I graduated in August with a degree in Industrial Engineering, and I have been trying to get into the oilfield.

I interviewed for a field engineering position with Halliburton and got to the second round interview, but for some reason I was not offered a postition.

Since then my buddy (A PE) has hooked me up with a interview for a "Field Operational Professional" for Halliburton and I don't know very much about the postion. My main concern is that I wont have the same skill set when I am done with my training as I would if I was a field engineer. Halliburton called me and told me it was 18 mo in the field and then I would be supervising a frac crew.


Does anyone have any knowledge of this position and how it is different from a field engineering postion? Pros/cons etc.

I appreciate all the help I can get! Any opinions are welcome!

I've interviewed for the AFP Coiled Tubing position before.

Was informed it is what has taken place of the old SSIT program. It's intended to be a fast track to service supervisor.

It is heavily dependent on you. It's up to you to make time to complete the required coursework, books, e-learning, etc. You are essentially a field grunt for 18 months(I was told 2 years).

You'll be expected to do the work like all others, have a schedule like your crew, but have an upper hand when it ones to moving up the ranks. You're out there to prove yourself, but aren't necessarily competing for operator spots.

It may not sound as good, on paper, as the FE program, but as I've said a hundred times before - experience is KING in O&G. That position offers a ton of it in a short amount time.

Be ready for wild hours and big paychecks.

Thanks a lot for your input dadsanAG. I didn't think about any coursework/ebook portion, but I guess their might be a lot that. And like you said, EVERYONE always says "get out there and learn as much as possible". Thanks again!

Do it if you want to make some good money and aren't scared of working 100+ hours a week. I did the same program with Baker and it has opened up so many doors for me. With the experience you get from that program you can pretty much go anywhere in the world and find a job. You will be sleeping in a pick up truck most nights and you will start off as a nobody. You will be a "hand" and it's up to you how far you go.

Pat, is the program names the same at BHI? I work for Baker, but haven't heard of any programs other than a sales one and the FE program.

Edit

[This message has been edited by Patmiller (edited 1/13/2013 1:29p).]

Baker just calls it their Associate Field Training program. Also known as "fast track". It is nine months long

Baker just calls it their Associate Field Training program. Also known as "fast track". It is nine months long

Thanks, I'll give it a look.

Skill set is completely different than an engineer but at the end of the day you are probably more valuable than the engineers if you are a supv or service leader and you will likely be making more money than your buddy very quickly. Their total comp maxes out pretty quick as they are salaried and really only receive one bonus that operators aren't eligible for. Your OT will surpass his income pretty quickly.

So you are a treater instead of a field engineer?

In that program, yes.

Thanks for the tips y'all. KT, do u work for Halliburton ?

Also, what is a treater?

A treater is a service supervisor. You are in charge of a frac crew and you are the one calling the job and telling the equipment operators, line boss and other hands what to do and when to do it to get the job done. You are also a babysitter taking care of 20+ grown men on location who act like teenagers for the most part. You have to be able to deal with people and run the job at the same time. The main part is going out there during your training and working harder than anyone else and gaining their respect. Once you have their respect the supervisor position is a lot easier. You also have to deal with the company man who expects perfection and expects the job to start on time in rain, snow or 120 degree heat. You have to calm the company man down and defuse whatever is going on whether it be equipment problems or an operator messed something up.

Yep pretty much.

And then blame the engineer when something goes wrong.

Yes I do. The babysitting part is right on.

[This message has been edited by Column (edited 2/11/2013 10:24p).]

Patmiller = spot on, the treater essentially runs the job from the frac van.

Anyone have any thoughts on which one would provide better opportunities down the line ( or are they both the same for potential career growth)? Thanks for all the input everyone. I might have another interview for wireline FE with another company coming up so I want to weigh options.

May be harder to get out of the field as a treater. They don't spend all that training on you to move you out in 2-3 years.

Thanks comeby. I just locked up the interview for another service company doing for wireline FE. I definitely don't anticipate getting out of the field ASAP, but I know I want to take a path that will give me a set of good options when I'm skilled enough, and I'm done working 100+ hr weeks. So now that I know my options could potentially be Wireline FE or field op professional, I need to make a decision assuming I get two offers

Depends on the company. A FE may have higher upside than any tech position. You need to be careful, the oilfield uses the word engineer liberally. If these positions were hypothetically with the same company, I would take the FE route.

The Wireline field engineer position is with Weatherford.

If you're expecting low hours just because you're an FE, you're mistaken.

IMO, Frac expertise would increase your chances of moving to an operator.

dadsanAG, I don't expect low hours at either job. Im guessing youre refering to the post in which I talk about career options. I know I am going to work all the time for the next several years and thats fine.

If the other job is Halliburton, you're better off with them. I've seen several engineers listed as field professionals (Frac engineers). Their program is has a good progression.

Yep, misread your reply. Apologies.

Dad,
Are you related to DanielsanAg?

Negative, sir. I'm an alum of another school, my old man is the Ag. Enjoy helping out and BS'ing about O&G on here.

Cool....but you missed my joke. Lol!

[This message has been edited by Comeby! (edited 1/16/2013 3:21p).]

I would choose WL myself. Some of the things you can run on Wireline and E-Line are pretty neat. Coil is better

For the OP, I don't think there is a wrong choice here. I would make your selection based on what kind of product line you wish to be involved in. Both positions offer great career tracks and they both condense your training into a short time span. You're ahead of the game no matter which you choose.