Thousands Of Oil Jobs Need To Be Filled In North Dakota

Though the economy is slowly beginning to come back there still is a lack of good paying jobs around these days which is why many are flocking to Williston, North Dakota where an Oil Boom has turned a sleepy town into a booming one.

This tiny town has kind of turned into an oasis for out of work Americans seeking high paying jobs with not a lot of barrier to entry into the industry. There's a lot of good paying jobs in Williston, North Dakota, even some fast food jobs are paying upwards of $20 an hour to attract employees with everyone else wanting to run to even high paying oil industry jobs.

Willison is located in the Bakken formations which is an oil field some say will produce the biggest oil boom this country has seen since the 1950s or 60's. The town currently has somewhere between 2,000 and 3,000 jbos they have been unable to fill because of a lack of workers. There's not enough people to keep up with the demand for work.

A job on an oil rig can pay as much as six figures or higher. The starting salary for a CDL truck driver is about $80,000. WHile the nations unemployment rate sits at over 9%, Willistons rate is less than 1%. Locals say job seekers from all over the country are flocking to this tiny North Dakota town. It's like a modern day gold rush or modern day pioneers.

Another Cool Site To Find Oil Jobs In North Dakota

Hey guys, just wanted to share another resource for finding jobs and employment in the North Dakota Oil Fields.

The site is called Dakota Oil Jobs and can be found at...

DakotaOilJobs.Com

This is a great resource to search for job openings for a variety of jobs from trucking to working on the rigs to ancillary jobs as well. Visit the site and check it out. If you know of any other great resources feel free to post them in the comments section below.

3 Interesting Facts About The North Dakota Oil Boom

1. Production of oil in North Dakota has increased over 600%. It went from 36 million barrels of oil in 2005 all the way up to 237 million barrels of oil in 2012. There's now over 8300 active wells in North Dakota which are producing more than 783,000 barrels of oil a day. This state has gone from the number 8 oil producing state to the number 2 oil producing state in a period of just under 7 years.

2. A new oil well costs upwards of $10 million to build in the Bakken oil fields. About $3 million more than other oil producing regions in the US like Texas. Each wellis expected to generate in excess of $20 million in profits. That will help the state with $4.4 million in taxes and $1.6 million in salaries and wages. The state of North Dakota also receives an oil royalty of over $7 and a half million dollars.

3. There's estimated to be over 40,000 oil industry jobs in North Dakota. There's also an additional 18,000 jobs supporting the oil industry. The hub of the oil industry is in the town of Williston, North Dakota. The state of North Dakota only has a 3% unemployment rate. The unemployment rate in Williston is around 1%.

The Housing Situation In Williston, North Dakota...Is It As Bad As You Hear?

Okay so in every day life as well as through the blog I talk to a lot of people who are thinking about making the trip to North Dakota in search of better employment opportunities and higher wages. Who woudln't consider making the move right?

Most people I talk to plan on going to Williston because it's the town they have heard of, as well as because it does have a lot of opportunities and is one of the larger cities. It's also at the center of teh Bakken oil fields.

One issue that many people fail to understand is what the housing situation is really like here. To make it simple Ill put it like this for you. There is basically no available housing in Williston North Dakota.

The city is growing fast but the construction of new homes and apartments as well as the general infrastructure of the city just cannot keep up with the demand with thousands and thousands and thousands of new residents pouring in all the time.

One other factor contributing to the already problematic housing situation is that big companies such as oil companies, drilling companies and others have bought out all the hotels, motels, trailers, and other cheap housing for their employees.

Upon arriving in Williston many newcommers are left wondering where they are going to live. Finding work these days still tends to be the easy part, it's finding the housing that is proving to be difficult for many.

For those lucky enough to find housing the rent is normally extremely high. One article in a newspaper I read recently talking about the oil boom and housing situation in North Dakota talks about unfurnished one bedrooms going for $2100 a month and 2-3 bedroom apartments unfurnished with not even that much square footage going for upwards of $3,000.

This is pretty typical of the prices in both Williston and surrounding communities. Landlords have and continue to raise rents because they know oil rig workers make big money and are willing to pay big money for a place to live and to not live in their cars, trucks, or campout.

So what do people do for housing or where do people live if this is the situation...is a question you may be asking yourself right?

Many people bring RV trailers or campers with them when heading to North Dakota. This is an okay idea however there's a few holes in this plan.

One is that there is now a ban on camping or living on public streets and public property. Police and local government have really been cracking down on people parking in parking lots, on the side of the road or in parks or other public places. One solution to this is finding a place to camp so to speak however if you don't know anyone in the area this will cost you and just like real estate lots in campgrounds and rv parks the prices have skyrocketed as well.

Some people may try to sleep in their vehicles. I did this for a while when I first came into town and actually my roomate from back home is in Minot at the moment doing that at this very moment. I have to warn you, though some people may try it it's STUPID, campiging or sleeping in your car is NOT an option in the winter in North Dakota. You coudl and most likely will freeze to death. Another problem is that local police are really cracking down on people sleeping in their vehicles. Lastly and most importantly, safety is an issue. You may think North Dakota is a simpler place that is safer and harkens back to a simpler time but the oil boom has brought more problems to the area and there is crime.

Homeless shelters are an option many newcommers choose. I personally don't agree with this though. Homeless shelters should be used by local area residents who actually need their services, not by people comming into town seeking work. Thats just my opinion though.

The best advice I can give you is do your due diligence, do research and plan ahead. Don't plan on finding a cheap place to stay because the fact of the matter is there isn't and you won't.

North Dakota Oil Jobs & The Oil Boom Occuring In Northwestern North Dakota

There is an oil boom going on RIGHT NOW in North Dakota. As you sit at your computer reading this post there are countless oil companies and oil related industries looking to hire hardworkers like yourself.

It's not an easy job, the work is hard and tought, the hours are long, and the climate is brutal, but the pay is high and the work is steady. The benefits are fantastic as well. Despite these tough times and high unemployment numbers many people still don't know about these opportunities available in western North Dakota.

So you may be wondering, why havn't I heard anything about this boom or about these opportunities right? And you may even be asking yourself, well how do I get one of these jobs?

Almost all of the oil located in North Dakota is located in the Bakken Formation which is a unit which runs over 200,000 square miles not only through North Dakota but also through parts of Montana and even Canada.

They first found oil in the Bakken fields back in 1951, however the technology wasn't there to get this oil out of the ground. Recent technology such as fracking has made it much easier to access or harvest oil from the Bakken Formation.

Still you ask why isn't everyone talking about all this oil right within our own borders right? Though it holds alot of oil Bakken probably isn't quite enough to ween the US off foreign oil so that may be part of the reason why it's not a big news story. Also the media is overwhelmingly against fossil fuels so that could also be part of it. Lastly, let's be honest, North Dakota is kind of forgotten about and is just fly by country to the big media and news organizations on the east coast.

So how can you get more information about these high paying oil jobs in North Dakota? Firstly do a quick google search and you will likely find tons of websites which don't do much to help you out in finding work or learning about these opportunities. I know before heading out there myself I spent months upon months researching online. I finally came across a few resources which I will list for you.

JobsND.Com - This is a state operated website that lists job openings all around the state. Though they cater to all types of jobs they do have a category specifically for oil industry jobs.

OilAndGasJobsNorthDakota.Com - This site is the site you are on right now. This site wasn't around prior to me finding this info and getting work out in North Dakota but luckly for you it's here for you. I blog about finding work on the oil rigs, what living in North Dakota is like, and the various jobs available as well as how to get them. I hope you find this helpful.

What Is A Roustabout? Oil Rig Jobs North Dakota

A roustabout is generally an unskilled laborer who performs basic manual labor. Roustabouts are often temporary workers. These workers are generally new, and unskilled to semi-skilled.


A roustabout is a temporary worker who performs basic manual labor. These unskilled to semi-skilled workers can be found in a number of industries providing valuable labor as needed by employers. The term “roustabout” in the sense of a manual laborer appears to date to 1860s America, with a variation on the term, “rouseabout,” being used to refer to temporary manual laborers in Australian English.

Originally, this term was used in reference to boat and dockworkers along the Mississippi, and roustabouts can still be found working as boat and dockworkers in many regions of the world. Someone performing this type of work helps with loading and unloading, managing ships and boats, warehouse security, and so forth. He or she may belong to a union which coordinates labor in a particular port or region, and many roustabouts can find steady work as long as they are skilled, thanks to the continuous flow of cargo of all sorts around the world.

Roustabouts can also be found working at oil drilling facilities, including offshore platforms and oil fields. Roustabouts and roughnecks are entry level workers who perform basic maintenance and other tasks, with the potential to become long-term employees of the oil company. Working in this position in an oil drilling facility can be grueling and very dangerous, but for people who are willing to stick it out and become long-term employees, the compensation can be very good.

The Guide To Buying Your First Pair Of Oil Rig Boots

Working 10, 12, even 14hour days can be tough, especially when you spend the whole day on your feet. For that reason we decided to put together a guide to buying your first pair of oil rig boots and what you should look for when buying them. Having a good pair of boots can make the difference between hating your job or loving your job...well at least tolerating your job. Keeping your feet both comfortable and dry will make your job much more enjoyable.

NO LACES

If your a worm or a hand don't get laceup boots, that's the first and most important thing I can tell you. You'll be walking around through ankle deep mud and water and your laces will gum up if not disinigrate. Laces also aren't necessarily safe on a rig with so many moving parts they can get caught in. Most everyone I've seen come with cheap laceup Walmart boots has been back at the store getting pullup boots in a matter of days.

COMFORT OVER STYLE

Don't worry about looking stylish there's few if any women on the rigs and your not there to look cute your there to work. Nobody cares what kind of boots your wearing or what they look like. Go for comfort over style. I personally would recommend when trying on boots try them on about a half size too small. This will allow you to break them in and your ankle won't slip around much in the boots. A boot that's too big is just as bad as a boot that's too small it will be uncomfortable they could get sucked off your feet by the mudd and you could twist your ankle.


PADDED INSERTS

Your boots are going to take a beating, your going to be on your feet all day. You don't have to run out and spend $20 on some Dr. Scholls gel pads. To be quite honest I think Dr. Scholls gel pads suck, I'd take the 0.99 cent foam inserts over Dr. Scholls anyday. I've never used anything too pricy just some old foam heel inserts. They make a difference.


WATERPROOF, WATERPROOF, WATERPROOF

I can't stress this enough. Water makes your feet sore, makes your feet stink, is unhealthy for your feet and also makes you more likely to get blisters. It's also hard to dry out boots before your next twelve hour shift. It's also miserable working in wet boots, especially in cold weather. Save yourself headache or I should say footaches and discomfort and buy yourself some waterproof boots. Spend the extra bucks and get something that's both waterproof and breathable. It's money well spent.


LASTLY

I'm cheap, I know it's tough to drop $100-$200 if not more on a new pair of work boots but it's a tax write off and it will make your life much better and much more comfortable. Your boots are an investment in your job, your comfort, your health and your life and you should have the best if your working in the oilpatch.

3 More Oil Field Terms For You To Learn

 Heading to western North Dakota to work in the Bakken oil fields? If so it'd be helpful to know some of the lingo and terminology before you get out there. Here's three more terms you should learn.

Box on box A sub that has two female ends

POOH Pull out of Hole

KOP Kick off Pint is the point where the well starts to bend, transitioning from a vertical well to a horizontal or directional well.

5 More Oil Field / Oil Rig Terms For You To Learn

So your planning on heading out to the Bakken oil fields in western North Dakota. Like most others you probably don't have any experience and maybe you've never even seen a rig. That's not a problem but it would be helpful to know some lingo or terminology you'll be hearing. Here's five more terms for you to learn.


TOH Trip out of Hole

Monkey board The small platform located about 3/4ths of the way up the derrick that the derrick man stands on when tripping pipe

Stand Two or three single joints of drill pipe or drill collars that remain screwed together during tripping operations. The drill pipe or drill collars are stood back upright in the derrick and placed into fingerboards to keep them orderly. This is a relatively efficient way to remove the drill string from the well when changing the bit or making adjustments to the bottom hole assembly, rather than unscrewing every threaded connection and laying the pipe down to a horizontal position.

Joint Drill pipe that is 30 – 32ft long

Box end The box end of a drill pipe is the female end of the threaded connection

5 More Oil Field Words / Terminology / Slang

Planning on heading out to the Bakken oil fields in North Dakota seeking work? Like many others you most likely don't have any experience. That's not a problem, but it probably would be helpful to know some terminology and lingo so here's five more terms for you.



Kick An intrusion of pressurized gas into the wellbore that causes drilling fluid to be displaced. It can be the precursor to a blowout.

Vee Door The vee door is an inverted V shape or triangle shaped ramp that leans up against the rig so pipe, tools, and other large bulky objects can be lifted up to the rig floor.

Cellar A dug-out area possibly lined with cement or a very large diameter (6ft) thin-wall pipe located below the rig.  The cellar serves as a cavity in which the casing spool and casing-head reside.

BOP The Blowout Preventer is found underneath the rig.  Its primary purpose is to kill or divert any blowout out of harms way.

Mouse hole An opening in the rig floor near the rotary table, but between the rotary table and the vee-door, that enables rapid connections while drilling. The mouse hole is usually fitted underneath with a length of casing, usually with a bottom. A joint of drill pipe that will be used next in the drilling operation is placed in the mouse hole, box end up, by the rig crew at a convenient time (immediately after the previous connection is made).

5 More Oil Field Terms For You Terminology / Slang

If your planning on heading out to the Bakken oil fields in western North Dakota you probably don't have any experience like most others. That's not a problem but it would be beneficial to you to learn some of the terminology and slang that you may be hearnig when you get out there. Here's five more terms for you to learn. Hope this helps.


LNG Liquid Natural Gas

Mud Slang term for drilling mud. A Mud Man is the drilling fluids technician responsible for formulating the mud, while a Mud Logger checks mud cuttings from the drill bit for traces of rock or oil and gas that provide a picture of conditions down hole.

Well Logging The practice of making a detailed record (a well log) of the geologic formations penetrated by a borehole.

Wireline Logging Wireline logging is the practice of measuring formation properties using electrically powered instruments to infer properties and make decisions about drilling and production operations.

‘Kill’ the well The act of stopping a well from flowing.  Normally, used when experiencing a blowout.

5 More Oil Rig / Oil Field Lingo / Termionology For You

If your a newbie heading out to North Dakota seekign a job on an oil rig you probably like most others don't have any experience and that's not a problem, however it would be beneficial to know some of the lingo and terminology you will be hearing so here are five more terms for you. Hope this helps.

Poor Boy Degasser that removes gasses from drilling liquids.  Common gasses are (methane, H2S, CO2, etc.)

1 Barrel of Oil 42 Gallons of oil are in a barrel.

Bpd Barrels per day

Boed Barrels of oil equivalent per day.  Referring to the equivalent amount of energy content as one barrel of oil. Ex 6,000 cubic feet of nat. gas

CF Cubic Foot A standard unit used to measure quantity of gas (at atmospheric pressure) 1 cubic foot = 0.0283 cubic meters