New Oil Field Wife

Ginger - posted on 05/07/2013

I have a question about a company that my husband is considering working for. The company name is Schlumberger. Anyone have any insite? Is it a good company (I have heard negative and positive) to work for? Have heard they randomly layoff, and get rid of experience for non experience at a cheaper wage. Would appreciate any information. The job would be in North Dakota.

Breanna - posted on 03/28/2013

my Husband works for halliburton. He has 2 weeks on 1 week off. Its really tough we have two kids and I'm pregnant now. It def gets so lonely our home is in montana, and he doesn't wanna move us all up there. Miss him a lot. But gotta pay the bills. Wish I had some company when he's away and someone to talk to because being pregnant it def gets emotional and I'm always worried he won't be here for labor

Lisa - posted on 01/08/2013

Oops its really not a good place for married man

Lisa - posted on 01/08/2013

Hi. My husband. Has been working in oilfieldin nd for almost two years . I was living in Texas with kids. But. Decided to move up here we found a mobile home in spearfish SD. Its beautiful. Here. But. I had found out that williston is really a good place for a married man . Its nice here butim so. Lonely I'm going crazy he still stays 200 miles from here and is getting one week off in three months.

Valarie - posted on 10/20/2012

My husband left for ND on Dec 27th of 2011 and has been there every since. I am here in FL with three children and have only been there once. My personal opinion is NO it is NOT worth the money! It has caused many of issues and as I type our relationship is very fragile. I had rather be poor and be a family as a whole than basically a single mother of three!

Hillary - posted on 09/17/2012

It definitely a change and can be lonely at times. My husband works for schlumberger oil ltd. He works 2 weeks on, followed by two weeks off. We have been doing this for 6 years.You get used to it. We live in Ketchikan, Alaska and he works in Prudhoe Bay, Bay, which is 1800 miles from home. I work full time for the Forest Service, and we have a 5 yro. Son who just started kindergarten.We make it work, and I find lots to do when he gone. Swimming lessons, hiking, ect.

Shauna - posted on 09/03/2012

My husband hauls for MBI, but is with a sub contracting company. Pay is great! He went ahead of me to check things out and I followed a month later with our kids. We found a place to rent. Many people are not posting rentals because they do not want several guys from the oil fields shacking up and trashing the place. My husband just talk to locals and found someone who was selling, but would rent. She just didn't want to advertise it. I made the decision to follow him because I could not ask him to come back to Washington and work twice as hard, for not even a quarter of what he is making now. Downside, I have no friends, Lol



A plus, I love the schools. The schools talk about being crowded, they should go to Seattle. Ha! Dickinson is better then the other areas. Williston and Minot are not the best, I would avoid those areas if you can. All of you who are doing this long distance, I envy your strength. I am a sissy. : )

Heather - posted on 09/02/2012

Hi Ladies,

My husband and I are considering the oil field. They pay just just too good to ignore. I work from home and am able to work from anywhere as long as I have an highspeed internet connection, so I would like to be with him or near him if possible. My question is are any of you with your husband where he is staying that is or at least close enough were he comes home regularly.

Any comments or reccomendations would be greatly appriciated!

Thanks

Kim - posted on 08/31/2012

are you moving up here?? i live in minot nd

Barbara - posted on 08/21/2012

There are TONS of cdl driving jobs here, and they pay very well.

Callie - posted on 08/14/2012

my husband works in saudi arabia for 35 days at a time, we have a 2year old and 1 year old daughters, so i feel ya. Its really lonely at times, and the extra set of hands around the house is greatly missed!

Diane - posted on 08/10/2012

H&P workers seem to like the company. I've delivered water to their rigs and they are clean and organized. That means a lot out here.

Diane - posted on 08/10/2012

Post a reply!I am a grandmother working as a water tanker driver in the oil field. I work with men and hear their concerns about home. Every time a wife leaves a driver for another man, you can see the worry on their faces. They know they can trust their wives, but there is always that little grain of worry. Frankly, having been a mother, I don't see how they think their wives have the time or energy to run around. By the way, my youngest was born in 1980. They don't have enough years to pick from.

Amy - posted on 07/10/2012

I know the feeling my husband has been in ND for almost three years now and I stayed in TX with our two small boys. It was a challenge and very difficult but we made it. Visits every month or two was the hardest. We couldn't do it anymore and we decided that he was gonna stay in ND so I moved up to Richardton outside Dickinson 3 weeks ago. My boys and I are so much happier and it's nice to see my man every night. Being an oilfield wife is no easy task but if you stand behind your man and he stands behind you it will work out. Good luck and everything will work out.

Cyndi - posted on 01/22/2012

i am with you my husband has been gone for 3 weeks and will not be home for another 4 weeks. i miss him but it is what we have to do to make ends meat. i know god has great planes for us. i just pray every night that he gives me the strength to get by.

Nicole - posted on 01/19/2012

He will be working as a pump tech.

Lindsay - posted on 01/19/2012

Nicole-



No my husband works for mountain state pressure services. Its a snubbing/nitrogen company. He is a snubbing operator. What will your husband be doing? I hate it here lol. I just deal with it because of my husbands job. Ive lived here all my life but its not exactly where I would want to be :). Nice talkin to ya

Nicole - posted on 01/19/2012

Hi Lindsay,

Does your Husband work for Halliburton? It will be adjustment but we will make the best of it until we know it is time to make the move. I do love Wyoming it is so pretty so I am not oppose to moving there. I just hate the being away from my honey! I will definitely let ya know if we move to Rock Springs do I will know a few people when we move. Thank you for you reply :)

Lindsay - posted on 01/18/2012

Nicole-

I live in Rock Springs! There is a lot of work here! Let me know if you end up moving here :). My husband doesnt work for Nabors but I know how you feel, he's been gone for a week and a half and is planning being gone for around another month. We've never been more than 2 1/2 to 3 weeks apart....

Nicole - posted on 01/18/2012

Yeah I hear on the plus side of having a job with the way the job market is. No he has never worked for Nabors before. He leaves out tomorrow for Wy. He has school for 2 weeks and then will be on the job for 2 weeks. If this job works out we move with him to Rock Springs. I am trying to stay positve and this will work into an awesome opportunity for him and us as well. I am excited and nervous to see where his career will take us. Thank you all who have responded in regards to this. Things are always easier when someone can help you get through the tough times.

Stacy - posted on 01/17/2012

It's hard, but having a job is worth so much right now. I keep me and the kids busy and that helps a lot. My husband worked for Parker Drilling in Alaska for 3 years and then for Noble Drilling in the Middle East for 6 months (not a good fit) and now he is going to work for Nabors drilling. He was an assistant driller, but now because of the change he is working floors, in southern WY and we live in Southeastern UT. Nicole did your husband go to work for Nabors? Mine just finished his 7 days of Roughneck school on Monday and then was sent to Wamsutter to take a BP corse that he has already taken., and then sent to a rig. He didn't take any work clothes or anything with him oh well we love to buy more!!!! I hope he buys more socks too, cause it seems like everytime he comes home has more socks. I have a garbage bag full in the shed.

JULIE - posted on 01/16/2012

It's a hard adjustment, I have been living it for a few months now and it hasn't got any easier.

Alot of people don't get it unless they know what you are going thru.

My husband works in Williston and works 15 days on and 6 days off.

There is no place to stay there, so families really can't move out there.

He lives in a mancamp which is ending this month and will be going to a motel. There are long lists to get in for them to stay anywhere so it's very frustrating.

The only good thing is when your husband does come home you have some great bonding time and you try to make the most of the time you have together.

It does help to have people to talk to who is going thru the same stuff you are.

Hang in there! It's not easy I know.

Julie

JULIE - posted on 01/16/2012

Jane,

There is no place to stay in or by Williston and that is where my husband is. He stays in a mancamp now, but the camp he is in will end this month and he has to go to a motel.

He works 15 days on and 6 days off, the bad thing is that it takes him 1 day to drive home and 1 day to drive back so we don't get the full 6 days, but right now that's the best we have.

I hear there are alot of people on the waiting list to get in places to stay, which is hard.

I don't know much about the company your husband works for but he could ask if they have any places for families that want to come out.

I at one time heard some companies help families to relocate, but I don't know for sure.

It's so hard, I know.

It does help to have someone to talk to who is going thru the same thing.

Hang in there!

Julie

Nicole - posted on 01/16/2012

My Husband leaves out this Thursday and starts on Friday in Wyoming. He hasn't even left yet and I am so sad! He has 3 weeks of school and then 2 weeks of work, so I won't see him for a month. When he does start working it will be 9 days on 5 days off.. we are going to see how this goes and maybe move closer if the job pans out. We never been apart before.. any advice would great! :(

Jane - posted on 01/16/2012

I saw your post and was wondering if you ever found a place to stay in ND. My husband started this week at Missouri Basin in Belfield. He has a place to stay untill April..He spent last week looking for places but could only find ones with long waiting lists. Mean time, I am stuck here in Michigan missing him terribly!

JULIE - posted on 01/15/2012

I wish they would change their policies so they are home more. It's just too hard on families. With the way the economy is I can see more guys having to go out there. My husband works for Sanjel in fracking. He likes it but it's long hours and he said everyone says the money is good but the toughest thing is being away from family.

If you ever need to talk feel free to email, I had the toughest time with this and still do. I know there is not an alternative right now, but that doesn't make it easier.

Hang in there, I sure hope it gets better for you. Hopefully the money will be worth it!

Jane - posted on 01/15/2012

Thanks Julie..I do talk to him every day, but he is so far away and won't be able to come home for a visit for a long time. We almost lost everything here in Michigan,so I should be thankful that now he will be making money again. I am disabled and can't work so not much to do to make the time go by. He is in training for the next 2 weeks in Belfield and will be driving truck for Missouri Basin Co. I am glad I found this site as it helps to hear that I am not alone and I guess if you all can do it ..so can I!

JULIE - posted on 01/15/2012

I know it's very hard and it's hard not to be bitter at the economy. I was the same way.

I still have a very hard time and it's been over a month for me since he started actually working out there.

I at least have a 15 year old still with me, or I would go crazy.

I am thankful I work full time or it would be just too hard.

It's a hard occupation for them to be in but there was no choice for us.

I am able to at least talk to my husband everyday, not for very long at some points.

I hope you can talk with him at least. I don't know how long he is gone or what he does, but my husband is gone 15 days and home for 6. It's been the toughest thing as we were never apart either.

There is no where to stay there so moving out there would be out of the question.

It's very tough on them and for the people left behind.

It's hard work and we have to be so proud of them for working so hard for us.

People don't get how tough it is for the wives if they aren't in our situation.

I am hoping our situation isn't long term, because it is tough. I have thought about trying to find a place out there, but if you do it's like 3 hours or more away so I've decided to stay here for now.

It gets very lonely I know and I have never cried so much either.

Just know it will get better, but it's very very hard to adjust.

It helps to have people who are going thru the same thing.

I have a lot of bad days! You just have to take one day at a time and try to stay busy.

I know it's not easy, but know there are alot of us wives right there with you.

Jane - posted on 01/15/2012

My kids are grown and I miss my husband so much. He left only 6 days ago and I don't know if I can stand it . We have never been apart and no where for me to stay out there and I don't know when I will see him again. I hate this..I hate Michigan for not keeping him employed here. I wish i could stop crying.

Krisy - posted on 12/11/2011

My hubby recently joined those in North Dakota. We just finished his first visit home and it was wonderful!! We just enjoy every minute we have together and then stay strong for the next set of work away from home. Support from others including friends and family. Available to chat anytime. Hang in there.

Raina - posted on 12/11/2011

My Husband just left today. He will be gone for 2 weeks, it's really hard for me to except that he will miss Christmas especially since it is the babies first. :S But I just keep telling myself that this will all pay off in the end.

JULIE - posted on 12/04/2011

Yes, been doing a lot of praying! Great to know there are others out there for support.

Kelli - posted on 12/03/2011

hey there I will b in the same boat too soon and all it seems u can do is pray! We can go thru this together need a pick me up? Rite me I'll b there. From a new bee too

JULIE - posted on 12/02/2011

My husband is going through the training and will be headed for ND within a couple of weeks. I already hate it.
I hope it is something he will like. It's hard on the families left home that's for sure.

Colette - posted on 11/20/2011

My husband was in Williston, ND for almost 2 months... we were 17 hours away from eachother. That SUCKED!!! We have lived this way for 4 years... and it doesn't get easier... I still miss him like crazy but we have a home here in NM & our 4 kids are doing so well in school & we are surrounded by our families... so we sacrifice being together for now. But I can honestly say that there is a new limit on how far away he can go after being up there. It was too far & he missed out on so much because he couldn't just come home. I did get to go for 2 weeks to see him and I have NEVER seen anything like it! The boom is unreal! Man camps every where.. there were no trailer slots & if we found one that was available it was sky high in price! I was so glad to see him come home! Now he is 3 hours away working in Texas... I will take that! LOL.. I would love to be with him & have him home every night but with 4 kiddos & chasing pipelines & moving all the time & dealing with my ex husband & his ex wife.. it is just easier for us to live like this but it is hard as hell... It is... but I have a good man that works so hard to provide for us all.. I just keep reminding us both... someday soon, someday soon.. :)

Sara - posted on 10/28/2011

Because there is a lot of oil here

Selena - posted on 10/27/2011

Why are there so many jobs in North Dakota?

Wendy - posted on 10/27/2011

Same here! My husband left for North Dakota 3 weeks ago. He is only 9 hours away but doesn't matter because there is no place for us to stay if we want to visit. Hang in there "single mom" I feel for you! Where is he working in ND?

Dixie - posted on 10/27/2011

I feel your pain girl. My husband is on call 24 7 and misses so much. This time around he has been gone for twelve days so far but he isn't home yet. It's tough but it's the life we chose. It's hardest on my kiddos.

Natasha - posted on 10/04/2011

I'm in the same boat as you and he just left a week ago...He went to North Dakota and we're living in Montana. It's hard but just have look at the positive it's worth the money. How long is he gone for?

Jackie - posted on 09/05/2011

Hi...Looks like we're in the same boat. Husbands new to the oil field, living in Oregon, and wondering what God is up to for our lives......and, missing my hubby too! I'm really glad to find this thread, nice to know we're not alone :)

Alicia - posted on 07/23/2011

Hi Rachel, After all of the looking...he went with Missouri Basin. We also heard and that Power Fuels was a very good company. From what I understand there are a lot of opportunities out there, but only a few that care about safety and their employees in terms of truck driving. Also, we have heard numerous horror stories about people that have gone out there and worked only to get back home and have the check the bounce once he got home for his week or two off. I know there are obviously good companies out there that are oil rig jobs instead. I don't know a lot about those type of companies, but I do know Missouri Basin has their own rigs and everyone speaks highly of them. Their website is: http://www.missouribasinwell.com/ OR you can go to the North Dakota Job Service website at:
www.jobsnd.com/ AND enter "oil" as keyword AND search the entire state for jobs. Also, some companies offer housing for a small amount and others do not. Missouri is one that does.

Would you consider moving to North Dakota? We looked into it and will be moving. We wanted our kids to be in a bigger town like Dickinson where there was going to be more opportunity. There is a state university there, a large shopping mall, private catholic school (which is cheaper than we pay here) and a lot of opportunities for me to have a life as well. When I looked into some other "hot' oil patch areas they just didn't offer what I needed for our family. This also played into what made him decide on Missouri Basin Well service. Hope this helps! : ) I just want to try to help you as much as possible because we just went through this very similar thing. OH!!! Also if you live in ND, the state income tax difference is unbelievable! They have almost no state income tax! My husband will bring home $1,000/month more due to their low state income tax rate. Just something to think about - as it was for us. If you go to http://www.paycheckcity.com/calculator/n... and view the various scenarios based on your state's income tax vs. North Dakota's state income tax you can see the difference for yourself for your own situation.

Rachel - posted on 07/23/2011

Alicia- I do appreciate the info. Well he got the call about the job today and they want him to start on the rig as a Floorhand even though he has derrickhand experience but compared to what he is making in the oil field in kansas he would be making almost triple pay in just straight time. I would love him to get a CDL job instead of a rig job but unfortunately he just got his CDL in March and only has Class B with tankers. He doesn't want to pay the money for trucker school for his class A. I wish there was an easier way to help him get it.

As far of doing research, I have tried to find the best drilling companies to work for and only found one website. Any recommendations on a website that has a lot of helpful information? Also, if you don't mind me asking what company your husband works for?

Again, I really appreciate your help on everything!!!

Alicia - posted on 07/22/2011

Hey Rachel ~ my husband and I spent a lot of time debating it and after spending a great deal of time researching the whole idea we felt the following areas to be important in order for it to be successful for us. Of course, this depends on what he does out there as well. My husband is a specialized heavy hauler with all CDL hazmat/tanker/ doubles&triples endorsements and a lot of experience. In our scenario it became increasingly clear that housing and getting on with the "right" company were going to be the most important and difficult areas first to deal with. He was able to get on with one of the best out there who also provides housing. They have flexible schedules and pay 100% of the family premium for the best health insurance plan out there. He will be starting out at around $108,000/year and be home every 23 days for one week. We have two kids and I am use to being home without him as he has been in this line of work for a while. You have to be sure you can be away on your own. I also have a lot of family nearby so it isn't so hard. However, with that being said we are planning on buying a house and permanently moving out there next Spring/Summer since they are currently building a lot of house right now and it's almost impossible to find something to rent for a reasonable price. I hope you find the right answer for you guys. Pray about it and it will all become clear.

Rachel - posted on 07/21/2011

My boyfriend is thinking about going to North Dakota while I stay in Kansas with our daughter and my son. Do you think the money worth it?

Alicia - posted on 06/13/2011

You must be terribly excited to see him! I've been fortunate enough to have a lot of family support very close. Our son is older and our daughter is busy with neighborhood friends. I know it has helped me a lot to have our older son and family support. In my case, it has gotten a lot easier to be without him. You have your plate very full, but keep trusting that God has a plan and He will give you the strength. ; )

TaBetha - posted on 06/13/2011

He actually had to live on campus while he was in school a few years back for about six months, but I only had our first child then. This is all pretty much new to me. I booked my flight to go see him in July today!

Alicia - posted on 06/12/2011

Thank you...I hope you are doing ok. Have you had to be away from him for a long time before? Do you have family nearby?

TaBetha - posted on 06/12/2011

Alicia- my husband says go to powerfuels.com to look for work.

Alicia - posted on 06/12/2011

Hang in there TaBetha. My husband is just looking into the whole oilfield idea, but not sure how to get on or who is a good company. He was an over the road specialized truck driver for years and would be gone for weeks at a time and only home for a day or two in between. He made great money, but unfortunately the company lost a huge contract and he had to leave because the money just wasn't there anymore. Anyone have any ideas what a guy with a great CDL license record and all endorsements could make with an oil company...are they even hiring?