Alberta oilfield driving jobs

Queens are one size up from bulker. Hauled empty, so there is less of a weight issue. They're pretty big, and the visibility drops the bigger the unit because of the profile of the tank. So I guess you could say you have to be a bit ballsy to drive one. But not too intimidating. If they are tri drive axle, they seem hard to turn at first due to the long tractor wheelbase, but once you are used to how they handle, they're fine. Just a bit deceptive.

On location, bulkers fill up the queens and kings on an ongoing basis. Q & K's have to be driven more or less empty due to weight.

Cold weather gear; layers, thermal long underwear, thermal base layer, hard hat liner, winter work gloves, balaclava if it's windy. Sturdy boots, something with a decent lining. Thermal socks for sure. Probably won't need crazy -150 degree nonsense. Winter Dakotas got me through cold temps just fine. Company should provide you with a good winter parka.

Mostly for bulking you would just sit in cab of the truck, in winter units are left running 24/7 so they don't freeze up.

 

Line is rigged in using various 2,3,4" iron line from pump to wellhead, or direct to rig or frac lines. Lines connect together in pieces, and have various one way valves, bypasses, and rig in layouts for safety purposes. Kill line goes to wellhead, so the pump may be rigged in to coil/service rig, and to wellhead. During a frac, lines may be rigged in to wing valve on the wellhead, while frac lines go to frac ports. They will frac, then you pump acid volumes into the opened up formation fractures.

Kinda hard to explain all this - visuals are much better, but lines go to various places for various purposes depending on different jobs. A trainee wouldn't be expected to know any of this, but would be expected to learn. It's not complex once you've seen it a few times and know what the pump is doing for the job.

Pump unit carried chemicals in different ways. Some need to be mixed, contained in totes of 1000 litres, some are carried in tanks on the pump unit ready to drop. Pump op decides based on instructions when and how much chems are added to the fluid flow using valves and controls. The only thing the op does other than open/close valves is fill chems from totes into tanks, or mix chems with fluid in a tank on the unit. Some chems are nasty stuff, corrosive and carcinogenic stuff, so handling properly with PPE is necessary. Spills are bad news. Acid, speaks for itself, full PPE is worn with double face protection, usually have a spotter watching. Op opens/closes valves manually at the 400 tank to change flow from fluid to acid and back. Supervisor makes sure this is all done properly, safely, and to meet the needs of the job.

 

Yep, I hear you. My last job was hauling 146' wind-mill blades, & the trailer was 106' from king-pin to center axle of rear tri-axle. With the trailer length it took a long time for it to react to steering wheel changes. I think the bulker I tested on was about a 45' trailer, so it reacted way faster than what I was used to... kinda like the "tail wagging the dog"

 

Helly hansen fire retardant underwear and good boots. For myself I use a set of insulated red wings year round. I'm not really outside for a real long time with a break. Otherwise insulated "muck boots" sized large enough to use bama bootie liners. Get two pair of booties and change every day. People will tell you baffins or Dakota equivalents but they are big and heavy. Come spring when it's wet but still cold add some mud and baffins become stupid heavy muck boots are light enough to be used for summer mud boots too. Just make sure you get steel toed ones. My red wings have been used year round for 6+ years and still have decent grip and still keep out water. 6 years for 300 bucks is a bargain and still comfy

 

You must attend the information session first, then pass a competency test and submit a complete application package. The union indentures you and automatically makes you a member. It costs a bit but is well worth the investment.

The hard part is getting in. The class sizes are 6 people max and run the course 4 times a year.

 

How you know my name Daljit? Base Manager says I must shave my beard to wear H2S Respirator.

Discrimination! He not nice man.

 

Wait! What? All the streets aren't paved in gold?

WTH am I going to do with these ruby slippers now?

 

My dog ToTo ate my ruby slippers right after I got back to Kansas. There's no place like home.

 

Hauling for Gas Frac. This is a king.

 

Hey Daljit, did the bad man also say you'd have to take your turban off to put a hard hat on?