Cased hole wireline...Schlumberger vs. Weatherford

[drew_goring]

Does anybody have any experience with either or both? Which one is "better" as far as working conditions, etc. go.

PM me if you want. Thanks.

[Graham_A_M]

Hey Drew. I do. hahaha. Even though I've told you shit loads already. - Cheers mudda fukka :thumbsup:

Both are very good, although I'd pick SLB over Weatherford in a heartbeat, since the training happens to be worlds better.
Weatherford is great, as well dont get me wrong, but SLB can (potentially) offer international contracts, Weatherford? not too sure, but I've been told otherwise.

[deep_Fried_Dog]

Schlumberger will send you around the world if they need you. I use Weatherford for my wells and they do a good job.

I hear more horror stories from the schlum guys who have gone 72 hours without sleeping, but that happens usually more with open hole logging.

I'm actually at the rig right now.

[Supa Dexta]

what do you do^?

[Graham_A_M]

Originally posted by deep_Fried_Dog
Schlumberger will send you around the world if they need you. I use Weatherford for my wells and they do a good job.

I hear more horror stories from the schlum guys who have gone 72 hours without sleeping, but that happens usually more with open hole logging.

I'm actually at the rig right now.

yeah I pulled a 36 hour "day" once. God Fucking GOD was I tired, especially when your the new guy doing all the work. The dispatchers dont seem to understand that their staff is composed of humans rather then robots, and we need sleep. :banghead: :banghead:

[broken_legs]

Originally posted by Supa Dexta
what do you do^?


Project geologist?

I guess it depends on what kind of contract that company has with Weatherford.

Like shell uses SLB every time regardless




for the OP, I'd go with SLB. Do your 2-3 years and if you dont quit you're pretty much guaranteed a nice gr 11 office job somewhere or a good start with oil company doing petrophysics or something.

[deep_Fried_Dog]

I'm a drilling/completions engineer. Geologists don't usually make the call on the logging companies...they just analyze the open hole logs that come in.

Yeah the logging hands have it pretty crappy. If something goes wrong we keep em around until the problem is solved. So the sleep they get will be in the truck ha. I get my own shack so I kinda feel bad for them....sometimes.

[Graham_A_M]

Originally posted by broken_legs



Like shell uses SLB every time regardless



Yeah Shell & SLB are bed-buddies. We (used to as I'm no longer with SLB) buy our fuel at a ridiculous discount, as in pennies per liter, since we do so much logging for Shell projets, its kind of "scratch my back, I'll scratch yours" sort of thing.

[accord885]

I'm working Open Hole for Tucker now... Really I like it and sure as an engineer you can be up for 36 hours but as an operator you have to go by your DOT log books so unless you get really creative with the books you'll get some sleep.

[adamc]

I worked for an unnamed company doing top drive work, was up 43 hours straight doing a top drive swap.


Probably one of the worst nights/days/nights/days of my life too, actually having to fucking PUT OUT the whole time to get an old top drive rigged out, new one rigged in, then since we couldn't get the new one to work we had to trouble shoot it.

Finally made the call to rig the new one BACK OUT and rig the old one up again.


I was actually puking from lack of sleep / stress / etc at the end of it all, sucked balls.




I could definitely pull a 30 hour shift looking at a monitor in the back of a wireline truck.. :whocares:

[broken_legs]

Originally posted by adamc
I worked for an unnamed company doing top drive work, was up 43 hours straight doing a top drive swap.


Probably one of the worst nights/days/nights/days of my life too, actually having to fucking PUT OUT the whole time to get an old top drive rigged out, new one rigged in, then since we couldn't get the new one to work we had to trouble shoot it.

Finally made the call to rig the new one BACK OUT and rig the old one up again.


I was actually puking from lack of sleep / stress / etc at the end of it all, sucked balls.




I could definitely pull a 30 hour shift looking at a monitor in the back of a wireline truck.. :whocares:


OK Hero.

:thumbsup:

[Crymson]

Originally posted by deep_Fried_Dog
I'm a drilling/completions engineer. Geologists don't usually make the call on the logging companies...they just analyze the open hole logs that come in.

Yeah the logging hands have it pretty crappy. If something goes wrong we keep em around until the problem is solved. So the sleep they get will be in the truck ha. I get my own shack so I kinda feel bad for them....sometimes.

At my shop, it's totally different. Geologists are totally in control of who they log with.

I *prefer* weatherford, because you get better loggin eng's through them, but when it comes to tool technology, you're somtimes forced to go with schlum.

If you do log with weatherford, make sure you get some steak spice, It's sweet.

[adamc]

I'm no rig hero, but the masturbation while drilling dudes have absolutely nothing to complain about.


Same goes for wireliners.


:poosie:

[USED1]

Originally posted by adamc
I'm no rig hero, but the masturbation while drilling dudes have absolutely nothing to complain about.


Same goes for wireliners.


:poosie:

Fuck you are a loser. You think you are some O&G hotshot or what, you know fuck all.

[adamc]

hahahahahaha

[broken_legs]

Originally posted by adamc
hahahahahaha


I don't think anyone got involved in this thread so they can compare d*cks with you Hero.



This one time, in Top Drive Camp, I had to work 150,000,000..... Hours..


:whocares:

[Graham_A_M]

Originally posted by adamc
I could definitely pull a 30 hour shift looking at a monitor in the back of a wireline truck.. :whocares:

Sure Adam, thats all I was doing is operating the winch, nothing else. No rig ups or rig downs, none of that. :rolleyes:
I just stayed in the comfy logging cab and watched others....

You bet:thumbsup:

[accord885]

Originally posted by Crymson


At my shop, it's totally different. Geologists are totally in control of who they log with.

I *prefer* weatherford, because you get better loggin eng's through them, but when it comes to tool technology, you're somtimes forced to go with schlum.

If you do log with weatherford, make sure you get some steak spice, It's sweet.

Ever have tucker out to a well you were doing? Just wondering how we stack up... I think at least our truck does a pretty good job.

[adamc]

man you guys are sensitive eh?


can't take a little friendly ribbing, I'm just having fun and swapping stories.


definitely serious business around here, especially that process engineer who I'm just guessing has never seen a rig floor in his life.





I worked rigs for 6 years, from singles to huge triples, from the NWT, to whistler, to Halifax.

From green as grass lease hand to being offered drilling jobs.

In shitty weather and in great weather.

Then I worked service side for a bit, and now I sit in an office and am happier than ever.

:whocares:

[USED1]

^Actually I've spent quite a bit of time in the field. Prior to going into Engineering I worked as an Instrument Tech and operated oil/gas wells for two years.

Not all Engineers come out of school with zero field experience, thanks for coming out though... HERO

[adamc]

You're still just a pencil pusher

[USED1]

Originally posted by adamc
You're still just a pencil pusher

And you are a wannabe bit salesman, what's your point?

[Rat Fink]

.

[Crymson]

Originally posted by accord885


Ever have tucker out to a well you were doing? Just wondering how we stack up... I think at least our truck does a pretty good job.

I've never used tucker -- and it's like what you say, it's about the individual truck, and it seems that weatherford trucks have a stronger sense of duty than the schlum trucks. Unfortunately, we do not get to pick our logging crews, just companies.

I assume you work down south, and I do not, I don't know what tucker has out of GP, i would assume they have an office though.

[accord885]

Originally posted by Crymson


I've never used tucker -- and it's like what you say, it's about the individual truck, and it seems that weatherford trucks have a stronger sense of duty than the schlum trucks. Unfortunately, we do not get to pick our logging crews, just companies.

I assume you work down south, and I do not, I don't know what tucker has out of GP, i would assume they have an office though.

Ya I'm out of the Med Hat office but I rarely work there as there are very little gas wells being drilled down there I spend a lot of time out on CNRL and Devon jobs towards Cold Lake and that area... Spending the winter with Laracinia up in for Mc.

Do head up to GP once in a while to cover a well for them.

[broken_legs]

Originally posted by Rat Fink
Wireline on Hibernia was a sweet gig.

I barely worked there. Equipment would come in on a shipping container. The cranes wouldn't run if there was fog, or high winds, so if I needed the container moved onto a lower deck so I could rig up....sometimes it would be a week long wait until I started working. haha. Making full day rate every day I was out there, working or not.

Wireline can be a huge PITA sometimes. Days when you're perforating and setting off 30 guns in a day, all in separate runs. You bust your ass. Bond logs...eh, not so much. haha

Worked for an un-named shithole company, and also with Ultraline.


Doesn't SLB have the contract for Hibernia?

[Graham_A_M]

Originally posted by Crymson


I've never used tucker -- and it's like what you say, it's about the individual truck, and it seems that weatherford trucks have a stronger sense of duty than the schlum trucks. Unfortunately, we do not get to pick our logging crews, just companies.

I assume you work down south, and I do not, I don't know what tucker has out of GP, i would assume they have an office though.

The thing about these one or two district companies is primarily the condition, selection and age of the tools, as it becomes a practicality issue. These smaller companines (typically) have older tools, ones that SLB would have retired YEARS ago, Hense the information typically isn't as accurate, and due to the age, failure(s) are more common.
both are very serious things I've found, as those three alone make a big difference to the rig managers (/landing contracts). But yeah the bigger the company, the more apathy towards individual jobs , as it becomes just a number (and a bigger bonus) in the end... Smaller companies are much more careful of not ruining contracts. As we've come dangerously close multiple times to losing very VERY big contracts. :banghead:
(stupidity, tired-ness and lack of training were to blame)

Its too bad some of these tools (or at least the ones that SLB used) cost up to $400k per tool, so I can understand the costs involved:( , especially considering that the SLB (openhole)wireline trucks are typically lugging around $800k-1.5 million dollars worth in tools at any moment.
:eek:

[Supa Dexta]

Keep it down guy's I'm trying to watch a movie.... :burnout:

Top drive camp! Thats good times that place... :rofl:

[Crymson]

THe next guy who pisses on the samples gets the beats.

[legendboy]

:rofl:

[adamc]

I tell my roughnecks just to fill 'em up from the dirt on the lease.

[accord885]

Originally posted by Graham_A_M


The thing about these one or two district companies is primarily the condition, selection and age of the tools, as it becomes a practicality issue. These smaller companines (typically) have older tools, ones that SLB would have retired YEARS ago, Hense the information typically isn't as accurate, and due to the age, failure(s) are more common.
both are very serious things I've found, as those three alone make a big difference to the rig managers (/landing contracts). But yeah the bigger the company, the more apathy towards individual jobs , as it becomes just a number (and a bigger bonus) in the end... Smaller companies are much more careful of not ruining contracts. As we've come dangerously close multiple times to losing very VERY big contracts. :banghead:
(stupidity, tired-ness and lack of training were to blame)

Its too bad some of these tools (or at least the ones that SLB used) cost up to $400k per tool, so I can understand the costs involved:( , especially considering that the SLB (openhole)wireline trucks are typically lugging around $800k-1.5 million dollars worth in tools at any moment.
:eek:

Ya not many people know this but Tucker is actually a rather large company and we design all of our own tools in Tulsa, OK. Tucker is really big in other country like Trinidad where they are a full service company from drilling to completions.

We seem like one of the smaller companys here but really as far as our Technology and Data were one of the good guys. ;)

[Supa Dexta]

reverse engineering.. theres a reason so many small companies came out with modern tools so quickly.. Let the big guys do the work, then reap the benefits..

[Rat Fink]

.

[drew_goring]

SLB it is!

Thanks guys.

[chathamf]

Do these companies hire guys who just have rig experience? Or is there a technical course of some sort you need?

I work on the rigs and would be interested in switching over to Wireline work, but it seems technical.

[drew_goring]

Originally posted by chathamf
Do these companies hire guys who just have rig experience? Or is there a technical course of some sort you need?

I work on the rigs and would be interested in switching over to Wireline work, but it seems technical.

I am pretty sure the wireline operators are just hired off the street, but you need a 2 year diploma or degree to be a specialist/engineer with them.

[broken_legs]

Originally posted by chathamf
Do these companies hire guys who just have rig experience? Or is there a technical course of some sort you need?

I work on the rigs and would be interested in switching over to Wireline work, but it seems technical.


You could probably get a job as an MWD with SLB with rig experience.

Should be able to get a job with one of the smaller guys with no schooling no problem.

[Supa Dexta]

Most of the smaller guys won't look at you for mwd without one of the big guys training you it seems.

[Graham_A_M]

Originally posted by chathamf
Do these companies hire guys who just have rig experience? Or is there a technical course of some sort you need?

I work on the rigs and would be interested in switching over to Wireline work, but it seems technical.

You bet they do.

and yes the work is UBER technical, but if you have a good attitude, you'll be fine. Honeslty. Just have a good work ethic and you'll do fine.... thats what separates the sought after personelle from the people that get fired. Its great that you've worked on the rigs, as you'll know the "rig-up and rig-down" procedures in no time at all... trust me. And those are critical as fuck ups are not tolerated... knowledge of how to rebuild "tools" will come in time.... but those are the senior wireline operators responsbility primarily. But if you can "woo" your wireline crew with a fast & effective rig up & rig down, you'll earn more 'brownie points' then you'd believe off the start.
My old co-worker was a former motorman. In hardly any time he was a senior operator for wireline, and taking home $15k a month as a single operator (normally there are two operators).

[chathamf]

Originally posted by Graham_A_M


You bet they do.

and yes the work is UBER technical, but if you have a good attitude, you'll be fine. Honeslty. Just have a good work ethic and you'll do fine.... thats what separates the sought after personelle from the people that get fired. Its great that you've worked on the rigs, as you'll know the "rig-up and rig-down" procedures in no time at all... trust me. And those are critical as fuck ups are not tolerated... knowledge of how to rebuild "tools" will come in time.... but those are the senior wireline operators responsbility primarily. But if you can "woo" your wireline crew with a fast & effective rig up & rig down, you'll earn more 'brownie points' then you'd believe off the start.
My old co-worker was a former motorman. In hardly any time he was a senior operator for wireline, and taking home $15k a month as a single operator (normally there are two operators).

Thanks for the info. Any idea what starting wages are/work schedules & starting pay?

[mslbebiz]

Originally posted by chathamf


Thanks for the info. Any idea what starting wages are/work schedules & starting pay?

I had an offer to go wireline on a 15/6 (pretty standard) schedule. Without going into details, because I don't remember them all anyhow, I would have made $75k + in the first year.

[Graham_A_M]

Originally posted by chathamf


Thanks for the info. Any idea what starting wages are/work schedules & starting pay?

I think I've went through this several times before in other Schlumberger threads... but I'll type it up again.

Base salary is $2500 a month. You get that if you go to a 1 job in the whole month, or not a single one, or perhaps multiple jobs a day..... everyday. Thats the minimum you'll always get.

Over on top of that, you get job bonuses. Basically the staff (wireline truck crew) gets 2-3% of the job bonus. So with the average job being around $20k-$30k per logging visit.
So lets say 3% of $40,000 is $1200. That $1200 divided by three people is $400. Thats (basically) what you get per day, per job.
However the engineer makes more then the operators do, so it would be more like $600 for the engineer, and $300 for each of you two. Basically everyday you can expect to make around 200-500++ per job (gross NOT net). If there are two people instead of three (as only very competant operators are allowed to go by themselves, normally its one engineer, one very experienced operator, and one junior/apprentice operator.)
However advanced operators can go as "Single O" (short for single operator) so its lets say $1500/2. or the engineer gets $800 and the operator makes $700.

When my old (former motorman) co-worker was going as a single O, he was netting (not grossing) $15k a month for Jan, Feb, march & April. But Q1 (meaning first quarter) is always like that, as after spring break up, it slows down significantly. So the lions share of the money is to be made in Q1.

When I started this one year in August, I was getting $6k net/month. If I was still there in the spring, I would have probably netted $10k/month for the Q1 time.

If your interested, call up Luis Moria at the Schlumberger Whitecourt division. 1-780-778-3925
http://yellowpages.ca/bus/Alberta/Whitecourt/Schlumberger-Wireline/1407048.html

Tell him you'd like to work in Cased hole preferbably. They dont make as much as open hole, but you only work in the daytime, and your (almost always) home everynight. Unlike open hole where you can be packing in 1 hours notice, and be gone for a week like I did at times. Which really takes a toll on you over time. :thumbsdow
its not bad work, and good pay, but they took me out of the field because I'm a type 1 diabetic, and they thought (thanks to all these idiot diabetics out there); that I was a ticking timebomb, and would have some serious medical problem at the lease, so after being demoted to shop work, I left. If it wasn't for that, I'd still probably be doing it though. :dunno:

Its possible to have jobs that go past $80k.. some up to $250k. Those pay idiotically well, particularily if their on a Stat holiday, as you can make well over a grand a day at times. However the thing that determines the amount of money the job will cost is the sort of tools required for the job, and depth of the well, and the kind of logging they need. If you were to use almost every tool in your wireline truck to log a given 3,000 meter well, and log almost the whole thing, THAT would be HUGE job bonus for you, as that would be a $80-90k job. There are some other absolute shit jobs (such as the ones around Red Earth Creek) that you'll hate in no time. :banghead:

[mslbebiz]

Tell him you'd like to work in Cased hole preferbably. They dont make as much as open hole, but you only work in the daytime, and your (almost always) home everynight. Unlike open hole where you can be packing in 1 hours notice, and be gone for a week like I did at times. Which really takes a toll on you over time.

That's pretty much why I didn't take that wireline job I was offered... almost entirely open hole, lots of nights (mixed with days and the most sporadic, unhealthy schedule you can imagine), plus gone for 15 days straight.

Graham, you have a PM.

Mike

[Graham_A_M]

^ Pm'ed back.

Yeah with open hole, My life sucked pretty much. A group of friends that I haven't seen in eons came up to Whitecourt, as it was pretty damn slow, and I was just working in the shop most of the time.... doing perhaps one (half day) job a week... so my schedule was open enough to be able to see them a fair bit.
The morning of the day they came up, The engineer called me at 3:30 am (got to bed at midnight after being at a pub) only to head out for a string of jobs near Hinton. (three days worth) They came.. waited, and left... and I never even seen them once. :thumbsdow All the while neither the engineer or I had any clue to if or when we'd be home... .as we were at the mercy of the dispatchers.
I was at that point that I was ready to leave the company, as I really cant take that sort of irregularity... especially when you can get a call at any hour of the day or night saying that you have to be at the shop ready in an hour. Only to be on and work your sack off, living on junk food (essentially... but with the odd 'camp' meal and restaurant every now and then); until you get back... which can be well over a week as some guys endured.
When your "on" your ON, meaning your practically owned until your hitch is up. I really hated that.

I did it to make enough money so that I could kick-start my real-estate investing career.... But my time in the field was merely from August to Nov. '06
From Nov to Dec. '06 I worked in the shop exclusively, as I was banned from working in the field thanks to my bosses/co-workers misconceptions about my diabetes, and what "liability" they viewed it as.
:dunno: Looking back it was definately an experience.
I'm still quite negative of the whole thing though, just frusterated everything happened the way it did.
:thumbsdow
But thats in the past now. While I miss the money from working in the oil patch... I can honestly say that it sure feels good to be back in Calgary though with my family and friends. As I only saw them maybe once or twice a month... and to have a normal life again:thumbsup:

[accord885]

The schedule is pretty random but if your used to the 2/1 life of the rig its not as bad. Just have to get used to falling asleep when ever ya get a chance.

[pegasus]

epic info.

[westbeach70]

accord885... Wait till snow flies and Leduc hears your sitting in Medicine Hat. I used to work outta the Medicine Hat Tucker wireline office. Had the WORST time of my life but thats besides the point. I was shipped from here to Leduc to sit in a motel & told yeah when a job comes up we will dispatch you.. Was not fun at all. I am sure everyone knows me over there especially Mr Trevor Aberle if he is still the shop manager. All I can say is try and get on with the cased hole division down here, much better work & not gettin dispatched at crazy times.

[accord885]

Naw this isn't my first year. I know how things go... I like to work... I'm a greedy bastard. Worked 7 weeks straight, 5 days off then another 7 weeks... I don't mind it at all as long as I'm making some coin.

[accord885]

Naw, don't know that name, westbeach. Phil Brown is the Manager there now. Great guy.