Oil Sands: Becoming an MWD
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Irishman,
Thanks a million for all that you've contributed here! More thorough first-hand information in this field doesn't exist, I've searched. I'm polishing up my resume & cover letter to shoot out to DD companies next week applying for MWD field engineer here in Texas. A couple of questions for ya:
- Is there always internet access for MWD and can I connect my personal laptop to do reading/research on?
- "10 minutes work in the last 6 hours." What percentage of the time would you say that it's been that easy going?
- How does food work for you there? Do you always have a full kitchen in the portable building you stay in? Do they bring food to you?
I think that as long as I have internet, I can keep myself occupied. I hear sometimes you get satellite TV, yeah? I hate mainstream TV, but enjoy premium movie channels sometimes. I used to hack FTA receivers to get over 1000 channels including free PPV & porn, but nowadays internet access is required to share keys; we'd probably be a hero in the field if we set that up!
ps, I fucking cannot stand country music, I pray my coworkers don't blast that shit.
Thanks a million for all that you've contributed here! More thorough first-hand information in this field doesn't exist, I've searched. I'm polishing up my resume & cover letter to shoot out to DD companies next week applying for MWD field engineer here in Texas. A couple of questions for ya:
- Is there always internet access for MWD and can I connect my personal laptop to do reading/research on?
- "10 minutes work in the last 6 hours." What percentage of the time would you say that it's been that easy going?
- How does food work for you there? Do you always have a full kitchen in the portable building you stay in? Do they bring food to you?
I think that as long as I have internet, I can keep myself occupied. I hear sometimes you get satellite TV, yeah? I hate mainstream TV, but enjoy premium movie channels sometimes. I used to hack FTA receivers to get over 1000 channels including free PPV & porn, but nowadays internet access is required to share keys; we'd probably be a hero in the field if we set that up!
ps, I fucking cannot stand country music, I pray my coworkers don't blast that shit.
I would just mention don't only look for MWD. For a while i thought that would be the only opportunity for an engineer out in the field.
You guys should also be looking for LWD, Mud-engineer and MPD, and there might be many other services companies deliver.
Schlumberger, Halliburton, Baker Hughes and Weatherford all deliver technology in this field.
You guys should also be looking for LWD, Mud-engineer and MPD, and there might be many other services companies deliver.
Schlumberger, Halliburton, Baker Hughes and Weatherford all deliver technology in this field.
Thanks pants. I chose to focus on MWD because it's inside, lots of free time to do whatever online, it can lead to becoming a directional driller, and managing the electronic tool package is more interesting to me than mud.
Wireline perforating was my second choice mostly because I hear the pay is so great up north, but I'm told that moving up to Wireline Engineer takes a while, plus you're outside half the time and your short "inside" naps are in the trucks cabs with no movies or interwebs!
From what I know about mud-engineers, they do get paid well, but they're still fooling with mud all day; they also have to go to a mud engineering school for a few months. What is their career path like? I've never heard of a Managed Pressure Drilling Engineer; I found a good animation explaining it here: http://www.halliburton.com/ps/Default.aspx?navid=1154&pageid=1136 I have more electronic experience/interest than I do hydraulics.
Wireline perforating was my second choice mostly because I hear the pay is so great up north, but I'm told that moving up to Wireline Engineer takes a while, plus you're outside half the time and your short "inside" naps are in the trucks cabs with no movies or interwebs!
From what I know about mud-engineers, they do get paid well, but they're still fooling with mud all day; they also have to go to a mud engineering school for a few months. What is their career path like? I've never heard of a Managed Pressure Drilling Engineer; I found a good animation explaining it here: http://www.halliburton.com/ps/Default.aspx?navid=1154&pageid=1136 I have more electronic experience/interest than I do hydraulics.
From my phone:
Plenty of internet access although its kind of slow and has 'fap times' (morning and evening shift changes) where it gets even slower. Possible to read online but steaming videos is not as easy.
I used to say the work is very easy and it is but this summer I'm going to step up my game and focus on breaking out. I.e. becoming a lead hand. This means a much bigger effort. It is possible though to have whole days where you really did nothing. All depends on what the drill is doing and how motivated you are to keep yourself busy. otherwise.
Food is either camp - the leasehand will drop in a box twice a day of food from camp OR you cook it all yourself. If its self cooking you get a food allowance. Mine is 50 a day. Great for bulking up and breaks up the day. 4/5 of my jobs I cook myself.
Ya luckily enough every job has had satellite tv. Some alright movie channels but mostly your standard rubbish. Most guys have harddrives with 100s of movies they have watched several times each. After a couple of years you will be an amateur movie critic.
Best of luck finding work man
Plenty of internet access although its kind of slow and has 'fap times' (morning and evening shift changes) where it gets even slower. Possible to read online but steaming videos is not as easy.
I used to say the work is very easy and it is but this summer I'm going to step up my game and focus on breaking out. I.e. becoming a lead hand. This means a much bigger effort. It is possible though to have whole days where you really did nothing. All depends on what the drill is doing and how motivated you are to keep yourself busy. otherwise.
Food is either camp - the leasehand will drop in a box twice a day of food from camp OR you cook it all yourself. If its self cooking you get a food allowance. Mine is 50 a day. Great for bulking up and breaks up the day. 4/5 of my jobs I cook myself.
Ya luckily enough every job has had satellite tv. Some alright movie channels but mostly your standard rubbish. Most guys have harddrives with 100s of movies they have watched several times each. After a couple of years you will be an amateur movie critic.
Best of luck finding work man
This year I'm am thinking a hour each daily of gym, spanish, business reading and general reading and then committing the rest of my day to learning as much as possible about drilling in the hopes of break out when its busier in the winter. Its a combination of you having the knowledge and them (oil company) needing more leadhands to run jobs. Most people break out in the winter season.
Okay, I can see the free time at the computer is nice. But for me personally spending 12 hour at the computer make me little depressed, and I feel much better staying busy having a lot of people to interact with. The mud-engineer is this kind of position as many of the other rig-workers are interested in whats going on with the drilling fluid.
I found this clip on youtube of one of the better installations offshore in Norway.
Don't think I would have any problem staying here for 14 days at the time.
I found this clip on youtube of one of the better installations offshore in Norway.
Don't think I would have any problem staying here for 14 days at the time.
salmonfella
Robin
congrats dude where did y get that?
salmonfella
Robin
Ah no borders dude congrats did you have a degree for that job?
did you have a degree for that job?
I have a bachelor as a mechanical engineer. In order for me to have gotten hired, i think it was necessary. Not because you need all the knowledge, but it gives you an edge over the hundreds of applications for positions like this in Norway.
Yes, stay in there. But i wouldn't focus exclusive on MWD, there might be good opportunities in MUD, LWD and MPD also. Check it out.
I played the CV-database game for quite some time. It's actually been 7 months since i graduated(traveled SEA while applying onine, doing skype interviews). And I was almost certain it was impossible. But I actually did get some response from them all in the end.
If they allow you to upload a custom CV, make sure it looks really clean, maybe some color to lighten it up a little. If you receive hundreds of CV, a messy one will easily be disposed. And do the normal follow up call, bring some question if you can think of them.
I also read this book about doing interview. I honestly think it saved me in my last interview.
http://www.amazon.com/Acing-Intervi...368221468&sr=8-1&keywords=acing+the+interview
After 25 minutes they were already like "Okay then, so we met and had a small chat. NIce to meet you. We'll talk together and give you a call next week. A phone interview will probably do" I really did not get a good feeling from this ending.
Then i had the balls to tell the manager of hundreds of people: "Oh, this went really fast. i would love to hear some more about the organization".I know how important his time is, so this was kind of a big deal to me, asking for more time, very unlike me. And after I kept controlling the interview asking questions at the same time telling good thinks about myself in a subtle way. I would never have the balls to prolong the interview unless i read about it in this book.
One more bold question I asked was: "Is there anything about my background that gives you any doubt about hiring me?"
Then they gave a few points, which I managed to give good answers to. I think its important to really ask this questions, if people don't know, they think the worst.
Then follow up with a thank you letter after the meeting.
I also found out there are private mud schools around the world. This might be a good way if you are aiming to get a job within the smaller contractors.
Yes, stay in there. But i wouldn't focus exclusive on MWD, there might be good opportunities in MUD, LWD and MPD also. Check it out.
I played the CV-database game for quite some time. It's actually been 7 months since i graduated(traveled SEA while applying onine, doing skype interviews). And I was almost certain it was impossible. But I actually did get some response from them all in the end.
If they allow you to upload a custom CV, make sure it looks really clean, maybe some color to lighten it up a little. If you receive hundreds of CV, a messy one will easily be disposed. And do the normal follow up call, bring some question if you can think of them.
I also read this book about doing interview. I honestly think it saved me in my last interview.
http://www.amazon.com/Acing-Intervi...368221468&sr=8-1&keywords=acing+the+interview
After 25 minutes they were already like "Okay then, so we met and had a small chat. NIce to meet you. We'll talk together and give you a call next week. A phone interview will probably do" I really did not get a good feeling from this ending.
Then i had the balls to tell the manager of hundreds of people: "Oh, this went really fast. i would love to hear some more about the organization".I know how important his time is, so this was kind of a big deal to me, asking for more time, very unlike me. And after I kept controlling the interview asking questions at the same time telling good thinks about myself in a subtle way. I would never have the balls to prolong the interview unless i read about it in this book.
One more bold question I asked was: "Is there anything about my background that gives you any doubt about hiring me?"
Then they gave a few points, which I managed to give good answers to. I think its important to really ask this questions, if people don't know, they think the worst.
Then follow up with a thank you letter after the meeting.
I also found out there are private mud schools around the world. This might be a good way if you are aiming to get a job within the smaller contractors.
This whole thing is look really interesting.
I don't have any degree in engineering.
My degrees are all between. international relations/business/management and German.
The only thing setting me apart is management skills as a military officer.
Theres a lot of time between training dates..up to 6-7 months.
Im thinking about doing something like this for a couple months in between assignments
I don't have any degree in engineering.
My degrees are all between. international relations/business/management and German.
The only thing setting me apart is management skills as a military officer.
Theres a lot of time between training dates..up to 6-7 months.
Im thinking about doing something like this for a couple months in between assignments
I got on as an MWD hand with a Texas/Louisiana based directional company; maybe they're a lower paying companies because the pay gets nowhere near 6 figures in 6 months:
Trainee $2000/mo base salary; $85/day rate
Night hand $2100/mo base salary; $110/day rate
Breakout $2400/mo base salary; $175/day rate $75/day gamma $75/day EM tool
Lead hand $2750/mo base salary; $225/day rate $75/day gamma $75/day EM tool $24/day trainee
Senior hand $3300/mo base salary; $375/day rate $75/day gamma $75/day EM tool $25/day trainee
All of these levels are given $40/day per diem and $600/month to use your car plus a credit card for fuel. I think I'll get to breakout or lead pay in 6 months; senior pay is after 2 years. With everything figured in, a lead hand makes ~$450/day. They don't have an option to work as a contract hand. I've been with them since July and plan to start looking at offers from other companies late next spring after I get experience leading jobs. Maybe I should be looking into Canadian possibilities; I'd even be open to working overseas if the pay is significantly more and/or I save a lot on taxes; anyone with have any thoughts about that?
Irishman, can you share more about what becoming a contract hand looks like? Do you have to provide any equipment or carry any kind of insurance? Contracting sound profitable, but some say that you somehow lose more in taxes. Do you think the work will be as steady? Thanks again for all the info you've shared, I'll keep ya updated.
p.s., is anyone using EM MWD tools there?
Trainee $2000/mo base salary; $85/day rate
Night hand $2100/mo base salary; $110/day rate
Breakout $2400/mo base salary; $175/day rate $75/day gamma $75/day EM tool
Lead hand $2750/mo base salary; $225/day rate $75/day gamma $75/day EM tool $24/day trainee
Senior hand $3300/mo base salary; $375/day rate $75/day gamma $75/day EM tool $25/day trainee
All of these levels are given $40/day per diem and $600/month to use your car plus a credit card for fuel. I think I'll get to breakout or lead pay in 6 months; senior pay is after 2 years. With everything figured in, a lead hand makes ~$450/day. They don't have an option to work as a contract hand. I've been with them since July and plan to start looking at offers from other companies late next spring after I get experience leading jobs. Maybe I should be looking into Canadian possibilities; I'd even be open to working overseas if the pay is significantly more and/or I save a lot on taxes; anyone with have any thoughts about that?
Irishman, can you share more about what becoming a contract hand looks like? Do you have to provide any equipment or carry any kind of insurance? Contracting sound profitable, but some say that you somehow lose more in taxes. Do you think the work will be as steady? Thanks again for all the info you've shared, I'll keep ya updated.
p.s., is anyone using EM MWD tools there?
anyone else...been getting into these rotational oil jobs 3 weeks on 1 off type stuff?
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