Oil Industry Question - Career Question -Advice
I know we got plenty of experts in everything here [:D] has anyone heard of Utility Services Inc.? They service refineries all over the USA, according to what I know they do a lot of distillation tower service & repair but also lot's of other basic maintenance too.
My buddy is making big bucks and is pushing me to come on board. Each job varies, but typically it's 8 weeks at a location, 12 hours on - 12 off, generous per-diem, LOTS of overtime & bonuses for meeting deadlines or staying extra weeks. Then you are usually off for two months unless you want more of it.
It sounds like a young mans game, but he informs me there are plenty of older guys working with him. I know righty tighty & lefty loosey, plus I normally fix my broke crap (guns, cars, boat motors, trailers, house etc.) all the time, i.e. some mechanical ability.
I am seriously considering this in 2008, what can the all knowing sages of the GB forums tell me about this line of work [?][?][?][?]
Any input welcome.
My buddy is making big bucks and is pushing me to come on board. Each job varies, but typically it's 8 weeks at a location, 12 hours on - 12 off, generous per-diem, LOTS of overtime & bonuses for meeting deadlines or staying extra weeks. Then you are usually off for two months unless you want more of it.
It sounds like a young mans game, but he informs me there are plenty of older guys working with him. I know righty tighty & lefty loosey, plus I normally fix my broke crap (guns, cars, boat motors, trailers, house etc.) all the time, i.e. some mechanical ability.
I am seriously considering this in 2008, what can the all knowing sages of the GB forums tell me about this line of work [?][?][?][?]
Any input welcome.
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I worked for PG&E for 8 years. Best job I ever had. You can't go wrong working for a utility! 0 -
Become familiar with the terms "turn around hore" and "Fuggin' contractor". You won't be working on your own equipment or facilities. You will be a disposable employeee. Some plant man decides he doesn't like you, and your gone. No if's,ands,or but's.
If you can play the game, there is money to be made. Sometimes you may actually work 16 hrs, sometimes you may be there for 12 and only actually work 2, the other 10 spent smokin' and cokin'.
If it's more maoney than your makin' now and you don't mind workin' in an industrial enviroment, go for it.0 -
Yeah, Scorvers, it would appear I would be somebody's biatch most of the time. Especially as a newbie. Disposable does come to mind because it seems as long as you show up sober you're in, no special skills required.
The money is not that important, it's having the extended time off that really appeals to me.0 -
Alot better options in the oilfield that provide more regular work with better benifits and just as good money with more future. I only know 1 guy that works doing that and I wasn't impressed with what he was telling me. 0 -
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-There are a lot of good reasons to take a job like this and hardly anyone ever tells you about the downside, so here are some of the downside features for you to consider. SCovers is right. You will be disposable, both to the refinery and to your company, the service contractor.
You will feel important because they will spend vast sums on your safety training and other training. But understand! This is not because they think so much of you, it is because it is mandated by the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR); CFR1910.119, Process Safety Management of Highly Hazardous Chemicals specifically spells out every breath that is taken in a refinery.
Your company's client (the refinery) will treat you like dog crap. You generally won't have good benefits. The job will be short term (probably no more than 5 years). Nothing really to show for it other than the money you made while working, which you probably spent firvolously. You will have to travel all over for your jobs, leaving your family (if you have one) alone. This is a recipe for divorce.
The thing to do is to go into it with a plan. If you can't, do that, don't do it. Don't be extremely friendly with anyone. Always be professional in your demeaner and don't talk about anything outside of work topics and don't talk about your political or religious opinions. You must learn to become EXTREMELY GOOD at a very in-demand job or skill. Learn it inside and out, then when you leave you can become an individual contractor and either contract to the refinery directly or to the service contractor for 3 to 4 times the hourly rate you were being paid as an employee of the service contractor. Examples are: Project Management Software, Heat Treating various metals. Welding very small carbon steel and stainless steel pipe (1" and under, which is referred to as "tubing") so that they pass x-ray inspection with only about 1 out a hundred rejects. Good, regular weldors are a dime a dozen.0 -
Depends on the job. Money is good, no doubt. But if you are starting on the lower end of the food chain, plan on not having a life. I mean it. 0 -
Join the pipefitters union, there are a ton of them where I'm working. Around $32.00 an hour plus about $12.00 an hour benefits for straight time. Time and a half for over eight and double time for over 12. Time and a half on Saturday, double time on Sunday.
Looks like lots of work for fitters out west here. Refinery turnarounds and several new powerplant constructions.0 -
If you don't mind the travel, give it a try.
As a union operating engineer I'v been in this industry.
Tank farms
Oil refineries
Pipelines
Horizonal directional boring
Digs --diging up active pipeline for repaires to be made
It's a good living with good benies
Just watch your self this stuff can kill ya no room for poeple that don't think also no drugs you will have a drug test DOT mandates that0 -
quote:Originally posted by Johnnylikesguns
If you don't mind the travel, give it a try.
As a union operating engineer I'v been in this industry.
Tank farms
Oil refineries
Pipelines
Horizonal directional boring
Digs --diging up active pipeline for repaires to be made
It's a good living with good benies
Just watch your self this stuff can kill ya no room for poeple that don't think also no drugs you will have a drug test DOT mandates that
Indeed. No room in the patch for someone who is not on their "A-game" at all times...It happends, but then, that's how accidents happen...0 -
Wolf makes some very good points. Go into it with a plan. Learn everything you can, meet the RIGHT people, and have an exit strategy.
Contractors here in Louisiana are looking for warm drug free bodies. Some of what they hire aren't the sharpest razor in the pack.
Keep to yourself and be as professional as possible. Ask LOTS of questions from the RIGHT people.
Make money. SAVE money. Have an exit strategy.
Why does this topic remind me of the conversations I had before joining the Navy?[:D]0 -
Been in it 13 years now. I didn't know there was an exit - thought you had to be paroled[:D] There are lay-offs unless you hit your contacts hard and work hard when your on. Plenty of run of the mill welders (that would be me) but a huge lack of trained fitters (that would be me also). If you can work the numbers and make the stuff fit correctly and quickly you're in demand. I've got people who claim to know fitting but want to be in a shop - if they can't run a torch in the field to make things work - they can stay in the shop. It is always different and like they said it ain't for those who are accident prone. I don't like travel but did for a few years. You need to get the skills and then hit the areas close to home for some longer term jobs. I got lucky that there is a refinery 10 min from home and just started as foreman this year, but working for a contractor is never considered permanent. When they have a hiring at a plant/refinery PUT IN YOUR APPLICATION.. 0
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