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Thunderball · 07-12-2009, 04:09 PM

I've worked in that field and here's a couple things to bear in mind:

1. You start off roughly at $20-30/hr, about 25-30 cents per km, $30-45 per day meals, as well as accomodations. You're also expected to have a truck or 4x4 vehicle, so that 25-30c/km will barely cover fuel, let alone repairs and maintenance.

2. Many of your destinations are less than appealing places, and you may have to spend 3-5 days per week out there.

3. This is the important one. The Stelmach royalty review decimated the service industry. Jobs are going to be very hard to come by. Having talked to a few service operators, the ones that said they were busy were lying to my face, since after a little more prodding, figured that what they were "busy" with was about 10-20% of their usual workload.

4. This job is under a lot of scrutiny, and may not even exist as it does now down the line as the government has discussed "simplifying" surface rights in Alberta. If you want some ability to survive, learn the paperwork and have the ability to do administration.

5. A lot of landowners are bonafide 100% Grade A pricks. If you don't have a thick skin, forget it. While you're really a liaison between them and the oil company, as far as they are concerned, you're the president of ExxonMobil, and worthy of all the vitriol those people may (or may not) warrant. Some of these guys have nothing better to do than to screw with you, and many do not want oilpatch operators on their land (notwithstanding the fact that they don't own the subsurface and the subsurface owners have the right to access their property...).

As well, I wrote the Interim exam, and its very easy. Though a few people in my writing flunked it (I believe its an 80% to pass), and they grade it on-site if you want to wait.

07-12-2009, 04:09 PM	#7
Thunderball Franchise Player Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Calgary, AB Exp:	I've worked in that field and here's a couple things to bear in mind: 1. You start off roughly at $20-30/hr, about 25-30 cents per km, $30-45 per day meals, as well as accomodations. You're also expected to have a truck or 4x4 vehicle, so that 25-30c/km will barely cover fuel, let alone repairs and maintenance. 2. Many of your destinations are less than appealing places, and you may have to spend 3-5 days per week out there. 3. This is the important one. The Stelmach royalty review decimated the service industry. Jobs are going to be very hard to come by. Having talked to a few service operators, the ones that said they were busy were lying to my face, since after a little more prodding, figured that what they were "busy" with was about 10-20% of their usual workload. 4. This job is under a lot of scrutiny, and may not even exist as it does now down the line as the government has discussed "simplifying" surface rights in Alberta. If you want some ability to survive, learn the paperwork and have the ability to do administration. 5. A lot of landowners are bonafide 100% Grade A pricks. If you don't have a thick skin, forget it. While you're really a liaison between them and the oil company, as far as they are concerned, you're the president of ExxonMobil, and worthy of all the vitriol those people may (or may not) warrant. Some of these guys have nothing better to do than to screw with you, and many do not want oilpatch operators on their land (notwithstanding the fact that they don't own the subsurface and the subsurface owners have the right to access their property...). As well, I wrote the Interim exam, and its very easy. Though a few people in my writing flunked it (I believe its an 80% to pass), and they grade it on-site if you want to wait.