Gaining experience to work in OilFields Advice

I would say the local concrete job hauling sand would be the most similar to frac sand in the oil field. Same type of sand cans, blower, etc so the work would cross over. Another way to break into the oil field is find a roustabout company in Bakersfield that will hire you for labor and let you drive as needed. This will not only build up your driving experience it will also build up your oil field experience and let you get a feel for how the industry works, what companies are good, etc. You may also try water haulers, they are not usually as picky, or ask the frac sand company if you could start as a laborer and work your way into a truck.

 

I agree a background in hauling cement would be considered..I don't think running a mixer although I'm sure it would rapidly sharpen driving skills..the oilfield wouldn't look at it.

Oilfields a unique place to break into....nothing really hard or dangerous about it...they really place a high value on oilfield experience. Even if it's not very applicable to the job your applying for.

As Brian mentioned above...accept any job your qualified to get..once there it's easier to move into what you want.

Like everywhere else they tolerate some changes but you don't want to get the job hopper..disgruntled rep.

Good luck...and I departed a year ago as rates were cut and paychecks shrunk, I'm no expert but I'm pretty sure I'm making more money working out of the oilfield then I would be if I had stayed.

If it's a good company I'd haul cement until things turned and stabilized a bit.

 

Your best bet imo would be to get in with a frac or cement crew. Not a ton of driving but you will get all the hours you can handle. Frac being a bit more relaxed environment. Being on a cement crew, your pretty much the elite of the elite in the patch. Be a pump operator and the company man, rig manager, consultants etc breathing down your neck making sure you dont f up his well or your company just bought that hole. Oh and your on call 24-7 until your days off rotation, usually 15-6 14-7 and 6-2 seem most common. Both sand and ceeement you'll need to learn the ins and outs of a pneumatic tanker. Both are diff animals to unload. Sand being easier. Top air and open the jet line is the basics. Cement you have to fluff it up or it will just plug up.

Ask away. I run cement for Schlumberger. My dad supervised all the bulk equipment for Nabors on the cement side and ran a sand can for 3 years

 

Funny....we sent all the hacks that couldn't make it in frac to the cement crews. Was definitely easier money though. Especially those times when you showed up 3 days before the rig hit TD.