[Cattle Rustler]

(09-08-2017 11:46 AM)Jnx Wrote:  

It's official. I've become one of those idiots who drops $3k in one night at the strip club or on bottle service in Meatpacking NYC. Blow 1-2 weeks worth of brutal shitty ass labor in the span of a few hours. Really starting to add up now. No self control when I'm drunk.

Only way out is to quit the industry and distance myself from these people or am I forever doomed?

I just did this. Blew half of my check in a weekend. After 5 weeks finally went on days off, I decided that I wanted to have fun because I'm going back to the purgatory this week. Been in driving school the past couple of weeks so I've hardly made any money (10s instead of 16s and no PD) and had to buy winter gear, so hardly any $$$ gainz.

It's weird how many guys come here to make money but end up in the same position since they spend their money going out all the time.

My company sent an email saying they were reducing our per diems...it was eliminated last minute, and they applied it 9 days back. So that's a 10K+ pay cut right there. Housing might get cut too. I came here to make money so as soon as I get that CDL...I'm headed elsewhere.

OKC has cheap rent as well, 3/2s for 600 bucks in some parts. Midland is the only place with higher than average rents right now. Pick Texas because the other states have state income tax and that's another 500-700 bucks you're taxed every month.

Question for you folks:
Have y'all become more appreciative of your time? Do you spend less time tolerating BS?


Since I started working here I started to value and appreciate my time more than ever. I have one week off and my time is counting down so I need to make the most of it. No time for negativity, drama, BS. I'd rather spend my time doing positive things that add value because I'm not getting that time back.

[Lateapex]

You must be working for a major if they’re putting you through CDL school. Do you have any driving exp with a tractor/trailer? I had a permit when I did Frac and when I got laid off I rented a rig and got my CDL within a week of getting laid off. For those wondering, most new guys to the industry gross $60-80k a year depending on rotation, per diem, housing, and what you get into.

[Lateapex]

For anyone wanting to do this in the U.S, get your class A CDL and you’ll get a job within a week in West Texas.

[Gorgonzola]

Can anyone tell me if these mining companies hire RN’s? I’m assuming there are some type of occupational health or safety gigs. I do pretty well as is but am kind of bored and if the pay is there with possibility of being off for a few months I’d love it. Viva Europe! Any thoughts??

[LaFleur]

(09-09-2017 12:04 AM)Jamike_ Wrote:  

Hey, I just finished welding school in May but I've been looking for a job in my area (Louisiana) since February. So my question is how can I get a job in the oil patch and where do I apply.? Such as online or do I have to fly out to Alberta?

Hobbs/Lovington and Carlsbad/Artesia (NM) are all creeping back toward that 2014 pace. Even though oil is $55-$60 right now the activity has jumped quite a bit in the past 3 months.

I can't offer any specifics on how to land a gig, but these are areas you should look at if you are open to travel and don't want to freeze your dick off the next 6 months.

The largest companies have offices in Hobbs (Chevron, Baker Hughes, etc), the medium size companies (Concho, EOG, Oxy, etc) have offices in Carlsbad/Artesia, and there are dozens of 100 man service companies and hundreds of 10-50 man service companies in these 2 counties.

Lots of Louisiana license plates around too. If you use your network effectively you should be able to find a job by Christmas.

[musashi]

The fracking companies in Alberta are hiring entry level and training guys, not to mention paying for their class one. Frac is about to take off here, where as I'm not seeing the same positive news with oilseeds construction. Hopefully some new projects will be announced this upcoming year.

[Cattle Rustler]

How the fuck do you guys survive in this cold weather? It's cold as tits out here in the Great Plains, can't imagine how it is in North Dakota or Alberta. Crazy shit with the wind. Luckily the operator gave us Thanksgiving off and my days off aligned with christmas. Still gotta work NYE and NY though but I've done that almost every year so no biggie.

Oilbreh already mentioned wearing Helley Hansens.

I agree with LaFleur, the activity is poppin'.....but still no stage bonuses, straight 16s, or standard per diem. Some companies will offer one of those but will give you a lower hourly wage, so it's all the same in the end. Look at East Texas (C&J, HAL, Legend, BJs, etc) for entry level frac as well. The yards tend to be east of tyler but most of the fracing is by the LA/TX border. San Antonio area is nice too, Pleasanton and Pearsall. Fuck this cold.

Lateapex: I work for a "medium" sized company. No SLB or HAL here, but our pumps and iron are good unlike some mom-and-pop shops out there. Never drove a truck or a stick before, certainly a nice experience. The pre trip CDL test is a bitch tho.

Gorgonzola: No one is hiring RNs, safety positions require a safety degree or experience and you'll make less money.

[hedonist]

(12-26-2017 05:17 PM)Cattle Rustler Wrote:  

How the fuck do you guys survive in this cold weather? It's cold as tits out here in the Great Plains, can't imagine how it is in North Dakota or Alberta. Crazy shit with the wind.

Try going from -20/40 to +40 back to -20/40.....I don't know why I do it to myself..

[Lateapex]

Been freezing my tail off in the northeast. The under armor cold gear is pretty good stuff. Sounds like performance tech is where you’re at. I lucked out and tested at a place that didn’t make me do the pre trip portion of the test.

[MANic]

This may not be directly relevant to the thread but the Wim Hof method might assist in dealing with the cold. I know it has definitely assisted me.

Good luck and congrats to all those who are making bank. Makes me wish I was in North America and didn't waste my time at uni.

[Jnx]

How to survive in this cold weather?

Head to Texas

[kamoz]

Indeed. God bless Texas.

[Disco_Volante]

I think the older guys who run this industry are mostly sacks of shit. All these independent mudlogging companies & independent drillers are owned by old guys usually over 55 years old who are worth several million dollars and inherited the company from their fathers. Getting them to adapt to a new technology is almost impossible. They're fat and comfortable and have no incentive to care.

I have a new mudlogging system I started when I was 28, I'm 31 now and just now getting traction with it. These older guys have no sense of urgency whatsoever. It takes them weeks just to return emails its infuriating. They're slow to recognize what is going on in the world and how fragile their window to make money really is.

Just simply arranging a conference call with them takes half a month, as retarded as that sounds. They think slow, act slow, and move slow...but lucky for them they were born in the right place and time so their wealth was built already when it was much easier to do.

It's like being old and married just saps whatever ambition they had 30 years ago. Unfortunately they still control everything and you can't really grow or function without their participation.

Some companies like Pason systems understand fully the role of new technologies and why they need to be rapidly put in the field but these other independent companies are complete opposite.

[christpuncher]

You still looking for money investors disco?

[Disco_Volante]

Yea I have a couple I'm talking with at the moment. In December they were really interested asking a bunch of questions then of course the holidays hit so that burned 3 weeks where they check out now I'm finally talking to them again next week. Always a holiday, always a weekend getting in the way. Soon as I get one i'm ruthlessly cutting out the others.

It's kind of like with girls, if they don't show eagerness and enthusiasm they don't deserve to own it as far as I'm concerned but at the moment I don't have leverage.

[eonbre]

Is there any other jobs in remote places that pay really good?

[Kdog]

(01-09-2018 11:52 AM)eonbre Wrote:  

Is there any other jobs in remote places that pay really good?

Rig lease / camp whore.

[MistaaJack]

(01-09-2018 11:52 AM)eonbre Wrote:  

Is there any other jobs in remote places that pay really good?

Could pick a trade like scaffolding, boilermaking, pipefitter etc. If you join the union its pretty easy 20k a month as a journeyman during a shutdown. With full benefits and great pension.

I would recommend pipefitting as a trade, as it pays the most and will be easiest on your body. I would stay clear away from being an ironworker. Personal experience

[tomzestatlu]

Do you have any tips how to actually get the job with no experience? I think I searched a lot, mostly for Norwegian rigs (I am from Europe), but I would like to get more info about opportunities in similar jobs (rigs, sands,...). All the job offerings I found require at least some experience or courses.

[scotian]

^There’s 180 pages in this thread dude, pour a coffee and read the first ten.

[Renton1875]

(01-12-2018 09:12 AM)scotian Wrote:  

^There’s 180 pages in this thread dude, pour a coffee and read the first ten.

Then you will be addicted.

So grab a pen & a pad, then read the next 170 pages taking notes on qualifications, trade tickets, company details/locations, rèsumès, visa's etc.... Not only is all the information there, the stories it's contained within are both uplifting and inspiring for young men looking for an adventure. They also have a fair amount of humour added in.

OP scotian deserves great credit for the time and effort he has given to this thread (not to mention his numerous other data sheets/threads), the information provided has allowed a lot of guys to live very good lifestyles with a bit of cash in the bank, many of them will be eternally grateful for his help. He once had a leprechaun helper too, but he don't come around here no more .

Don't be lazy lurkers, if your serious, read the whole thread. Brent crude scraped the $70 mark today. A four year high. Opportunities could be just around the corner. Get yourselves ready. This thread may be popping up more often in the coming year.

Hail scotian.

[Cattle Rustler]

(12-28-2017 02:18 AM)Lateapex Wrote:  

Been freezing my tail off in the northeast. The under armor cold gear is pretty good stuff. Sounds like performance tech is where you’re at. I lucked out and tested at a place that didn’t make me do the pre trip portion of the test.

Ding ding ding!

(12-31-2017 11:33 AM)Jnx Wrote:  

How to survive in this cold weather?

Head to Texas

Shit, it was -15 in Oklahoma last week and 20 degrees in Dallas. It was colder in OK than in Alaska that day. Coldest temp I've experienced so far.

[rdvirus]

Looks like things are picking up on the drilling side of things. Bunch of companies hiring all positions, even some entry level work out there. Thinking about heading up to Nisku and trying to get on somewhere.. I need to get another ticket or two and finish up a construction project first though. Anyone working a rig?

[Lateapex]

Worked on rigs State side before, Texas and New Mexico to be exact. You got lucky you didn’t end up working with that junk ass universal pressure pumping equipment cattle rustler.

[Cattle Rustler]

(01-14-2018 03:52 AM)Lateapex Wrote:  

Worked on rigs State side before, Texas and New Mexico to be exact. You got lucky you didn’t end up working with that junk ass universal pressure pumping equipment cattle rustler.

Haha well I'm sure you already know what happened between both companies, already dreading it. Had to work on a couple of Quint pumps that we have from the GoFrac acquisition and they're a bitch to work with...I think they're made by "Forum" or some shit like that. Hopefully Universal's aren't that bad.

The worse Frac equipment I've seen out there is FTSI's. Looks like they got some shit together at a garage and bolted it to a flatbed. Everyone I know talks shit about them.

Perf and Nomac were the best places to be at though. SLB is probably the best right now but you have to be a temp first, which is a bitch. Liberty is doing 2/2 with some pay on days off in WTX, 2/1 elsewhere. Have you heard of Stingray? Heard the pay and benefits are good, but it's a new company.

Everything is picking up stateside...drilling, frac, wireline, cleaning portapotties, sand hauling. The wages aren't picking up tho.