I have a lot to organise to get in there. I live in Ireland which is my home, but I was born in England so I have and English passport. My English passport will not let me on a working visa because I'm 32 and you have to be under 30. However because of my Irish heritage I'm entitled to an Irish passport and they allow entry on a working visa up until 35. So thats what I'm in the process of doing now. The working visa's are all taken now too, so I'll have to wait until February 2016 (plenty of time to finish the thread haha).

So I'm looking to come over for the long run. My rough plan at the moment is to get as many as the safety tickets first and then to get a level 3 and/or 5 truck driving licence. But what I really want to do is be a plumber and to get into some kind of apprenticeship or training program over there. But from what I've been reading it can be quite hard for a European to get into something like that over there, so thats why I'm looking to get a truck licence first and there seems to be a lot of work for drivers. I'll be 33 when I head over but I'm very fit and able. Are there many of you out there who started an apprenticeship at 33?? I'm thinking I'm a late comer but it will be worth it in the end and you can work anywhere as a plumber.

So I'm not asking for info that I know is on this thread (as I'll finish it over the summer), really appreciate what all of you have put up, it's amazing.
Just want to know, what do you guys think of my plan??

Thanks again everyone

As an Irish person you can't do any of the apprentice programs until you have PR. That takes around 3 years. I tried myself when I wanted to become a welder.

I will be heading back north in about three weeks. It will be like I am starting again since I have to renew all my courses and probably pick a new profession. I will keep ye guys posted on how it all goes. I am thinking about landscaping or construction till the winter comes but no fixed plans yet.

(05-23-2015 07:12 AM)Jae Wrote:  Hello everyone, finally posting on here after 4 months. I came across this post back in December and have been lurking in the background ever since. I've got about a third of the way through the this thread so far and read the newer updates regularly.

It's brilliant... and thanks Scotian for getting the ball rolling on such an epic thread and everyone else who has contributed. I especially liked following atlantics posts from Ireland to getting there and get the job. As I'm still only a third of the way through (I will finish, its more time consuming then expected but good stuff , I haven't met a lot of you yet but it's all been great.

Like many of you I'm going to make the move over (all based on this thread). It will be in early 2016 though, as I have a lot to organise to get in there. I live in Ireland which is my home, but I was born in England so I have and English passport. My English passport will not let me on a working visa because I'm 32 and you have to be under 30. However because of my Irish heritage I'm entitled to an Irish passport and they allow entry on a working visa up until 35. So thats what I'm in the process of doing now. The working visa's are all taken now too, so I'll have to wait until February 2016 (plenty of time to finish the thread haha).

So I'm looking to come over for the long run. My rough plan at the moment is to get as many as the safety tickets first and then to get a level 3 and/or 5 truck driving licence. But what I really want to do is be a plumber and to get into some kind of apprenticeship or training program over there. But from what I've been reading it can be quite hard for a European to get into something like that over there, so thats why I'm looking to get a truck licence first and there seems to be a lot of work for drivers. I'll be 33 when I head over but I'm very fit and able. Are there many of you out there who started an apprenticeship at 33?? I'm thinking I'm a late comer but it will be worth it in the end and you can work anywhere as a plumber.

So I'm not asking for info that I know is on this thread (as I'll finish it over the summer), really appreciate what all of you have put up, it's amazing.
Just want to know, what do you guys think of my plan??

Thanks again everyone

That's a class 1 or class 3 driving license. I suggest class 1, it'll allow you to become a oilfield services operator, specific services like wireline allow you to get PR, while others do not. Also being a truck driver by itself doesn't get you PR. Getting the class 1 should cost 3000-10000CAD depending how good you are.

Hopefully by next year oil will be back up so they'll start hiring again for the services.

(05-23-2015 10:11 AM)Jack Of All Trades Wrote:  That's a class 1 or class 3 driving license. I suggest class 1, it'll allow you to become a oilfield services operator, specific services like wireline allow you to get PR, while others do not. Also being a truck driver by itself doesn't get you PR. Getting the class 1 should cost 3000-10000CAD depending how good you are.

Hopefully by next year oil will be back up so they'll start hiring again for the services.

A truck driving license is handy to have, one thing to be on the look out for is the major service companies (when times are good....) will usually hire you on, and send you to get your license for free. I got my class 3 through work last May, cost about $2300 (work paid...) and honestly I'd likely start with that. Class 1 takes longer, costs more, and there is a medical you need to keep up, but naturally you earn more too. At least for wireline, class 3 was all you needed. Also some guys at work would moonlight around town driving for cash on their days off, ~$300/day. Even looking now I see some ads on Edmonton kijiji for class 3 drivers.

As for actually getting on with the service companies, now probably isn't the time. The place I was at is down to about 40% what it was, though they really targeted 5 yr + guys because we cost more. A couple guys laid off moved into safety roles, but also keep in mind coming from a super specific service role limits what you can do going forward, unless you want to do Wireline/MWD-DD/Fracing your whole life.

http://fuelfix.com/blog/2015/05/14/repor...-comeback/

Trades > Oilfield

expect a lot of plants with oil and gas feedstocks to start ramping up

"With access to cheaper feedstocks, U.S. plastics producers are beefing up their plants and preparing to produce more plastic, much of which will be shipped to Asia, Latin America and Europe, the council said. Between 2014 and 2030, net exports of plastics leaving the U.S. are expected to triple from $6.5 billion to $21.5 billion, according to a report by Nexant Consulting cited by the chemistry council."

"Overall, plastics industry investments are expected to generate 127,000 new high-paying jobs, the report said. Workers at plastics materials plants, on average, earn $85,000 per year"

It seems the best title for the thread would be:

Working in the Alberta Trades: 6 figures in 6 months!

(05-25-2015 03:55 PM)Cattle Rustler Wrote:  It seems the best title for the thread would be:

Working in the Alberta Trades: 6 figures in 6 months!

Ya pretty much, all ticketed tradesmen who I know are working steady now. I came back early from a job up north a couple of days ago and let my company know that I was available for work as I didn't want to sit around for the next ten days, the next day they put me on a job in Edmonton making the same money I did at the job I just left and the crew I'm working with doesn't want to let me go back up north!

Here's a trailer for what will likely be an interesting video about the "tough times" we are having in the Alberta oil patch: https://news.vice.com/video/albertas-boo...er-trailer

What bank do you guys use ?

Every time I go to my bank to do something it's like I'm in a Used car dealership

A few weeks ago I go in there to ask about tfsas and to ask about some account that popped up on my online

Manager comes in spends 30 Mins trying to sell me the better banking packagE. To do an rrsp / tfsa going. Credit cards galore checks for mortgage eligibility. Etc etc

I got a new credit card that's basically the same as the one I had but with 1% cash back... No downside

Replace my debit card with a new one

Free overdraft protection even though I'll never need it

Then they start firing paperwork at me trying to get me to sign shit without reading it. I read a few things and don't sign because I didn't want that

One of the things was credit card insurance. I never carry a balance and itll cost me every month. I specially refused it... 6 other times previously after they hounded me with phone calls in years past. Gonna go back and they'll probably try to sell me something else I don't need

I find TD/Canada Trust to be a decent bank. Lots of locations, very convenient working hours (nights and weekends), and the employees are generally fine. Their account minimums went up recently, which is a pain, but maybe the other banks did as well (I haven't compared).

(05-21-2015 04:28 PM)hedonist Wrote:  Someone told me about this song up in the oilsands....
Kinda describes the lifestyle at work AND days off
ROFL @ the video still

I saw David Wilcox at an outdoor show in St.Albert a few years back along with washed up 90s band 54-40, it was a good time, if you guys want to see ol' Cox play he's coming to Etown on June 13th: http://edmonton.cnty.com/showroom/showro...ng-events/

http://forums.redflagdeals.com/fly-colom...s-1742247/

500$-600$ to colombia on google flights from most canadian cities I tried june 6-19. For anyone who wants to take a break.

I've been with RBC for a very long time now. To say the least I LOVE them. Their customer service is great on the phone and also in person, except for couple branches in Edmonton where some of their employees have attitude, which doesn't surprise me because having attitude is the norm for customer service in Edmonton. I have a TFSA account with them but their stock platform is horrendous, the TD platform is easier to navigate through, other than that the RBC service is up to par imo.

Long time Rooshv lurker here.

I wanted some advice as a UK chemical engineering student graduating this coming July. I already finished all my exams and at minimum I'm expecting a 2:1, which I believe is roughly a 3.5 gpa. I was wondering is it was worth pursuing a graduate scheme in Canada and if it was actually possible. I've read (skimmed rather) through the thread but I have yet to come across graduate making the trip to canada. I am looking for a role in oil and gas or petrochem but these industries aren't as dominant in the Uk as they are in canada, hence my interest in emigrating. I would appreciate some advice from the experienced people of rvf.

Should be back in two weeks. If anyone wants to meet up post or PM me.

Jack of all Trades get in touch if you are stopping off in Bogota on the way down here.

Rig count is pretty poor at the moment...

http://www.caodc.ca/rig-counts-drilling-dr-month

The Vice video Alberta's Boom Time Hangover has been released and you can watch it here: https://news.vice.com/video/albertas-boom-time-hangover

Its worth a watch but paints an incomplete picture of the oil industry in Alberta by focusing too much on the lack of drilling activity but doesn't mention much about the oil sands, which account for the majority of oil being piped south. However, Vice did also release a written piece on the situation in Fort McMurray and it mirrors what I've been saying about the situation, mainly that there's much less construction going on but still there is quite a bit of work for guys like myself who work in maintenance, you can read that article here: https://news.vice.com/article/in-the-hea...vicenewsfb

Work seems to be picking up at the Ironworkers Local 720. There also seems to be 100 new guys wanting to get in.

(05-29-2015 04:33 PM)scotian Wrote:  The Vice video Alberta's Boom Time Hangover has been released and you can watch it here: https://news.vice.com/video/albertas-boom-time-hangover

Its worth a watch but paints an incomplete picture of the oil industry in Alberta by focusing too much on the lack of drilling activity but doesn't mention much about the oil sands, which account for the majority of oil being piped south. However, Vice did also release a written piece on the situation in Fort McMurray and it mirrors what I've been saying about the situation, mainly that there's much less construction going on but still there is quite a bit of work for guys like myself who work in maintenance, you can read that article here: https://news.vice.com/article/in-the-hea...vicenewsfb

The trades are pretty self regulating in terms of job prospects.

In certain industries, they've simply stopped taking apprentices, but there's still work for journeyman or other ticketed workers...For now.

Years ago I would have helped friends jump in the trades, now I feel it's a tall order to get hired as an apprentice with no prior experience.