Would u choose Fracing, Coil Tubing, or Wireline?

from what i understand ur on call, but the one where ure on call the most would have to be coil then wireline and frac....coil is cake from what i heard as far as the rig up is concerned and it doesnt require such a big crew such as frac...my cousin works wireline and said he always works with the same 3 man crew....hope this helped...

 

What is wireline? What is coil tubing? Where does this all fit and what order into the frac process? Also are there just frac crews? At what points are the sand and water/salt water and high pressure pumps being used. . I've read in some posts that frac crews are on the well sight sometimes weeks on end 24/7 until the frac is done, hence the big pay checks .Thanx for any and all answers.

 

Youtube it, I learned alot watchin vids...

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeASiSHdCF4&list=PLCoPaqf_eH9NJIqqUP904ShHCTmnpRBAs

check out all the videos on the right...

 

A lot of variables are involved in oilfield work. Everybody has heard about frac, but its only one process among many involved in putting a well into production.

The basic pattern is:
An excavating company levels the location and builds a lease road to it.
A drilling company moves in a rig and drills the well.
Mudloggers/Wireline assess the well.
A cement company cements the casing. This is repeated at least twice in each well, sometimes more depending on the depth.
Wireline logs the hole again.
Wireline and/or coil tubing perforate the casing.
Frac pumps in fluid and sand to the gas-producing zones.
A rig or coil tubing come in to clean out the hole.
(This is only the most basic outline....dozens of different services companies will work on each well before it's ready to go into production)

There's a lot of money to be made in the oilfield, if you can handle it. The thing to remember is that while you need a CDL to work for most serious oilfield companies, the driving is only a small part of what you'll actually be doing. It includes a lot of physical labor, outdoors in the mud and rain and snow. You'll be rushed a lot of the time to get the job done, but also waiting around a lot of the time, while other companies get their part of the process done, during equipment breakdowns etc. It's not a career choice for the weak or someone who expects to be home at any specific time. I've been in the oilfield 7 years, 5 in cement and acid work, 2 in coil tubing/nitrogen, in Michigan and Pennsylvania.

All oilfield jobs have an on-call component, some more than others. Frac is usually scheduled ahead of time, and will work more or less on a schedule. Coil tubing usually runs on a 12hr on-12hr off schedule, but sometimes someplaces still run one crew 24hrs a day until the job is done (which can be a few days to a few weeks). Wireline is by far the most on-call of the three jobs mentioned, depending on your particular specialty within wireline.

In my experience, coil tubing is the best pay, and involves the least actual physical labor. It may be difficult to get a job in coil without previous oilfield experience, but if you do, you should be starting out at 60-70K per year. Within 2 years, if you move up and learn to use all the equipment, you should have a 6-figure income as a coil operator. One downside, however, is that the oilfield is dependent upon the price of oil, and the overall economy in general, and the area you plan to work in particular. If you're in the business long enough, you'll see 40 hour weeks and 100+ hour weeks. It can vary widely depending on your location and company.

Keep in mind, the oilfield is one of the toughest jobs out there. And you'll meet a lot of not very smart people, and a lot of jerks, some of whom will be your bosses. But if you can handle it, you'll be well rewarded. Just don't expect a 9-5 schedule. Ever. And if you have a problem "manipulating" your log book, things will be harder on you.

 

Hello,

I'm glad this topic gets brought up. From what I read, these shale oil wells have a shorter lifespan than your traditional oil well. If you use Google search engine, you get various production curves for these wells. From the ones I have looked at, the production after a year or so drops by 90%. (http://www.ogfj.com/articles/print/volume-10/issue-7/features/forecasting-shale-oil-production.html)

My additional question to this topic, what are the hours worked for frac, coiled tubing, wireline in hours or percentages, for the first 12 months (P12), and after 12 months (A12). I would assume the hours/percentages will change for the various processes involved in well production.

Stalratos,
If I may ask when did you start working in the Pennsylvania area? I hear there is a lot of investment in the Marcellus Shale/Utica Shale, western portion of Pennsylvania and eastern portion of Ohio. Pennsylvania seems like a good place to work, because of the low housing costs.

 

I've heard they are pretty big. They are in Texas as well.

Are they hiring?