To begin with, is oilfield services/equipment a good career path? Not everyone should pursue a career in oilfield services or equipment. Nevertheless, if you’re looking for a rewarding career in a field with lots of room for advancement, this might be the right choice for you.
We hope this article has helped you gain a better understanding of what oilfield equipment and services entail as well as what it takes to be successful in this field. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any inquiries or would like more details.
Please read on.
Table of Contents
What Exactly Are Oilfield Services?
Oilfield services is an umbrella term for businesses that offer the equipment and knowledge necessary to carry out oil extraction. Oilfield service companies employ people to operate the machinery, keep an eye on it for damage, fix anything that malfunctions, and generally keep things running smoothly.
Over the past few decades, advances in oilfield technologies have been made at a rapid rate. It is no longer necessary to employ labor for jobs like digging or drilling holes, measuring land elevations on sizable tracts of land, or constructing roads. The majority of those who would normally perform these duties are now on-site using oilfield machinery.
Operators of heavy equipment, including tractors, trucks, and a variety of attachments, are needed by oilfield service companies. To determine the best way to use already-existing equipment or to fabricate new equipment if necessary, these workers must read blueprints and plans.
Work Associated With Oilfield Services
On-site work is completed Oilfield Equipment time in this industry. Often, you will live on-site, away from your loved ones. Typically lasting between 10 and 14 hours, the shifts can be very long. The typical shift for a shop-based tradesperson is roughly 48 hours per week (7 AM–8 PM) for five days straight, with your weekends off. It takes a lot of physical effort to work in an oil field.
Qualifications Required To Work In The Oilfield Equipment Industry
Employers of oilfield services will only select candidates who are physically fit and strong enough to meet or exceed their requirements. You don’t have to be Arnold Schwarzenegger to do the tasks, but you should be aware of your physical limitations.
Before hiring you, some oilfield employers will demand that you have the WHMIS (Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System) and H2S Alive certifications. If you want to work in this field, you must pay for these courses out of pocket, so you must account for this expense in your budget.
Understanding that oilfield work is included in the construction industry would be beneficial. Imagine that you are not a member of your province’s or territory’s structural trades association. In that case, you might not be able to work legally on some jobs without additional training because the tools and procedures used can differ greatly from those that other construction workers are accustomed to. When it comes to getting your foot in the door, this presents some intriguing conundrums.
How Much Of An Industry’s Workforce Is Needed?
Currently, and in the years to come, the oilfield services sector is expected to continue to see strong employment growth.
Due to the complexity, squalor, and demands of oilfield work, there is a great need for new employees to take the place of those leaving this field.
Tradespeople with specialized skills are in extremely high demand. Oilfield service companies employ cutting-edge technologies that increase industrial production efficiency while using fewer workers. The need for highly skilled technicians with a range of abilities, including electro-mechanical and welding, has increased as a result.
What Are Workers’ Average Wages?
In most regions of the country, this industry pays between $15 and $40 per hour. Due to regional differences in labor supply and demand, some jurisdictions pay more than others for jobs in construction or other industries. Along with uniforms and safety gear, oilfield service providers will also supply. However, the majority of employers do not provide these extra benefits. Some larger companies offer benefit packages, such as pensions and group insurance.
The most typical pay scale runs the gamut from $15 to $25 per hour for laborers (including shop trades) to about $35 per hour for technicians and supervisors.
Benefits Of Working In This Industry?
- High Salary Pay: Although the pay is high for an industrial or construction job, you must be ready for a physically demanding job where you frequently work for more than 10 hours per day for 6-7 days straight.
Many oilfield services employers offer benefits packages that include
- Extended health and dental coverage
- Personal time off
- Vision care expense coverage
- Life insurance
- LTD/STD pay
- a program for employee assistance.
For specific programs, some employers even provide tuition reimbursement.
Challenges/disadvantages Of Working In This Industry?
- Family Distance:Living far from home for a long time presents the biggest difficulty. For weeks at a time, many oilfield services companies send their technicians to isolated camps or sites where they will live and work alone with little to no human contact.
- Membership Requirements:Another difficulty faced by many entry-level workers in this industry is that some employers won’t hire you unless you’re already a member of your local or provincial association for structural trades.
- Non-Profiting Training:Additionally, some providers of oilfield services feel that apprenticeship training isn’t cost-effective and as a result they don’t offer it. This is the reason why many new hires in this industry need to be adaptable and proficient in a variety of trades and skills.
What Are The Biggest Obstacles To Working In This Industry?
Long-term residence away from home presents the greatest difficulty. For weeks at a time, many oilfield services companies send their technicians to isolated camps or sites where they will live and work alone with little to no human contact.
The fact that some employers won’t hire you unless you’re already a member of your local or provincial association for structural trades presents another difficulty for many entry-level workers in this industry. Additionally, because they believe it is not cost-effective, some oilfield services providers do not offer apprenticeship training. The need for proficiency in a variety of trades, skills, and the ability to carry out a variety of tasks is one of the reasons why many new hires seeking employment in this field.
Who Rules This Industry? How Much Market Share Is There?
Numerous businesses of various sizes and scope make up the oilfield services industry. Precision Drilling, Halliburton, Census Energy, Eosinophilic, and Nextel Inc. are among the biggest employers. Engineers and geologists, among other highly skilled professionals, are employed by these businesses.
Both large parent companies that offer a wide range of goods and services to the international market and smaller local or regional service providers that can only provide one or two oilfield-related services make up the oilfield services sector. The most significant players thus operate across multiple provinces and nations, whereas smaller businesses only operate in a limited geographic area.
How Can I Work In The Oilfield Equipment Sector?
There are several ways to find work as an entry-level employee in the oilfield services/equipment sector, whether you’re looking for full-time or part-time employment.
The first step should be to register with the oilfield services company’s job board. Many businesses directly publish their open positions under “careers” or “employment” on their websites.
Check out Indeed, Workaholics, Monster, and other online job portals that offer daily job listings for oilfield services to find employment opportunities for a variety of service providers.
Last but not least, word-of-mouth is a great way to find a job in the oilfield services sector. So, tell everyone you know to keep an eye out for openings and pass along your resume to friends and family who work in this industry. In addition, consider attending career fairs at nearby colleges or other institutions that offer programs in oilfield services.
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Best Colleges To Study About Oilfield Services
For students looking to work in this industry, many colleges and universities across the nation offer training programs. You can also enroll in a variety of online courses that will help you get ready for a career as an entry-level worker or tradesperson in the oilfield services sector.
University Of Calgary – Rig Technology Program
You will be prepared to work as a laborer, runner, or hand on a drilling rig by completing this program. You will be taught how to operate rigging equipment safely and given an introduction to the various kinds of oilfield-related machinery used in the field.
Red Deer College – Rig Technician Program
You will learn how to rig equipment and work with pumps, motors, and other oilfield mechanical components during this two-year post-secondary course. Additionally, you’ll be taught how to use an air drill rig and other tools of the trade.
SAIT – Rig Operations Program
The training in safety practices, the hand signals used by the rig crew, and the appropriate attire needed for your safety are all covered in this program. Additionally, you will be trained on the key elements of drilling rigs, field pump systems, and how to use a variety of computer programs relevant to this career path.
Nor Quest College – Instrumentation Program
Sensors, motors, controllers, and other electronic devices used by oilfield services companies are covered in detail in this program.
Students interested in working in this field can choose from training programs offered by a number of colleges and universities across the nation. You can also enroll in a variety of online courses that will help you get ready for a career as an entry-level worker or tradesperson in the oilfield services sector.
Final Words
Although it’s a lucrative profession, oilfield services aren’t for everyone. Physical exertion is required for the job, which also poses a risk. Since most jobs are located on-site, you must reside in a region with active oilfields.
Many thanks for reading.
