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Up Topic Welding Industry / General Welding Discussion / Rig chasers
- - By mastermetal (*) Date 09-17-2008 14:29
FYI    I am new to this forum, have been in welding for 23yrs I have learned so much reading these posts. Its sad that our trade is so ego driven that a guy cant ask these ? in the work place without feeling like a dumb ---. You guys that answer ? are great, we appreciate it. This make for better welders. That said, what is a rig chaser, what type of work do they do.
Parent - - By JescoPressure (**) Date 09-17-2008 14:48
generally you will do a conducter tube or diverter flanges( 14" and up pipe) when the rig moves onto a hole before they drill surface casing depending on what the oil company figures the surface is like (ie. gas, surface soil conditions) after they have TDed their surface casing you will go back to weld a well head onto the casing. You will usually do rig repairs and mods as required by the drilling crew. They call it rig chasing because your always chasing the rig from hole to hole.
Parent - - By mastermetal (*) Date 09-17-2008 15:06
Good money? pros-cons?
Parent - - By raftergwelding (*****) Date 09-17-2008 15:14
depends on the area you live in some areas pay better than others but it is the cost of living that sets it and most rig companies in my experience only pay so much not what you charge for example when i could work i was making 45 an hr chasing rigs 4 hour minimum and road time in colorado they going rate is 90 an hr acorrding to Sully and just 3 hours from me in brady the going rate is 55 at a rig yard the money is good but you work long hours to make it as well and theres times that you'll get to the rig and have to wait time starts when the phone rings not when you leave the house you get paid while you're on thier time i have sta in the truck numerous times for 12 hours or more and got paid to do it once you are there most pushers wont let you go until you are done it's alot of fun and very dangerous if you dont know what you are doing
Parent - - By mastermetal (*) Date 09-17-2008 17:12
   Thanks for the info. Sounds interesting
Parent - - By raftergwelding (*****) Date 09-17-2008 17:28
your welcome it is very intresting ,challenging and lots of fun
Parent - - By Partagas (*) Date 09-18-2008 03:14
Another noob question.  Are their any rig in the north east????
Parent - By raftergwelding (*****) Date 09-18-2008 03:21
north east U.S. OR N E Texas? either way i cant tell ya i know it's boomin over i west texas and up around ft worth
Parent - - By snuffman (***) Date 09-18-2008 03:23
Ive heard that there was some up towards you but not many.
Parent - - By Partagas (*) Date 09-18-2008 03:27
Sorry, I am in NY.
Parent - - By snuffman (***) Date 09-18-2008 03:31
Thats where Im talking about. I spoke with a hand that had New York plates last month at the welding supply and he said there was some but not much thats why he was down here.
Parent - - By Partagas (*) Date 09-18-2008 03:35
Right now their is not much welding in the state.  Got laid off 3 months ago and fighting for every interview.  That is way I was somewhat interested in if they had rigs up here.  Got to find my niche so I can make a living.  Trying to start a small Fab shop, but it is taking time.
Parent - By sbcmweb (****) Date 09-18-2008 03:39
Don't move to Michigan!! :-)

Lots of cut rate hacks doing cheap tricks for squat money. It hurts everyone else. I don't do pipe & have never even seen an oil rig in real life. If I was 20 all over again, I would have loved to go for it though. S.W.
Parent - By raftergwelding (*****) Date 09-18-2008 03:41
starting out on your own is hard it took me 5 years and a friend to get me set off rightif he hadnt of called me i'dstill be doin feedlot repairs which in a few weeks i may be doin again but it's all the same to me still welding junk to junk
Parent - - By Partagas (*) Date 09-18-2008 03:47
I have aws pipe ( mig ) cert and TUV Tig, and NYS DOT stick.  I can get a gas powered mig welder for around 700.00 so I was thinking of trying to work out a deal to get that.  That way I have a " somewhat " mobile unit, that and my Invert Tig and Hobart Mig I can do small jobs. 
Parent - - By raftergwelding (*****) Date 09-18-2008 03:58
what do you have to run stick with
Parent - - By Partagas (*) Date 09-18-2008 04:02
At this time........   Nothing.   Don't have the money for that kind of system.
Parent - By raftergwelding (*****) Date 09-18-2008 04:03
you'll need a good stic kmachine to run in the oil patch
Parent - - By Partagas (*) Date 09-18-2008 04:08
Well that leaves me out for awhile.  But good to know what rig chasing is.

Thanks for the 411
Parent - - By raftergwelding (*****) Date 09-18-2008 05:16
anytime thats why we're here
Parent - - By tigrooter (**) Date 09-18-2008 17:48
partagas in a few years it giong to be big in the penn, wv, oh and virgina area do to the shale play there. a company i've worked for has just put a office outside of pittsburg penn
Parent - By TozziWelding (**) Date 09-19-2008 01:01 Edited 09-19-2008 01:14
There is'nt $hit for rig work up here. If your lucky a gas company needs an existing line repaired, or puts a new distribution line in.
Parent - By Partagas (*) Date 09-19-2008 01:52
Hey I am a die hard Steeler fan.   So Pitt. could be a sign......
Parent - - By swsweld (****) Date 09-22-2008 02:51
tigrooter is right about Pennsylvania.
I found this today.
http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Investing/SuperModels/DakotaOilPersiaOnThePlains.aspx
Parent - By tigrooter (**) Date 09-22-2008 05:23
told ya the company is developing a new rig that they hope to use up there. it's a coiled tube rig that uses a air hammer prosses.
Up Topic Welding Industry / General Welding Discussion / Rig chasers

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