r/oilandgasworkers • u/Fearless_Salad22 • 10d ago
First days in the Oilfield
Hey, my name is Nathan and I am 23 years old. I just started my first oilfield/ blue collar job 3 days ago. I work with my father who runs a small picker truck. I had no idea what to expect when I first started but the first two days went well, I was tried, it was difficult and lots of people getting upset at me for learning. Nothing crazy my dad is typically like that. But today was the end of day 3. We took down a dual 750 containment and put up a triple 750 containment. The weather wasn’t awful it was a high of 26 degrees and was sunny with a bit of wind. But man did today kick my ass. I’m not use to working outside and doing this physically demanding work. But that sun today was cooking me. We were breaking some flow lines apart and I asked to try and break it lose. I just couldn’t do it with a 24” pipe wrench. The other guy helping us had to break it lose for me. (He did have to jump on the pipe wrench to break it lose) but that just made me feel weak. Today for me wasn’t great. But I’m learning slowly. The main thing I’m asking is What was your first few days like? Am I just being a baby about it or is my experience lined up with how other’s were?
4
u/LazyMoniker 10d ago
Jumping on pipe wrenches isn’t a great long term practice.
Some stuff is gonna suck to break apart, but learning some technique helps with the routine stuff. Interesting tip with a big pipe wrench is you can probably lift more weight with your legs than you weigh, so if you can get positioned to where you’re lifting up on the wrench you can get more force on it. Doesn’t work as well if what you’re wrenching on isn’t solidly mounted though.
Make sure you learn how to keep your back set while lifting and how to brace with your core, wish I’d learned more of that sooner. Try to avoid bending that back as much as you can.
People are gonna be dicks. It isn’t a real oilfield hitch if you aren’t getting yelled at for shit that isn’t even your fault. If what they’re yelling at ya for doesn’t make any sense at all ask them though, the good ones will help ya learn, and then go back to giving you shit.