roughneck

[Marty Van Diest]

Actually Anderson is on the Nenana River, not to far from the Tanana.

A tough, young couple can survive if they are determined when they move there. But it will actually feel like only surviving the first few years. There are very few jobs within commuting distance of Anderson. There are NO roughnecking jobs within 400 miles of there. You best bet is trying to find something on Clear AFB or in Nenana. Otherwise you have Fairbanks which is about a 2 hour commute one way.

You might be able to get a job at Usibelli Coal Mine about 1 hours South, or maybe a summer job in Denali. That's about it. Jobs of any kind are few and far between there. That's the main reason so few people live in these places.

If you work in the oil patch...you work 2-3 week shifts and then come home for a week. You commute by jet from Anchorage or Fairbanks.

[Rance]

Actually now that winter is here and exploration season is nearly upon us...the drilling contractors are gonna be crying for help. And the service companies will be as well. The more experienced hands are spread pretty thin between the rigs and there are always new guys entering the field. Just the 4 rigs I work with in Kuparuk has a surprising turn over of personell. Being in town will up your chances for hire. If you can stop by and drop off applications or sign the register everyday does help. Will be a little harder if your inexperienced and sitting way the heck out in the middle of nowhere with no phone etc.

[Tressa]

I assist with the hiring for roughnecks, driller, floor hands and tool pushers. there's an abundance of unemployeed hands out there however a very large percentage work mainly in the winter months, we have some of our employees that went over to Hawaii to drill large water wells this season due to the lack of work in the oil/gas industry.

I know that when we do our hiring we bring back previous employees that were laid off in good standing and then we hire others that are sent to us from such companies as Doyon, Nabors and such as that.

All I'm saying is please don't count on a roughneck position, but possibly he can do home improvements locally or what ever they have up in that region. I do know that in the winter time it's extremely cold and foggy but the summers are really nice if you can get away from the mosquitos.

[Tressa]

I applaud your adventures you have coming your way, be prepared for the worst and then everything else is ok.

[derrickhand301]

This is going to be tougher than you expect. Usually companies in Alaska require experienced employees on drilling rigs. here is a great message board for Oilfield workers, with several posting from Alaska Hope it helps
OilfieldTalk.com

[DannyL]

Well, I for one have always tried to be realistic and truthfull in my responses to most of these "relocation" threads, and it seems that is not what most want to hear.
oh well..........thank god the roads and ferries run both ways.......

[kingfishat60]

Originally Posted by RayinAK

It would be extremely important to have a job lined-up before you move up here. The unemployment figures could be quite high during the winter months up here.

Hey Ray , are you the same Ray that stayed in the little apt just below my house in Mazatlan a few winters ago ??? , Art

[thepenartist]

Originally Posted by kingfishat60

Hey Ray , are you the same Ray that stayed in the little apt just below my house in Mazatlan a few winters ago ??? , Art

RayinAK answered this question in the thread: "RayinAK"