[Cattle Rustler]

Holy fuck, Ford is still in power? That shit is hilarious!

In other news, about to start my hitch in a couple of hours. See y'all fuckers in two weeks when I can start posting again!

[scotian]

The Ford I’m refering to is the famous crack head’s (Rob) brother, the crack head undortunaelty passed away a couple of years ago.

[pants]

26 100' TD.

100 000 000 USD well.

Who got me beaten?

[Soundbyte]

I have a quick question: Is it still easy to get into without a CDL? I am just finishing college, and I want to save up some money before I go back. I have no experience, so I'll take what I can get, honestly.

[rdvirus]

As far as I know the service rigs require a CDL but drilling rigs don't. Hit the pavement in Nisku with all your tickets and look for a leasehand job.

[Cattle Rustler]

If you’re planning on going to college next month then it’s pointless to start looking for a job since it takes a week or two to get started.

You don’t need a CDL but having a permit greatly helps sincerely most companies will want you to get one in 3-6 months. They’ll say they’ll fire you but most won’t since they need hands badly.

You don’t need a CDL to work on a rig. Either way, fuck that. Most guys that go from Frac to drilling return to Frac since it’s more chill and roughnecks who come to Frac stay. Frac and wireline should Be good. Water transfer or pushing sand trucks is easier but honestly there’s no point in coming here if you’re going to make 50-70k with no days off.

The only thing you should ask yourself is whether you prefer 120 degree weather or -60 extremes. Then head to midland, south Texas, Utah, Pennsylvania, or North Dakota. I’ll be transferring next to STX before winter because fuck taking a shit in -20 degree again. Also it aligns more with my sport interests that I can’t practice outside in winter and it’s a short drive from Mexico.

Pants: I’m around that many feet but in MD, not TD.

[Soundbyte]

(07-18-2018 09:18 PM)Cattle Rustler Wrote:  

If you’re planning on going to college next month then it’s pointless to start looking for a job since it takes a week or two to get started.

You don’t need a CDL but having a permit greatly helps sincerely most companies will want you to get one in 3-6 months. They’ll say they’ll fire you but most won’t since they need hands badly.

You don’t need a CDL to work on a rig. Either way, fuck that. Most guys that go from Frac to drilling return to Frac since it’s more chill and roughnecks who come to Frac stay. Frac and wireline should Be good. Water transfer or pushing sand trucks is easier but honestly there’s no point in coming here if you’re going to make 50-70k with no days off.

The only thing you should ask yourself is whether you prefer 120 degree weather or -60 extremes. Then head to midland, south Texas, Utah, Pennsylvania, or North Dakota. I’ll be transferring next to STX before winter because fuck taking a shit in -20 degree again. Also it aligns more with my sport interests that I can’t practice outside in winter and it’s a short drive from Mexico.

Pants: I’m around that many feet but in MD, not TD.

I actually live in the DFW area. I have from mid august till about early January, so I'll have some time to save up some cash.

Thanks for the advice, Ill do some more research and probably drive out to Midland to see if I can attend any hiring events.

[Cattle Rustler]

Oklahoma Is closest for work, but colder. -20 on New Years. 3.5 hours away

Midland gets to like 15 degrees and is a shithole with no culture or life. 5.5 hours away.

San Antonio has warm winters but 5.5 hours away. Midland always has work tho so you won’t have shop or yard days.

Hit up wireline companies. Then do frac as your second choice. You make more money in wireline and don’t work as much, also you’ll get more downtime except when shut fucks up. Frac has more career opportunities down the road but pays less and you’re busting ass more, especially during rig down/up. All wireline does is take down their lubricator, guns and pick up their tools while we’re carrying iron, hoses, and swinging hammers. You’re here to make as much money as possible so WL is the obvious choice. PM for some company leads.

From the wireline hand I’ve chatted with they’re making like 9-10k a month since they’re hourly plus stage bonuses. Frac is hourly only and rarely a company will issue stage bonuses 8k-ish a month. Never apply to Halliburton, cheap bastards.

[christpuncher]

^CR what kinda shift/hours is that wireline work to make 9-10k/month?

[Cattle Rustler]

The usual. 12 hour shifts. 2-1 schedule. The biggest difference what % of the ticket are you’re getting (1-2.5%) of each run. If Frac is running smooth then you can do 3-4 runs each shift. 12 days x 3-4 runs = $$$

Sometimes they only do 1 run or none at all. It’s feast or famine in that bitch.

And If you’re zippering then balls to the wall. One guy I know hasn’t been home in 7 months. He got served divorce papers at the hotel, :/.

[scotian]

^Oil industry lifestyle is a marriage killer! I started a new gig in Ontario, they told me I’d work 40 hours/week and have a “normal lifestyle” unlike out west where the hours are crazy. So now I’m working 4 tens, Monday to Thursday from 6pm to 4am, fucking brutal. I may be heading back out west.

[christpuncher]

Jeez make up your mind Scotian! Haha

4 tens nightshift sounds gay as fuck though...

[Laurifer]

I got a new gig lined up as well. Union, non-oil, in-town, with a fat boost in pay and I'll work consistently rather than on and off. Ton of time off in the winter too. Gotta break it to the guys I'm working with that this is probably my last hitch then I'm outty 5000.

[Kdog]

I am happy to report that the oil patch has rebounded quite a bit. After a 3 year absence I came back to Canada to work in the patch again while it is warm. I decided to go right into the quick money and got myself on with a drilling rig through a buddy who has been in the drilling industry for 5+ years. The amount of jobs out there again is back to levels before the recession. My friend and I had a few days before starting on the upcoming project with the drilling company, and we wanted just to see our options. We drove to Red Deer, and then on to Edmonton. Almost every office we walked into we had job offers on the spot. My friend (who has a class 1) dropped his resume off at a fracking company office in Red Deer, and an hour later he got a phone call and an offer for a fly in fly out gig.
I won't say its back to levels of 5 years ago, but if you hit the ground and have some tickets already, there is tons of high paying gigs around again.

As for my job, I am getting used to the longer days and being outside again since I have been working on a laptop for the past 2+ years. I am already getting quite in shape and enjoying the 'fuck off' banter with the guys I work with. I am making wicked money and also making bank on my $140 a day LOA, living way below my means. I am planning to do this until the end of October/ November before snow fall, and aiming to bank around $30,000+ from now till then. I will keep you guys posted as I would love to bring life back into this thread that has changed many lives and saved many asses.

[Ski pro]

I have no idea about any of the technical terms or industry that you guys are talking about but I love this thread. It sounds like the Wild West.

P.s. you guys are pussies, -20 is nothing

[chicane]

(07-22-2018 03:17 PM)Ski pro Wrote:  

I have no idea about any of the technical terms or industry that you guys are talking about but I love this thread. It sounds like the Wild West.

P.s. you guys are pussies, -20 is nothing

-20C is rather chilly. -20F is downright cold.

[scotian]

-20 isn't too bad, its when its dips below -30 that it gets really chilly, there's even times when cities in Alberta are the coldest on earth which is why I haven't worked a full winter there in eight years.

Fort Sask chillier than the coldest town on earth

Quote:

Fort Saskatchewan is cooler than the coldest continually inhabited town on earth - Oymyakon, Russia.

The Russian town was at -31 C with the wind chill this morning (Dec.29), while the Fort dropped to -45 C.

https://fortsaskonline.com/local/fort-sa...n-on-earth

[Kdog]

Yea fuck winter. -30, no thanks. Last year on Christmas day in my hometown (central Canada), it was -48C with the windchill.

[Cattle Rustler]

(07-22-2018 03:17 PM)Ski pro Wrote:  

I have no idea about any of the technical terms or industry that you guys are talking about but I love this thread. It sounds like the Wild West.

P.s. you guys are pussies, -20 is nothing

I meant -20F (-29C) Brahsef, come to Oklahoma or North Dakota. Actually ND gets to -50C in the winter.

Much of it is not the temperature but the terrain. ND to OK is the Great Plains region, and also the region where the Dust Bowl occurred. So there are no fucking trees, mostly grass....and a lot of wind. -10 with no wind is not that bad, just put on a couple of layers and you're good.

When the wind shows up it's when I start wondering what the fuck I'm doing out here. There's no where to hide from the wind and it gets to your bones. Being that bundled up restricts your arm motion so you can't swing a hammer that efficiently...and your hands get frozen/frostbitten when handling wet hoses.

At least during the last boom we had heated porta potties, this time we get shitters that might have a crease that lets the wind in while you're taking a shit...it gives you a "cool" sensation in your butthole

At least North Dakota and Wyoming have rig/frac locations that are winterized for cold and some have wind walls. Oklahoma locations don't since it's not expected to get that cold...and when it does, the fun starts 'cause you're fucked.

I know you're fucking with me but just wanted to give you and example.

[scotian]

CR, I have an RVF buddy I personally met lately who is an accountant from the NE and he is wondering if there's high paying field positions (non office) for guys like him in the US oil patch?

I figure that a guy would have to spend 6-12 months "on the tools" to get an idea how the company works before transitioning into a field level supervisor job. What are your thoughts?

[Ski pro]

(07-24-2018 03:24 PM)Cattle Rustler Wrote:  

(07-22-2018 03:17 PM)Ski pro Wrote:  

I have no idea about any of the technical terms or industry that you guys are talking about but I love this thread. It sounds like the Wild West.

P.s. you guys are pussies, -20 is nothing

I meant -20F (-29C) Brahsef, come to Oklahoma or North Dakota. Actually ND gets to -50C in the winter.

Much of it is not the temperature but the terrain. ND to OK is the Great Plains region, and also the region where the Dust Bowl occurred. So there are no fucking trees, mostly grass....and a lot of wind. -10 with no wind is not that bad, just put on a couple of layers and you're good.

When the wind shows up it's when I start wondering what the fuck I'm doing out here. There's no where to hide from the wind and it gets to your bones. Being that bundled up restricts your arm motion so you can't swing a hammer that efficiently...and your hands get frozen/frostbitten when handling wet hoses.

At least during the last boom we had heated porta potties, this time we get shitters that might have a crease that lets the wind in while you're taking a shit...it gives you a "cool" sensation in your butthole

At least North Dakota and Wyoming have rig/frac locations that are winterized for cold and some have wind walls. Oklahoma locations don't since it's not expected to get that cold...and when it does, the fun starts 'cause you're fucked.

I know you're fucking with me but just wanted to give you and example.

Fair play to you. I meant -20c, in January were often up there all day in that and it’s so cold your ski boots freeze making it impossible to get them off.

Keep at it, and enjoy the summer, it’ll soon be winter. I’m going to keep checking in on this thread, I have no idea what you’re all doing but I love it.

[rdvirus]

Got a roughneck gig, heading out next week. It's been 4 years since I was out there last. No camp this time around. Should be able to bank some extra dough with the live out allowance...!

[Cattle Rustler]

(07-22-2018 11:46 AM)Kdog Wrote:  

I am happy to report that the oil patch has rebounded quite a bit. After a 3 year absence I came back to Canada to work in the patch again while it is warm. I decided to go right into the quick money and got myself on with a drilling rig through a buddy who has been in the drilling industry for 5+ years. The amount of jobs out there again is back to levels before the recession. My friend and I had a few days before starting on the upcoming project with the drilling company, and we wanted just to see our options. We drove to Red Deer, and then on to Edmonton. Almost every office we walked into we had job offers on the spot. My friend (who has a class 1) dropped his resume off at a fracking company office in Red Deer, and an hour later he got a phone call and an offer for a fly in fly out gig.
I won't say its back to levels of 5 years ago, but if you hit the ground and have some tickets already, there is tons of high paying gigs around again.

As for my job, I am getting used to the longer days and being outside again since I have been working on a laptop for the past 2+ years. I am already getting quite in shape and enjoying the 'fuck off' banter with the guys I work with. I am making wicked money and also making bank on my $140 a day LOA, living way below my means. I am planning to do this until the end of October/ November before snow fall, and aiming to bank around $30,000+ from now till then. I will keep you guys posted as I would love to bring life back into this thread that has changed many lives and saved many asses.

(07-26-2018 01:13 PM)rdvirus Wrote:  

Got a roughneck gig, heading out next week. It's been 4 years since I was out there last. No camp this time around. Should be able to bank some extra dough with the live out allowance...!

I'm surprised one of y'all haven't said "Fuck, Fight, Trip Pipe!" yet.

(07-25-2018 02:09 AM)scotian Wrote:  

CR, I have an RVF buddy I personally met lately who is an accountant from the NE and he is wondering if there's high paying field positions (non office) for guys like him in the US oil patch?

I figure that a guy would have to spend 6-12 months "on the tools" to get an idea how the company works before transitioning into a field level supervisor job. What are your thoughts?

Yeah, there's plenty of positions. Even more positions will open if he gets his CDL Permit, they'll train him to pass the license.

The NE has work (PA/OH/WV) and in need of hands. West Texas has the most opportunities since they'll hire anyone that can pass a hair test and has a pulse. Some companies out here are desperate enough that they hire kids straight out of high school. I used to be an office manager/acct guy so I know it's possible to make it out here in the field.

And that means that if he makes a good hand they'll have him train in the wireline shooters cab by his 8th or 9th month or ask him to become a frac supervisor in training around the same time frame. It happens all the time since the turnover is huge and companies are adding fleets all over the place. My company moved me to the engineering side like 4 months in, and now I can sort of call the frac jobs. The old school guys get upset at this shit because they had to put in years...but those fucks got in during stable times, not booms.

Shit, Halliburton has a yard in the RVF mythical place....Zanesville, Ohio! He could try going there and see if the Zanesville legend is true. But I'll try another company since they pay 13.50 for 90 days then switch you to 16, shitty pay in my opinon. Some places start you at $18-19/hr.

[germanico]

(07-26-2018 02:41 PM)Cattle Rustler Wrote:  

Shit, Halliburton has a yard in the RVF mythical place....Zanesville, Ohio! He could try going there and see if the Zanesville legend is true. But I'll try another company since they pay 13.50 for 90 days then switch you to 16, shitty pay in my opinon. Some places start you at $18-19/hr.

Makes me want to try my luck for a few months across the river.

[Mr_Assmaster]

I've been monitoring this thread for several days now. The amount of useful data here is astonishing. However, it seems like almost everyone who worked there is from either Canada or the US.

Is it even possible to get a job there as EU citizen by applying to various job postings online? I'm assuming that if anyone pulled that off he must have had a trade or previous job experience in the field, but what if I'm simply a muscle without any skills and experience who's not qualified to be anything other than a roughneck? Also, what sites would you recommend?