Well hey there readers, hope you're doing swell. I arrived in Abu Dhabi earlier today (7:40 a.m. their time, around 9:40 p.m. in Texas or 6:40 p.m. in Alaska), finishing my 36 or so hours of travel.
Everything went well, aside from one little thing in London. As I had mentioned to some, I was supposed to have a 10+ hour layover in London. I had hoped I could use this opportunity to see London (just some tourist areas) for the first time. Unfortunately, this plan relied on me being able to check my bags with Etihad (the airline of Abu Dhabi) very early. They didn't want to play ball on this, so my colleague and I ate fish and chips in the airport, drank a few pints, and slept on some benches. Not quite as exciting as Trafalgar square or the London Eye, but if that is the worst thing that happened travel wise then I will be alright. I will also say that Etihad is an extremely nice airline, and I really enjoyed my flight with them (nothing against Delta).
I've walked around the city a bit, ate at a restaurant -which by the look of the staff and fellow diners was not used to tourist types walking in-, and fully moved into my apartment.
I will update the photo blog soon with some more pictures from the slope and the few pictures I've taken in Abu Dhabi (from the cab and apartment, didn't carry around the camera while walking today).
I'll post more soon.
-Russell
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Leaving tomorrow
Well, the long awaited trip to Abu Dhabi is about to commence. Honestly, I wasn't excited until a few hours ago when I started to research Abu Dhabi and pack (I'm learning to live life the Schlumberger way, last minute).
My roommate and I will leave tomorrow morning, and will arrive two full days later. Most readers may wonder why this trip is taking two full days; flying from Alaska adds logistics issues that catch up with us on our way there; we will have a 10 hour layover in London. I'm hoping to check my bags early and see some of the main areas of London (time permitting).
I will try to update with pictures soon from the recent rigs I have been on, as well as pictures taken of all the traveling. Stay in touch.
My roommate and I will leave tomorrow morning, and will arrive two full days later. Most readers may wonder why this trip is taking two full days; flying from Alaska adds logistics issues that catch up with us on our way there; we will have a 10 hour layover in London. I'm hoping to check my bags early and see some of the main areas of London (time permitting).
I will try to update with pictures soon from the recent rigs I have been on, as well as pictures taken of all the traveling. Stay in touch.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Life at a Rig: Part Deux
I ended my last post with "I'll post more on this subject tomorrow...". What most of you didn't know is that "tomorrow" means 2-3 weeks later here in Alaska. In all seriousness, sorry for the lack of updates. Schlumberger requires FET's (Field Engineer Trainees) to take an entrance exam before attending ENG 1 -the training course in Abu Dhabi; if one were to fail this exam twice, then they are most likely fired. As you can imagine, I was busy studying for this exam...and skiing on the weekends. I passed the exam, and now I am back on the slope working. I will try to be more vigilant at updating this blog and keeping you, the reader, in the loop.
So, back to the whole life on the slope topic.
Field Engineers only stay at the Schlumberger camp for short periods of time unless there is specific business at camp they need to handle. A FE (Field Engineer) will leave SLB camp for a forward rig camp. These camps tend to be located closer to the actual drilling sites, allowing for an easy commute to the rig and their living quarters. The general process of checking in and rooms is almost identical to that described in the previous post, but each camp has their own process.
The FE's will have already worked out who is on days (the more experienced hand usually) and nights. After getting settled in, they will rig up the logging unit (placing sensors, running cables, etc...) and will get ready for the job. Usually after rigging up, the hand who should be asleep takes the truck back to camp and gets some rest while the other hand continues preparing for the job. Lunch is usually brought to the rig for the roughnecks, roustabouts, and general rig crew while the supporting cast (company man, toolpusher, any service companies) eat in the company man's camp.
The FE at camp will drive the truck to the rig site and change out with the on-duty hand before his/her shift starts. Thus, the cycle is renewed.
Hope this sheds a little light on day to day life. Let me know in the comments section below (you can comment without an account) if you want more detail on any aspect of the life, or just want to hear about something else. Keep in touch.
So, back to the whole life on the slope topic.
Field Engineers only stay at the Schlumberger camp for short periods of time unless there is specific business at camp they need to handle. A FE (Field Engineer) will leave SLB camp for a forward rig camp. These camps tend to be located closer to the actual drilling sites, allowing for an easy commute to the rig and their living quarters. The general process of checking in and rooms is almost identical to that described in the previous post, but each camp has their own process.
The FE's will have already worked out who is on days (the more experienced hand usually) and nights. After getting settled in, they will rig up the logging unit (placing sensors, running cables, etc...) and will get ready for the job. Usually after rigging up, the hand who should be asleep takes the truck back to camp and gets some rest while the other hand continues preparing for the job. Lunch is usually brought to the rig for the roughnecks, roustabouts, and general rig crew while the supporting cast (company man, toolpusher, any service companies) eat in the company man's camp.
The FE at camp will drive the truck to the rig site and change out with the on-duty hand before his/her shift starts. Thus, the cycle is renewed.
Hope this sheds a little light on day to day life. Let me know in the comments section below (you can comment without an account) if you want more detail on any aspect of the life, or just want to hear about something else. Keep in touch.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Life at a rig
I realized that I have yet to describe day to day life on the North Slope. I will eventually add pictures to the web album of the rig camps.
There are two ways to get to Deadhorse, Alaska (the town that houses all the workers for the Prudhoe Bay oilfield). One can drive, Ice Road Truckers, or fly. Honestly, the main way to get to the slope is to fly. Flying consists of taking an Alaskan Airlines flight, or Shared Services. Shared Services is an airline owned and operated by BP and ConnocoPhillips. The Boeing 737's are new, well maintained, and have a full staff of flight attendants. I'm not sure of the criteria for using Shared Services, but that is all that I have flown thus far. The planes land at the Deadhorse airport. Buses will pull up to the plane if you're going to certain camps that are more remote (helicopter access only, etc...).
Once you exit the plane, and pass the buses, the only other place to go is the terminal. There, you can gather your bags and bundle up as you search the parking lot for the company dog sled. The world's washed up Iditarod drivers end up working in Prudhoe as oil field transportation.
After that last comment, you should laugh; smile at the very least.
Actually Schlumberger has a company van that handles airport transportation. The van takes you to the company camp, where you can gather your arctic gear and get a company truck if you're heading to a rig camp. Schlumberger Drilling personnel that work in the field live at rig camps, leaving the shop guys at the SLB camp. This puts the cost of living on the client, not on SLB. I only stay at the SLB camp if I'm doing any work there or there is no room left in the rig camp. I'll keep this limited to my experience, versus that of other employees.
Once I arrive at the SLB camp, I check in with the big bosses and travel with the other FE's working the same job to the rig camp. Each drilling rig has a corresponding rig camp, equipped with workout facilities, spike room (24 hour food and drink access), and a kitchen. The camp chef and house cleanig crew coordinate rooms. The camps will try to have you share a room with your alternate, so you can have the room to yourself when you need to sleep while your alternate works. You do get your own bed and closet, so hot-bunking is not an issue.
I'll post more on this subject tomorrow, keep in touch.
There are two ways to get to Deadhorse, Alaska (the town that houses all the workers for the Prudhoe Bay oilfield). One can drive, Ice Road Truckers, or fly. Honestly, the main way to get to the slope is to fly. Flying consists of taking an Alaskan Airlines flight, or Shared Services. Shared Services is an airline owned and operated by BP and ConnocoPhillips. The Boeing 737's are new, well maintained, and have a full staff of flight attendants. I'm not sure of the criteria for using Shared Services, but that is all that I have flown thus far. The planes land at the Deadhorse airport. Buses will pull up to the plane if you're going to certain camps that are more remote (helicopter access only, etc...).
Once you exit the plane, and pass the buses, the only other place to go is the terminal. There, you can gather your bags and bundle up as you search the parking lot for the company dog sled. The world's washed up Iditarod drivers end up working in Prudhoe as oil field transportation.
After that last comment, you should laugh; smile at the very least.
Actually Schlumberger has a company van that handles airport transportation. The van takes you to the company camp, where you can gather your arctic gear and get a company truck if you're heading to a rig camp. Schlumberger Drilling personnel that work in the field live at rig camps, leaving the shop guys at the SLB camp. This puts the cost of living on the client, not on SLB. I only stay at the SLB camp if I'm doing any work there or there is no room left in the rig camp. I'll keep this limited to my experience, versus that of other employees.
Once I arrive at the SLB camp, I check in with the big bosses and travel with the other FE's working the same job to the rig camp. Each drilling rig has a corresponding rig camp, equipped with workout facilities, spike room (24 hour food and drink access), and a kitchen. The camp chef and house cleanig crew coordinate rooms. The camps will try to have you share a room with your alternate, so you can have the room to yourself when you need to sleep while your alternate works. You do get your own bed and closet, so hot-bunking is not an issue.
I'll post more on this subject tomorrow, keep in touch.
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