seadog
01-31-2011, 10:48 AM
So I've been doing wireline engineering with Schlumberger past 3 years or so, was up in northern AB, for about 2.5 years, then was supposed to move to coastal Texas with a different job description which I figured would be an interesting change and a break from the cold. Then after I was moved down there, met my boss/coworkers, and had a house rented (but hadn't officially 'started' yet, but they were eager to get me settled/legal ASAP with time to spare in case anything came up) I took the balance of my Canada vacation. Then got a call a week before I was supposed to go back there saying that's all fallen through but they had something else for me 5 hours away. Ah well always the trooper said I'd give it a go.
Turns out may not have been the best move. Basically this new job entailed the same thing I was doing in Canada, but with twice the hassles since the US is broke and can't afford to maintain anything, none of the safety (Roaring campfire in a barrel next to the piperack anyone?) , 20% less money, dealing with tiny family owned companies who make ridiculous requests just because they can't be bothered to learn the better way the rest of the world learned to do whatever 15 years ago, and living in a generally horrible city where no one speaks english.
Not to mention all the hassles of moving a second time, which I had to fight to get reimbursed for, and all my arguments about how they sort of screwed me with a bait-and-switch, only to get replies about how I'm lucky to have a job. Anyways world's smallest violin. I know.
Anyways my pension vested about a month ago, so I'm pretty seriously looking about for something new. I know there's a few SLB/Ex SLB/other Oil Field Service guys, so just curious what would be considered a logical next step? Still looking to have lots of time off/travel, so that rules out anything managementy. I feel like my skillset is so specialized its almost to the point that unless I'm doing the exact same thing, I'd have start from scratch.
I imagine I could get on with the other majors doing the same thing, but I also imagine that's more the same thing but with different coveralls. Talked to a Co man a while ago who did WL for 3 years then switched to D & M, said just the 12 hour shifts vs 70+ made a huge improvement in quality of life, even if you are stuck at the rig. I'm not necessarily tired of the field, just the current setup of less days off than I was used to in Canada (2w/1w + 2 months unpaid in spring if you wanted it, vs 10.5d/4.5d) and the previously mentioned 70 hour "days" which seem to be a lot more common.
Turns out may not have been the best move. Basically this new job entailed the same thing I was doing in Canada, but with twice the hassles since the US is broke and can't afford to maintain anything, none of the safety (Roaring campfire in a barrel next to the piperack anyone?) , 20% less money, dealing with tiny family owned companies who make ridiculous requests just because they can't be bothered to learn the better way the rest of the world learned to do whatever 15 years ago, and living in a generally horrible city where no one speaks english.
Not to mention all the hassles of moving a second time, which I had to fight to get reimbursed for, and all my arguments about how they sort of screwed me with a bait-and-switch, only to get replies about how I'm lucky to have a job. Anyways world's smallest violin. I know.
Anyways my pension vested about a month ago, so I'm pretty seriously looking about for something new. I know there's a few SLB/Ex SLB/other Oil Field Service guys, so just curious what would be considered a logical next step? Still looking to have lots of time off/travel, so that rules out anything managementy. I feel like my skillset is so specialized its almost to the point that unless I'm doing the exact same thing, I'd have start from scratch.
I imagine I could get on with the other majors doing the same thing, but I also imagine that's more the same thing but with different coveralls. Talked to a Co man a while ago who did WL for 3 years then switched to D & M, said just the 12 hour shifts vs 70+ made a huge improvement in quality of life, even if you are stuck at the rig. I'm not necessarily tired of the field, just the current setup of less days off than I was used to in Canada (2w/1w + 2 months unpaid in spring if you wanted it, vs 10.5d/4.5d) and the previously mentioned 70 hour "days" which seem to be a lot more common.