does anyone know info about working in the oil rigs in alberta?

Question

Is there an age restriction?
What are the wages like for starting out?
What are the living conditions like?

Answer 1

Go to www.caodc.ca like was recommended, that will tell you all you need to know. I'll add a little too.

To work anywhere in the oilpatch employers will require you have H2S Alive Certification and Standard First Aid training. Very few will not also include a requirement of a Class Five Drivers licence.

It is illegal for anyone under the age of 18 and without H2S to even visit an active lease (well development property) or transmission facilty never mind work one.

A lot of companys are adopting a policy of not hiring people who have not finished high school. The majority of companies still do, but I imagine it won't be for long.

(Personal opinion) If you get a job in the patch where you don't CLEAR (after taxes) at least $2200 every two weeks GET A NEW JOB.

Depending on the company, camps can be dingy or very nice. I ended up in an Encana Camp which was very nice. Luckily I only got to hear the horror stories about others. (Lice, raw food, dirty sheets etc) A lot of times you will have to motel it and they can be hit and miss too. You have to do your research.

You are responsible to purchase most of your own gear, Most companys supply a pair of coveralls, hard hat, safety glasses, and hearing protection. Sometimes they don't even do that. Depending on when you are going out, the price of just getting NECESSARY equipment can be pretty bad. I'll give you a price list.

Invert Rubber Boots: $220 on sale

(there are cheaper boots but I wouldn't waste your time with them. Just get the good ones, your feet will thank you)

-100 rated boots: $200 on sale

(most acceptable rubber boots are rated -40 but there are a lot of days where that isn't good enough)

Flame proof insulator "hoodie": $150
Flame proof insulator pants: $120
flame proof wicking layer : $50 each for two pieces

(flame proof clothes are a must. Either you get the expensive synthetics or all natural stuff. Good luck finding any of that though)

rubber gloves: $3-4 a piece
(you'll need three-four pair to make a hitch)

wool socks: $10 pair
(I packed seven-nine pairs so I had clean ones up until short change when I hit the laundromat)

anyway, I think you see where I'm going with this. It's extremely hard work. You will always be really cold, or really hot. You will always be dirty. You will always be tired.

All that said though, imagine how you feel when you hit your week off after being paid and you have five grand in your bank account from the past month of work. (That was the ONLY thing I liked out there)

Good luck

Answer 2

be at least 18, out of high school. start around 17.50 an hour, then bumped to 23.90. have a licence, h2s alive, first aid, but they might pay for those for you. living conditions? are you talking about camps, i don't work in camps myself, so i don't know. these are wages for service rigs, drilling is different. but othter then that, i get picked up in the morning, and dropped off at the end of the work day. i like sleeping in my own bed.
try here for more info.

Answer 3

good success with finding artwork - finding a minimum of a labourer interest ought to be ordinary, however the main important situation in ft. McMurray is lodging. it is extremely high priced, yet worse that that, it variety of feels to be non-existent.

Answer 4

no first hand knowledge, but I hear wages are good, but housing is scarce. could be a problem unless you know someone you can stay with.

this is based on what a friend has told me; definitely seek more informed opinions than mine.