Info wanted on Drillers Assistants

Jestr75 · 24-10-2007, 07:53 PM

Hey guys,
Just wondering if anyone can give a bit of info on becoming a Drillers Assistant as it seems to be my only shot at getting into the mining industry. I would like to know what to expect in the way of working conditions, salary & career development. I have had a look at some websites but i would like to know what people who have done drilling or know peole who have think about it.

Outbackjack · 24-10-2007, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cruntmonkee

Hey guys,
Just wondering if anyone can give a bit of info on becoming a Drillers Assistant as it seems to be my only shot at getting into the mining industry. I would like to know what to expect in the way of working conditions, salary & career development. I have had a look at some websites but i would like to know what people who have done drilling or know peole who have think about it.

Can't help you with any info like that, but just wanted to say good luck with your attempts to get into mining. One of the best ways to make serious money. Have you tried contacting some of the mining companies, like santos etc??

adumb · 24-10-2007, 08:04 PM

Try speaking to http://www.mckaydrilling.com.au perhaps? The money is pretty decent from what I have heard but its hot dirty work

melon466 · 24-10-2007, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Outbackjack

Can't help you with any info like that, but just wanted to say good luck with your attempts to get into mining. One of the best ways to make serious money. Have you tried contacting some of the mining companies, like santos etc??

Agree about the mining industry in general, but Santos are a bunch of ****s to work for, preach about workplace health and safety to all thier contractors and yet they have the most vehicle related accidents in the Cooper Basin. Try Century Drilling, PDI, Ensign, EWS that are now called Easternwell Group I think. They all pay reasonable money and are all drilling companies. Then there's all the other contractors that work for Santos, Halliburton, Bardrill, Diversified Construction, Mansell's Transport, the list goes on, and that's only Cooper Basin located companies, (South Australia).

DoreSlamR · 24-10-2007, 08:08 PM

Drillers assistant will be hard work, depending what you're drilling for you will probably spend your time in a bush camp, the money is reasonably good compared to your average 9-5 job and it is a good way to get a start in the industry. You'll need a HR license and marcsta or similar.

Good luck with it mate!

Jestr75 · 24-10-2007, 08:42 PM

Thanks guys, i Have a HR license and my last few jobs have been pretty physically demanding (roof tiling, furnaceman) so the hot, dirty and hard work doesn't worry me.

jason_85 · 24-10-2007, 08:50 PM

Hey mate

I worked at a coal seam gas place whilst on work experience for uni. this was in moranbah. The drillers got paid some really good money but it looked fairly monotenous.

I went out with the geos for a day and from what i could see the drill assistants ran around doing little bits and pieces and also took samples from teh mud they drilled so the geos could log the well.

Not sure if this is the type of drilling you wanna get into or not.....

The company was called Mitchell drilling.

if i can be of anymore help send me a pm

RIPGMH · 24-10-2007, 08:52 PM

How much money do you call good money? Theres plenty of good dollars around for better jobs than drillers offsider.

jason_85 · 24-10-2007, 08:58 PM

not sure about offsiders but the drillers where quite high (not sure on figures).....

farmernz · 24-10-2007, 09:42 PM

i used to be an offsider, the work requires strength and fitness but these come very quickly when you first start, when i first started i felt like i had played rugby for 12 hours straight and was so knackered i would fall asleep as soon as i sat down,after a few months you go to work and back and feel quite normal-you get used to it. most rigs have a driller and 2 offsiders and it is quit competitive between crews who can drill the most meters in a shift(usually 12 hours), if you all work well and dont wreck the gear(have breakdowns) you can earn really good money,we got paid a basic hourly rate and a meter bonus(which is where you make your money). As it is outside all day you get hot dry and dusty or cold and wet and noisey it doesnt suit everone but i really enjoyed it,you learn abit of mechanics,welding,geology, 4wd,etc and you meet a lot of real characters and have a good social time and when you get time off your cashed up, on average i used to work 4-6 weeks on then have a week off but it all depends on what contracts the rigs have as to where you are and for how long,some contracts are on mine sites with permanant accomodation and food, others are on exploration usually living in a caravan somewhere in the bush looking after your selves. there are different types of rigs to work on-my work was mainly on rc rigs which use an air powered hammer to drill, every meter you get a bag of sample(like a bag of gravel) to carry and lay out on the ground in order, and every 6 meters you hoist up another drill rod in to the drill (the rods are 6m long) you keep going till you get to the required depth , the speed of the drill depends on how hard the ground is.i aslo worked on a diamond rig for a while which uses a fast spinning diamond tipped bit to drill, it uses water to keep it cool (stop it melting) it cuts a long solid core out off the ground(instead of a bag off gravel), so you wait around untill it cuts a rod lenght then pull the core out and lay it out in trays for the geologists to study, add another rod and keep drilling.there are other types of drilling but i dont know them. the idea of drilling is to show what is happening in the ground at different depths-so they can determine which direction the seem of gold is running. i worked for 4 different companies when i was an offsider due to contracts expiring etc and can recomend mckay drilling as being good to work for- there saftey and equiptment is topknotch, ausdrill is another big company and there a heaps of otheres also, i left the mines in 2001 so i dont know what the pay is like now but in 1999 when i started i made 83000 in 10 months which i thought was huge after coming from a low farmhand wage, as for career devalopment it can be a right place right time thing, if you learn to drill in aus you can drill anywhere in the world, or you may meet someone offering work in a different area of the mines. i went drilling in scotland for a year and had a blast, did lots of travelling and now im back working on a farm.(but with lots of toys in the shed). i found my work by door knocking at all the drilling companies until somone hired me, it took about 2 days, and then when you have some experince on rigs you may be able to approch better companies and better pay but you will usually get a trail period with a lower pay to see if your up to the job. hope this helps and good luck.

Kobayashi · 25-10-2007, 07:23 PM

From what i gathered, it depends on your experience

I just got a job with ensign, now i just wait to get my fly out date

Shitkickers (leasehands) start as 67k a year, for 2 weeks on, 2 weeks off. As i have had NO experience with the mining industry, they say it could take 3-4 years to become an assistant driller, depending on how much training i try and get under my belt when i am home.

I had to do a course through a training company here in adelaide, which is where most of the ensign/pdi leasehands are chosen from.

From what i hear, the move from leasehand, to floorman is damn fast, sometimes even as quick as your first hitch.

I cant wait to fly out, sick of worrying where my coupe funds will come from ;)

jason_85 · 25-10-2007, 07:27 PM

wow 3 -4 yrs just to be an assistant driller!!!!

goodluck out there mate!

Kobayashi · 25-10-2007, 08:10 PM

Thanks mate

Assistant driller is where all the fun stuff begins though. Thats when you start getting offered the overseas contracts, which end up being tax free

I am expecting it to be damn hot, they say 15 litres of water a day isn't unusual to be drinking. Its not only the pay thats good, its the savings i make from not having to worry about food/petrol and living for 2 weeks out of every 4.

The new camps look good too, looks like they have 50 inch plasmas, austar, playstations and new dvd's. And a shower/toilet in every room.

jason_85 · 25-10-2007, 08:21 PM

yeah the camps are good. i start next year adn it has gyms, pool and a sauna!!

the best thing to find is some sort of accomoation for your 2 weeks off. cause otherwise its sorta depressing when you have to pay for 4 weeks of rent when your only there for 2 weeks.

maybe find someone who is on the opposite roster that way you can share it.... that way you save even more

melon466 · 25-10-2007, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kobayashi

I just got a job with ensign, now i just wait to get my fly out date

;)

Do you know what rig you'll be going to and where they are located, if it's in the cooper basin anywhere near Moomba expect close to 50+ temps and unbelievable flies. Trust me, I've been in the basin for many years and still it gets to me.

[dave] · 25-10-2007, 09:29 PM

how much money would i be lookin at as a boiler maker welder ??

jason_85 · 25-10-2007, 09:49 PM

hard to say... i recommend looking at the jobs online and see if there are any matches.....

it all depends on how remote you are, your roster and who your contractor is......

an extremely rough guess i would say at least $100000 a year

Kobayashi · 26-10-2007, 06:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by melon466

Do you know what rig you'll be going to and where they are located, if it's in the cooper basin anywhere near Moomba expect close to 50+ temps and unbelievable flies. Trust me, I've been in the basin for many years and still it gets to me.

Not sure on exact rig # as yet, but its going to be cooper, yeah. Theres a ton of shuffling going on atm, so nobody is sure where we are all going to end up

Its already 45 out there from what i hear, and even the night shifts are 32-35 degrees. My mind knows how hot it will be, but lets face it, i cant prepare fully till i've been there

As far as money goes, i currently get about 2200 a month for my 38 hour a week job. (after tax). The leasehand job gets me about 3900 a month clear for not THAT many extra hours (if you work it out over the month).

And remembering that every promotion you get, is an extra 8k a year, and its not unheard of to get at least 2 promotions in the first year, maybe even 3. I just like the fact i get 2 weeks out of every 4 free to work on cars/travel/do what i want. I share my house with my other half, so it's not like i am paying rent for nothing, and with the extra $, we can actually afford to buy next year.

Jestr75 · 26-10-2007, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RIPGMH

How much money do you call good money? Theres plenty of good dollars around for better jobs than drillers offsider.

Do you mean mining industry jobs? What other sort of jobs do you suggest?

I have been trying to get on with Thiess as a Trade Assistant and even though i have a few tickets behind me ( HR truck, forklift, dogman, first aid, generic induction) and have mates that work for them on projects in QLD I am still finding it hard to get a start with no mining experience. All i want to do is work my butt off for a few years, earn some dollars and set myself and family up for later in life.

RIPGMH · 26-10-2007, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cruntmonkee

Do you mean mining industry jobs? What other sort of jobs do you suggest?

I have been trying to get on with Thiess as a Trade Assistant and even though i have a few tickets behind me ( HR truck, forklift, dogman, first aid, generic induction) and have mates that work for them on projects in QLD I am still finding it hard to get a start with no mining experience. All i want to do is work my butt off for a few years, earn some dollars and set myself and family up for later in life.

Yes the mining industry, I don't know what your targets for earnings are but you can earn more money than most doctors if your willing to put a bit of effort in.

Jestr75 · 26-10-2007, 08:03 PM

If i can earn around $70 to $80k I would be happy, although having not been in the industry before i don't know if i am aiming to high. I understand you will not be on big bucks straight away but as i said in previous post i am willing to work my butt off earn the dollars to get a bit ahead in life.

matt_reynolds11 · 26-10-2007, 08:25 PM

Im currently in Nebo doing some exploration work for Aquila. Ive been trying to get out of being an offsider ever since i learned to swing a shovel, as my parents run a drilling company. Alas im here anyway, earning $$ before uni.

It is decent, physical work that does have a couple of perks (Bowen River Pub anyone?) and if you're working with a good crew you will have a ball. The current hitch my oldies are running with is 19 on and 9 off, which means you get two weekends at home.

I cant really comment on other companies, but from what i know you'll definatley get a go if you've got a HR licence and a generic induction. Good luck!

jason_85 · 26-10-2007, 08:57 PM

ahhhhh i was gonna go down that route although i went straight to uni and worked my butt off in the holidays.... hal way through second year i had earnt enough to get youth allowance!

now its all paying off though......... i will prob drive past u a few times matt

la2or · 26-10-2007, 09:50 PM

I dont know much. From what Ive heard it is competitive to get work in the moranbah mackay area. Mackay is a nice city. Think the house prices in mackay are like 400k median. also expensive stuff.

I think WA, Mt isa, Northern Territory,etc. it is easier for unskilled people to get work there.

How big do the drills get? Like how do they build the big elevators that go down the mine shaft?

Jestr75 · 27-10-2007, 03:25 PM

Thanks for all the input guys. I will just keep applying for jobs and contacting companies until something happens. Persistency might pay off.
Good luck with your job Kobayashi, i hope it works out for you.

melon466 · 27-10-2007, 04:55 PM

If you want a job on a fly in fly out basis try Terrex Seismic, the hitches are pretty long though (6 weeks on 2 weeks off) starting wage is $22 an hour i think. on average you'll earn over 5K a month, get's your foot in the door in the oil industry, can make some really good contacts.

Jestr75 · 27-10-2007, 05:13 PM

Thanks melon466. I will give them a go.

jason_85 · 27-10-2007, 06:47 PM

400k wont get u much in the mackay area............. u cant really compare mackay to the moranbah area, thats just silly!!

la2or · 27-10-2007, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jason_85

400k wont get u much in the mackay area............. u cant really compare mackay to the moranbah area, thats just silly!!

i mean people working 7 days on 7 off in moranbah may wish to live in mackay on the off week.

btw what's the quickest way going through mackay?

I thought it was going the back way through eton and homebush and coming back out at sarina or something. like if u are driving from brisbane to townsville.

la2or · 27-10-2007, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by melon466

If you want a job on a fly in fly out basis try Terrex Seismic, the hitches are pretty long though (6 weeks on 2 weeks off) starting wage is $22 an hour i think. on average you'll earn over 5K a month, get's your foot in the door in the oil industry, can make some really good contacts.

is that onshore or offshore?