So the husband of my wife's cousin is a tool pusher on a land rig. I know nothing about that line of work or what that position even is.

Anyway, he's wanting to get into the plants. What positions in the plants would best be suited for the skill set of a tool pusher? Operations or maintenance? If maintenance would he need to start at the bottom as a fire watch or a helper? Or does the skill set of a tool pusher maybe allow him to start as a bolt up hand or pipefitter?

I work in the plants ans deal with a lot of contractors so i can likely help him if I just know what position to try and hook him up with. Thanks for any advice. He's not college educated ftr.

I recall from my summer roughnecking days that tool-pushers are more managerial. Operations would be the best fit.

Certain companies loan specialized tools out to rigs (like if they drop something downhole, this company has tools to help retrieve it).

The tool pushers job is to "oversee" his tools that are on loan. He brings them to a rig, "supervises" their use (but doesn't actually use them), and then brings them back.

That is the simplest explanation that my husband gave me. Up here, tool pushers are paid very well, and typically have at least 5 years as an operator on a rig.

If he's been on a rig, a tool pusher is also known as the rig manager. He has done pretty much every job on the rig from Floorhand all the way to Driller. He knows just about everything there is to know about a drilling rig and how to drill.

Thank you! That sounds right. I think he sits in a truck a lot at the rig but doesn't physically work.

His company is treating him poorly. I guess it's good he's not laid off but per diem is only reimbursed for fuel/hotel now (as opposed to money just loaded on a debit card to use however you want) and he's the opposite of G40 now. If he works over 40 they pay him salary and if he works under 40 they pay him hourly.

Again it's good he's not laid off like so many but I would be looking also.


Wish I would've heard he was looking sooner. My work just took applications for operations just last weekend.

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If he's been on a rig, a tool pusher is also known as the rig manager. He has done pretty much every job on the rig from Floorhand all the way to Driller. He knows just about everything there is to know about a drilling rig and how to drill.

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There are rig pushers and tool pushers. They are different jobs. One is a rig manager who basically lives on site, one is in charge of his toolst and goes home at the end of the day.

Rig pushers are basically the go between for the drillers and the company man. Tool pushers don't actually answer to anyone at the rig site.

Our operators all need a bachelors or a 2 year plant operator associates degree. I don't know how it is other places. Unless he's looking to go back to school, maintenance hand may be a better fit.

How old is he? I imagine someone would pick him up as a pipefitter if he works hard and is trainable.

He also needs to be prepared for a culture change in regards to safety. Drillers talk safety, but they're cowboys compared to plant folks in my experience.

He's loser 30s.

And plants here say PTEC degree, bachelors, or experience. The lower paying plants hire guys that were instrument hands offshore, farmers, or personal references some. But obv it helps a lot to have a PTEC degree.

Guess there isn't a direct correlation. Might just tell him to carpet bomb the plants and contractors with applications and hope for the best. I think he's ok with a pay cut at first. Not sure his wife is haha

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Drillers talk safety, but they're cowboys compared to plant folks in my experience.

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For real. I see people daily missing a finger and its near 100% from working on an oil rig.

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If he's been on a rig, a tool pusher is also known as the rig manager. He has done pretty much every job on the rig from Floorhand all the way to Driller. He knows just about everything there is to know about a drilling rig and how to drill.

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There are rig pushers and tool pushers. They are different jobs. One is a rig manager who basically lives on site, one is in charge of his toolst and goes home at the end of the day.

Rig pushers are basically the go between for the drillers and the company man. Tool pushers don't actually answer to anyone at the rig site.

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I don't think this is true for some areas in the industry. The tool pusher is the supervisor for the drilling contractor and reports to the company man around here. But based on the OP saying sitting in a truck on location and staying in hotels, sounds like he works for a 3rd party.

This isn't 100% correct but I guess it depends on the region? The tool pushers I'm familiar with did not work for a third party and they weren't just there to oversee their tools. I think like we've seen on other threads though, oilfield terms aren't necessarily universal.

I apologize. My husband informed me that I am getting tool pusher and tool hand confused.


Sorry

How much are operators making in the plants? Assuming it's hourly pay with 12 hr shift work. Is it a good place to start out for a BA grad. and then move up or around from there?

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How much are operators making in the plants? Assuming it's hourly pay with 12 hr shift work. Is it a good place to start out for a BA grad. and then move up or around from there?

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low paying sites start operators at $25/hr, the highest in the area is $40/hr starting off. And you work 12 hour shift work. So 6 figures right off the bat normally.

The money is good. The hours are long. You need some mechanical aptitude to get by. We have lots of former teachers come over for the money. Ability to progress to other positions is pretty limited. You can move up the operator chain some and get paid a little more or move into a day staff support role with lower pay but more normal hours and less OT.

My high school buddy got a 2 year operator degree and works at Dow Freeport. He made $160k last year but worked a lot of OT.

That is a LOT of OT.

Many operators are unionized too, so you have to deal with that mentality.

My old man was an operator for 20 years and then a steelman (stillman?) for 10 at the chevron/phillips plant in Sweeny. He retired for 5 years and is now back working as a consultant to a bunch of green guys with degrees. He loves his gig now and will probably do it for a couple of more years until he hangs it up for good.

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That is a LOT of OT.

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I think their were some performance bonuses thrown in there. Not 100% hourly wages.