A lot of people ask this question “Is oilfield services/equipment a good career path”? Now it’s time for a little time and consideration should be given to this pending inquiry. Although working in oilfield services and equipment might be financially rewarding, it’s not the right choice for everyone. But if you can handle the monotony of the work and don’t mind spending a lot of time away from home, it may be a good option for you.
However, this doesn’t negate the fact that working in oilfield services and equipment offers its own set of benefits and prospects. It’s true that careers in this field are among the best paid in the economy. To assist you to make an educated decision regarding a future in the oilfield services and equipment business, we’ll be providing more context in this piece. In this article, we’ll discuss whether or not working in oilfield services/equipment is a smart choice for a profession.
What Are Oilfield Services?
Many different types of businesses fall under the umbrella term “oilfield services” since they all contribute to the successful production of oil. Oilfield service companies staff their operations with employees whose job it is to run the machinery, inspect it for wear and tear, fix it if it breaks, and keep everything functioning smoothly.
Technology in the oil industry has advanced dramatically in recent decades. Human labor is no longer necessary to do jobs like digging or drilling holes, measuring land elevations on wide areas of land, or constructing roadways. Most of the workers who used to do these jobs are now on-site operating oilfield machinery.
Workers in the oilfield service industry must be competent to operate a broad variety of heavy equipment, including dump trucks, tractors, and their many attachments. These professionals must be able to read blueprints and drawings in order to figure out how to make the most of their available tools and machinery.
What Are The Works Involved in Oilfield Services?
The vast majority of jobs in this field need a physical presence. You may be required to relocate your household to the worksite, away from loved ones. Long shifts of 10-14 hours are not uncommon (7 AM to 7 PM). The standard workweek for a tradesperson in an office or factory setting is five consecutive days of seven-to-eight-hour shifts, with the weekends off.
It takes a lot of stamina to work in the oil industry. It may get quite cold in the oilfields of northern Alberta in the winter, yet very scorching in the summer. There is a possibility that you will have to utilize larger tools at work or do tasks requiring you to lift a lot of weight. It’s possible that you won’t have time to adequately warm up between tasks.
What Are The Qualifications Required To Work In Oilfield Sevices/Equipment?
Contractors in the oil industry are looking for employees that can measure up to, if not surpass, their physical fitness requirements. Obviously, this doesn’t imply you have to be some kind of bodybuilder, but you should be aware of the physical requirements of the duties.
You may need WHMIS (Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System) and H2S Alive certifications to land a job in the oil business. These classes are not covered by any employer or government agency, so if a job in this area is in your future, you need to save accordingly.
It would be beneficial if you were aware that oilfield work falls under the category of construction. Imagine you are not a member of the structural trades association in your state or province. It’s possible that you won’t be allowed to legally work on some works unless you receive special training, as the tools and methods employed there may be vastly different from what you’ve seen on other construction sites. As a result, there are some intriguing conundrums to be faced while trying to break in.
Job Outlook In Oilfield Sevices/Equipment?
The need for oilfield services and equipment is on the rise, and the sector as a whole is adding jobs at a rapid clip. Those who retire from the sector are constantly replaced by new workers, thus there is always a need for new people to fill those positions. Do not worry about finding work in the business if you are willing to get your hands filthy; there are plenty of opportunities available for those with such an attitude.
In the future years, the oilfield services industry is projected to maintain its present high rate of job growth. The labour market expanded by 8.5% in 2014, and similar gains of 10% are anticipated for 2015. Since there is a large influx of retirees leaving the oil sector, there is a significant demand for fresh workers willing to endure the challenges, filth, and difficulty of oilfield employment.
Highly competent craftsmen are in extremely high demand. Modern technology used by oilfield service companies allows for increased efficiency in manufacturing while reducing the need for human labor. This has raised the need for highly trained specialists with a wide range of capabilities, including welding and electro-mechanical.
Average Salary In Oilfield Sevices/Equipment
Earnings in this field might be anywhere from $15 and $40 per hour across the country. Some areas pay more than others for similar construction and manufacturing jobs because of differences in the supply and demand of workers in those areas.
The suppliers of oilfield services will also furnish the necessary uniforms and protective gear. Benefits packages, including pensions and group insurance, are offered by some bigger organizations but are not standard practice among smaller businesses.
The typical hourly salary scale places workers (including those in the trades) between $15 and $25, and technicians and managers between $35 and $40.
Is Oilfield Services/Equipment A Good Career Path?
Coming to the important question, “Is oilfield services/equipment a good career path?” Yes! Anyone interested in chemistry, biology, physics, engineering, or even business would do well in this sector.
There are positions available in the business that require only a high school diploma, while others demand a bachelor’s degree in chemical sciences or geosciences. However, regardless of the level of education required, all positions provide a competitive salary.
There is a lot of space for advancement in the oilfield services/equipment industry, which was worth around $97 billion in the year 2020 and is projected to be worth $135 billion by 2027.
What Are The Benefits of Working In Oilfield Services/Equipment?
There are a lot of great aspects about this field that you should know. While jobs might be challenging and monotonous, they typically pay well enough to make the effort worthwhile.
Following are the few benefits of working in oilfield services/equipment:
Good Salary
Oilfield services/equipment is a lucrative industry, which is why most individuals opt to work in it. Jobs there pay well; it’s possible to make $100,000 a year, plus overtime for extra hours worked. You will have fewer costs to pay because you will be spending most of your time on the water, in the middle of nowhere; hence, you will have more money in the bank as a result of this.
Variety of job opportunities
The oil industry might be a good fit for those who cannot stand the thought of spending their days behind a desk. It’s been said that no two days are the same in the industry. There is a wide range of career opportunities in the oil and gas business, from assisting with the installation of drilling equipment to installing wellheads in oil fields to carrying fracking equipment. If you are someone who enjoys having options, the oilfield and equipment business is the place for you.
Travel Opportunities
It goes without saying. On the other hand, if you work in oilfield services and equipment, you may see the globe while still bringing in a steady paycheck. There is a widespread expectation that most jobs in the business will include regular travel.
Growth Opportunities
There are many different ways to enter the oilfield services/equipment industry, and each one has its own set of challenges and rewards. One may always advance their career by learning new skills and enrolling in various training programs.
Sufficient vacation time
Working in the business will need you to spend a lot of time away from home, but most employers will still give you a decent amount of leeway in how and when you complete your job for them. For example, in the offshore oil industry, you can take six months off every year.
What Are The Most Difficult Aspects Of Working In Oilfield Services/Equipment?
The most difficult part is having to be apart from loved ones for such periods of time. It is common practice in the oilfield services industry to assign technicians to outlying camps or locations, where they may spend weeks at a time without seeing another human being.
Some businesses in the structural trades also require their employees to be members of trade associations before they would recruit them, which is a significant barrier to entry for many people just starting out in the field.
Further, some businesses providing oilfield services don’t provide apprenticeship programs because they don’t see the value in them. As a result, many entry-level candidates in this sector need a breadth of experience and knowledge in a variety of related fields.
How Do I Find A Job In This Industry?
There are a wide variety of prospects for entry-level workers in the oilfield services/equipment industry, both in terms of schedule flexibility and salary.
Start by creating an account on the oilfield services firm’s career portal. Numerous organizations have “careers” or “employment” sections on their websites dedicated to listing open positions.
There are many job portals that you can try like Indeed, Monster, and many others. These portals provide daily oilfield services job openings, where you may discover posts for all sorts of oilfield service providers.
Finally, word of mouth is a terrific method to find a job in the oilfield services and equipment sector, so make sure everyone you know keeps an eye out for openings and/or shares your CV with their contacts in the field. Also, think about visiting career fairs at nearby schools that have oilfield services majors.
Jobs In Oilfield Services/Equipment Industry
There are a lot of jobs in this sector. Here we are listing a few of the highest-paid jobs in this industry:
1- Director of operations
A company’s sales, marketing, purchasing, and other vital responsibilities are all managed by this individual. They devise operational plans that will aid the organization in reaching its long-term objectives. They make around $92,542 per annum.
2- Vessel manager
They watch over the drilling process and make sure that oil and petroleum boats have safe drilling conditions. The team makes sure that all drilling-related tasks are carried out safely and in accordance with regulations. They earn $72,125 on average every year.
3- Oil tester
Pipelines are routinely evaluated and assessed during the development process to establish the degree of risk and stability at a given drilling site. A high school diploma and on-the-job training are usually all that’s needed to enter this field. The average salary is $44,061 per year.
4- Drilling engineer
Crude oil and natural gas drilling operations are under their purview of responsibility. Drilling engineers are in charge of the entire procedure, from start to finish. Average Salary: $75,770 per annum.
How can I Grow In Oilfield Services/Equipment Industry?
You can’t expect to rise through the ranks in the oilfield services industry without first gaining practical experience working with a seasoned professional. As a result of the strenuous nature of entry-level employment, this is a great chance for someone to get into the industry.
In addition, many workers who start out as low-level employees are able to swiftly advance in their careers since oilfield service providers frequently promote from inside.
When you initially apply for a job, you’ll be considered for the position of “rig runner,” which entails supporting the drill floor crew and other skilled workers.
You can apply for your first supervisory position, known as a “rig hand” or “roughneck,” if you’ve worked your way up from the position of “rig runner” and have gained some experience in the field.
In the oil and gas industry, the highest entry-level employment for someone without post-secondary education or training is a drill floor shift leader, sometimes known as a “drilling mud engineer.”
The oilfield services business offers a number of promising career paths, and here are a few of the most important ones to consider:
- Gain practical experience by shadowing a seasoned professional in a higher-ranking position.
- Keep your sights set on your goals and your motivation high by educating yourself as much as possible about your field.
- Keep your resume up-to-date and accessible at all times so that you may seize any employment chance that arises.
Some Good Companies In The Oilfield Services/Equipment Industry
There are a number of major firms in the oil industry, here we are listing a few of them:
Chevron
Chevron places a premium on diversity and creativity inside the workplace, and it leverages cutting-edge, integrated technology to anticipate what the Oilfield Services and Equipment sector will do next.
They are well-known in their field for being open to new ideas from workers and for basing their strategies on those employees.
Not only do they pay well and foster an innovative culture at its headquarters that permeates all of the firm’s offices and construction sites across the world, but they are also the largest oil corporation in the world for good reason.
Shell was the first company to develop a floating liquid natural gas facility and the world’s largest gas-to-liquids plant.
ExxonMobil
Exxon is committed to using innovative technologies and the highest ethical and commercial practices to help fulfill the rising worldwide demand for energy and chemical goods.
They urge workers to follow their passions and make the most of the many opportunities available to them.
Conclusion
So concluding the topic “Is Oilfield Services/Equipment A Good Career Path?” It’s a good career path for those who are really interested in this field. Some people might not be cut out for working in oilfield services or with oilfield equipment. However, if you want to work in a dynamic and fascinating sector with plenty of room for advancement, this may be a great option. With any luck, you’ve gained some insight into the oilfield services/equipment market and its requirements for success from this essay. Feel free to contact us at any time with inquiries or requests for further data.