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Overseas/Offshore
Ok guys let me pick your brains here. How does one get a job overseas or offshore?
How does one get the experience if no one is willing to give you an opportunity?
It doesn't have to be a consulting job, I would be willing to AD or drill just to get the experience. Which leads to another problem- most companies want some one with "cyber" or joystick experience. See the trend here? ( throw your hands up in the air and shake your head here out of pure frustration )
Anyway your thoughts on this are needed.
Thanks
How does one get the experience if no one is willing to give you an opportunity?
It doesn't have to be a consulting job, I would be willing to AD or drill just to get the experience. Which leads to another problem- most companies want some one with "cyber" or joystick experience. See the trend here? ( throw your hands up in the air and shake your head here out of pure frustration )
Anyway your thoughts on this are needed.
Thanks
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by George Henry Pennings on -
Kirk,
There are basically 2 ways, you gotta have someone you know "recruit" you or get your CV polished up and get it out there. The best is having someone you know set you up, that way you kinda know what you are getting into, things like when, how much and if you are gonna get paid are kinda important questions, try to stay with the better known companies, who have a tried and true reputation. There are still a few fly by night outfits out there, and some places the only rule is no rules. If you go with your CV make sure it is done professionally, you can have it done or there are lot of "self help" books and references on-line or at your local library or employment office (if applicable). Do not pay a agency for a job, these have been mostly a rip off and a money grab. There are quite a few on-line clubs that you can join and post your CV.( that is how I got on)Once you have your CV out there and are serious about going make sure your shots are all up HEP A/B, Tetanus,Typhoid fever and polio shots are musts, you may need other shots that area area specific ei yellow fever, some guys pack anti-malarials as well but if you take these caution is advised as some people have bad reactions to these and you don't need to get all messed up when you are in a country where medical help is sketchy and you do not know your way arround. Any medication that you pack with you should be in its original container and carry the doctors presciption with you. Most quality outfits will have an agent to get you to where you are going and sort visas, travel, lodging etc, before you leave get names, numbers, addresses if case something goes south on you. If you can have some local currency on you before get there, sometimes, some places money exchanging can be hard to find and a rip-off when you do find one, read up on this stuff before getting on a plane, do not under any curcumstances forget where you are, like don,t get all likkered outa shape and start being loud and outa control, flashing cash arround, lotsa folks there are gettin by ... just barely and the temptation of some quick cash can be a bit much if they got hungry kids at home. OK I got a bit
sidetracked there and likely missed out on some things.. but I am sure that the rest of the club can build on this thread.
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Permalink Reply by Taylor Mullaly on -
George, are you currently working at home or offshore. Your knowledge on things sure doesnt fit your picture. Or is that for the benifit of the ladies. One of my fellow workers went to Canada to work and of course went through all the training and getting used to metric. My glory days are over and the closer I can stay to my house the better. I am still able to get enough work to pay the bills and have some time off. I started roughnecking in 73 and I have work derricks, drilled, pushed tools, ran slickline (which is a fun job by the way, snubbed, coil tubing and a few other things. Had back surgery and some other fun stuff. So after spending 5 years as an offshore hand I kind of stayed around the house because I could. I was the only guy on the plattform or jck-up. CXY didnt have assistants for the company men at that time and the paper work was enormous. Has it changed any? And do you enjoy it if thats what you do. You were saying you had 36 yrs right. Taylor
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Permalink Reply by George Henry Pennings on
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Taylor,
I started ruffneckin in 77, quit a coupla times, but just couldn't stay away worked up to drillin/ pushin, worked singles to 1500 hp triple, compunds - electics, workover/service and coil rigs, if there was no drilling goin on there was always a dirty ol' string of rods to pull somewhere, if not someoutfit could always use a hand who could work ass up ... head down, runnin a 10 finger banjo or a grinder, haulin garbage, cleanin up the houses and apartments everyone was walkin away from, if you were willin there was always something to keep the kids fed and the morgage paid..worked some directional drillin, fo a year or so but not much MWD in those days so after breakin out just couldnt deal with single shottin, the up 3-4 days at a time so went fishin at least only up 2-3 days at a time, started overseas in 2002, came. back to Canada, started my own consultin outfit in 05, bottom fell outa Canada on 07, went consultin overseas, still at it, workin Asia Pacific right now... waitin to see if the Canadian Patch is gonna go........ weather way nicer here anyways, no -40, wind blowin,...... well you know.
Yeah that picture got up there on a accident and I tried to change it but I am kinda an illerate when it comes to IT stuff.
I still got all my paper work to operate a rig or consultin out in Canada, but not much goin........ they even been drivin dayrates down here, still lotsa work, but they want everyone cheaper.... 40-50% cheaper so I might just take a vacation ... build house or go fishin or something, cause I am not gonna work for nothin. A guy can go just as broke runnin as sittin... LOL. Maybe get my ICWF and give that a rip... you know branch out..... couldn't do no worse than some of the pumpin hands, mud hands or pinky ring boys workin co-man these days.... LOL
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Permalink Reply by DeeperCheaper on -
George, I just gotta know....what the heck is a "10 finger banjo???"
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Permalink Reply by Pete Garcia on -
Hey Kirk you forgot the Huet certificate, lifeboat training, CPR and several other trainging courses that I'm sure Im missing. Your correct in assuming that even with experience some of us have'nt been able to find work due to the fact we were staying busy and working hard. I have applied with several offshore companies and more hiring firms and just about all of them require that you already have these credentials. One other that I am finding anoying is that you must be a resident of the country that you are willing to go work at, never mind the pass port and visa.
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Permalink Reply by Karl Eiriksson on -
I happened to be pushin tools and the companyman I was workin for was leaving for another job and he pestered me into taking his job as companyman, this was in South America. I had worked for some real idiots that couldn't even make a casing tally in Open Wells...I bailed out a few, I kept turning my buddy down because pushing tools was like riding a bike......very easy and could do it blindfolded.
Finally after looking at the money to be made, I jumped the fence, and never looked back. The first year or two was challenging, but now it's like riding the bike again, when you have 35 yrs exp, you've seen alot and done alot and most problems you can think back on.
I'm kinda getting away from the original question, having a International Vaccine Certificate is a must (Especially Africa)...living in the country helps, speaking the language is a major plus......there is still 28/28 guys from the states that can't speak the language...but that's tough. I'm the kind of roughneck that tends to stay until the job is finished....so I followed the rig (H&P) from Ecuador working for a Chinese outfit Andes Petroleum to Colombia working for Oxy. I'm happier working for Oxy, as I've proved myself with them. If this job comes to an end, I can go to work for them elsewhere in the world.
One word of caution...the women here are very different from the states, they are very attractive and many have good values, but some of them see a gringo as a dollar sign and a way to get out of their problems....God gave us two heads, make sure you use the big one, the little one will get you in trouble!
And Kirk, not all the rigs are joysticks...yet. We have 1500 and 2000 and some 3000HP rigs drilling
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Permalink Reply by Kirk Roper on -
Pete,I've noticed that also and your right it is annoying. Used to have all the certs f/ offshore, just lose 'em if'n you don't use 'em, course that was in the 90's
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Permalink Reply by Walter Lock on -
Randy Smith in Houston offers various offshore training classes.
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Permalink Reply by George King on -
If you are serious there is a member on here my brother-in-law who has some contacts overseas were he was working... I use to push in the middle east but all the people i worked with have moved on. If you would like i will send you some contact information.
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Permalink Reply by Rod Cutler on -
George,Rod here an I also would be very interested in any contact info you guys got.
thanks Rod
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Permalink Reply by Kirk Roper on
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Thanks George, can use any & all the help. Sorry for the late reply, took a few days away from the computer after working against the cap& trade bill. Sad thing I discovered is that the younger crowd is not informed and worse yet, doesn't care.
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Permalink Reply by Terry Taylor on -
George this is Terry Taylor I would really be Thankfull for any kinda contact my self. I would be willing to send you my resume just so you know what kinda Exp, I have I am still laid off any week now for 2 months. Thanks, Terry Taylor
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