16 percent rig utilization Jan 4

[JimPS]

We've just barely reached the unemployment levels with the rest of the country.

It is now pretty obvious where Alberta's economy is without O&G.

He's a well written article hot off the presses from Mcleans about the Death of the Alberta Dream.

http://www.macleans.ca/news/canada/t...alberta-dream/

[rugatika]

It will be interesting to see just how high our unemployment levels get. I wonder if most of the unemployed will move back east and how many have roots deep enough in Alberta to stay.

I suspect the rental market is going to take a significant hit as people start moving back and housing gets cheaper and cheaper. Maybe? Interesting times.

[avb3]

Originally Posted by Deer Hunter

And then there are those who sit at home, on the internet, and complain that everyone was making too much money working.

Maybe some of us have arranged our lives in a manner that allows us to do things without worrying about commodity swings.

Because we learned from the other times.

[Bergerboy]

Originally Posted by avb3

Maybe some of us have arranged our lives in a manner that allows us to do things without worrying about commodity swings.

Because we learned from the other times.

Ahhh, spoken are the words of a govenment employee.

[JimPS]

I'd suspect many are going back home to build their dreams on an oceanfront few hundred acres of mixed hardwoods bankrolled by Alberta Gold.

I know a few guys that worked long and hard in Alberta so they could make their dreams come true back home with family, friends and at the same time get back a sense of community.

I've heard many just abandon their beaters at the Edmonton Airport and fly away.

[Bergerboy]

Originally Posted by JimPS

I'd suspect many are going back home to build their dreams on an oceanfront few hundred acres of mixed hardwoods bankrolled by Alberta Gold.

I know a few guys that worked long and hard in Alberta so they could make their dreams come true back home with family, friends and at the same time get back a sense of community.

I've heard many just abandon their beaters at the Edmonton Airport and fly away.

Yep make all the cash in Alberta then send it back home. This is part of the problem as well as it doesnt promote growth in trickle down areas of Alberta and it jacks the house prices down East making it difficult for people "back home" to make a living there to support themselves.

[JimPS]

Originally Posted by avb3

Maybe some of us have arranged our lives in a manner that allows us to do things without worrying about commodity swings.

Because we learned from the other times.

Ahh, the spoken words of a true long time Albertan.

[Deer Hunter]

Originally Posted by avb3

Maybe some of us have arranged our lives in a manner that allows us to do things without worrying about commodity swings.

Because we learned from the other times.

Kicking a group of hard working people while they are down shows a lack of class.
What I have come to expect from you.

[reddeerhunter]

Originally Posted by gman1978

I am not sure about the crime spree thing. Thieves are thieves and I don't think a good person is going to steal because they lost there job. I guess people with addiction problems will steal to feed the habit if the bank account is dry. Maybe I am wrong !!!

This is very wrong.

[avb3]

Originally Posted by Bergerboy

Ahhh, spoken are the words of a govenment employee.

Never! Business for self for years

[avb3]

Originally Posted by Deer Hunter

Kicking a group of hard working people while they are down shows a lack of class.
What I have come to expect from you.

Lol...speaking the truth back when the barroom financial wizards were all living large is no different then reminding the same wizards the truth now.

As I said, for those young families where the main provider got a real trade or a real profession, I have a ton of empathy for them. If they lived within their means or below their means when they are making large dollars, will do fine now.

If however, they were part of the crowd of the barroom financial wizards, I have no empathy for them, although I do feel for the children that might be involved.

[JimPS]

Originally Posted by Bergerboy

Yep make all the cash in Alberta then send it back home. This is part of the problem as well as it doesnt promote growth in trickle down areas of Alberta and it jacks the house prices down East making it difficult for people "back home" to make a living there to support themselves.

If I were in some on these guys boots, I'd happily trade off living in a miserable camp trailer for my family, friends and community. And dirt cheap sun vacations to the Caribbean are a bonus.

You're correct - it might not promote areas in Alberta's growth with "trickle down". It's been more like "p*ss down and away economics" in Alberta during the good times.

The trickle down from Alberta will be good for the Maritimes. It won't be p*ss down for the smart guys.

[hal53]

Isn't it nice , all the pre conceived notions about oil patch hands from people who have never spent a day doing it. My rig crew is all 25-38 year old guys, the push, driller and derrick hand are all married with young kids, none of them drive jacked up 3/4 tons, the push had the newest truck of the bunch, a 2011 Ford 150. They all had mortgages on modest homes and tried to work enough hours every two weeks to pay the bills every one has, kids school fees, sports etc. If it rains for 2-3 days straight and the county doesn't allow movement for another few days due to wet roads, they don't see much of a pay cheque that pay period, but the bills don't stop. If they work 2 weeks straight, you're damned right they tuck some money away for the next time they are shut down due to cold, wet, budgets, equipment break down etc., etc. etc. These are the same guys that are now worried sick about losing their homes, vehicles etc. because there is NO work, they are scrambling to find any day rate work that is available. Sure, there are some that ****ed away every cent they made but there are many that lived by the motto a lot of oil patch hands do.. "live like your worst month ever, not your best month ever"
But carry on gloating and giggling about all the "deals" that will be available, trust me, the trickle down effect is coming to your neighborhood very soon. Electricians, plumbers, carpenters etc.,etc. are getting laid off now due to no work, sure hope they didn't "**** everything away"

[rugatika]

Originally Posted by hal53

Isn't it nice , all the pre conceived notions about oil patch hands from people who have never spent a day doing it. My rig crew is all 25-38 year old guys, the push, driller and derrick hand are all married with young kids, none of them drive jacked up 3/4 tons, the push had the newest truck of the bunch, a 2011 Ford 150. They all had mortgages on modest homes and tried to work enough hours every two weeks to pay the bills every one has, kids school fees, sports etc. If it rains for 2-3 days straight and the county doesn't allow movement for another few days due to wet roads, they don't see much of a pay cheque that pay period, but the bills don't stop. If they work 2 weeks straight, you're damned right they tuck some money away for the next time they are shut down due to cold, wet, budgets, equipment break down etc., etc. etc. These are the same guys that are now worried sick about losing their homes, vehicles etc. because there is NO work, they are scrambling to find any day rate work that is available. Sure, there are some that ****ed away every cent they made but there are many that lived by the motto a lot of oil patch hands do.. "live like your worst month ever, not your best month ever"
But carry on gloating and giggling about all the "deals" that will be available, trust me, the trickle down effect is coming to your neighborhood very soon

No kidding. I know very few guys that I have worked with in the patch that spend every dime they make. Most are well aware of what happens when spring break up takes longer than usual, or freeze up doesn't come as soon etc etc. Going 2,3 or maybe even 4 months is considered by most of the guys I know a very real possibility and is typically planned for.

I wonder how many government workers would have enough tucked away to live 3 months without a paycheque?

Lots of jealous people that resent people that work their bags off and make decent money. Same old, same old: "You had more than me, and now you don't...and that makes me happy."

We've got enough work to keep going, and we've even hired a few new guys in the last year that had been laid off from other oil patch jobs. I know they were out of work for a while and were getting to the stretched thin point and are now starting over at a lower wage as rookies. I can't imagine someone with a young family that's been out of work for several months. I feel for them.

Hopefully oil prices make a comeback before other non-oil patch jobs start being affected. I'd hate to see the government have to start scaling back their extravagant spending because their energy tax base is being eroded.

[Deer Hunter]

^^Exactly
Some can't hack the hard work involved in the oil patch and are jealous of the product of it.

[Skytop B]

I always used to budget for a 2-3 month shut down for breakup, 4 months started to hurt a little. I know guys that have not worked in a year. I have been socking away investments for 20+ years, so if those all go in the toilette a guy might start to get a little concerned. Really, anyone who has a mortgage is not living within their means. Not too many young families regardless of education can afford to take year off work. There are plenty of young people fresh out of university with huge student debt and young families that are in the same boat as the "high school dropout rig pig" Any way, too busy for this nonsense, have to get back to work.

[Mangosteen]

Originally Posted by martinnordegg

I think that is very distasteful. It should be removed from the thread. I won't go any further or I am sure I will be banned. If you can still edit your post please delete.

Been in the oil industry for 35 years. Sometimes we need to laugh at ourselves.

[pitw]

All hunters get a name because of a few poachers. Expect this is much of the same.

[bentley]

I still have the bumper sticker on my 89 GMC Silverado , " Please God let there be another oil boom , I promise not to pi.. it all away again " . Yup , cycles every few years , you learn to live with it or not .

[rugatika]

Originally Posted by Mangosteen

Been in the oil industry for 35 years. Sometimes we need to laugh at ourselves.

In the spirit of humour I can laugh at it too. Even if it was happening to me. Other people are taking a little too much pleasure in it (oil price drop) though.

[Domestique]

Originally Posted by hal53

Isn't it nice , all the pre conceived notions about oil patch hands from people who have never spent a day doing it. My rig crew is all 25-38 year old guys, the push, driller and derrick hand are all married with young kids, none of them drive jacked up 3/4 tons, the push had the newest truck of the bunch, a 2011 Ford 150. They all had mortgages on modest homes and tried to work enough hours every two weeks to pay the bills every one has, kids school fees, sports etc. If it rains for 2-3 days straight and the county doesn't allow movement for another few days due to wet roads, they don't see much of a pay cheque that pay period, but the bills don't stop. If they work 2 weeks straight, you're damned right they tuck some money away for the next time they are shut down due to cold, wet, budgets, equipment break down etc., etc. etc. These are the same guys that are now worried sick about losing their homes, vehicles etc. because there is NO work, they are scrambling to find any day rate work that is available. Sure, there are some that ****ed away every cent they made but there are many that lived by the motto a lot of oil patch hands do.. "live like your worst month ever, not your best month ever"
But carry on gloating and giggling about all the "deals" that will be available, trust me, the trickle down effect is coming to your neighborhood very soon. Electricians, plumbers, carpenters etc.,etc. are getting laid off now due to no work, sure hope they didn't "**** everything away"

Well said Hal.

[rem338win]

Originally Posted by JustMe

Well, Hal if we subscribe to your philosophy, then barring a unrealistic jump in oil prices, that none of see happening, the tens of thousands of recently unemployed here in Alberta better beat the rush and look for jobs in the other provinces. Won't be any jobs here for years.... And sad to say, that may become a fact if we keep our heads buried in the sand and don't look to other industries.

I'm content with the unemployed moving along. We boomed and had a major influx; we're busting so the opposite should happen.

Maybe that will cause a positive turn in the political climate as well........

[coreya3212]

Hal has said it all. Some of you folks gloating need a reality check. And any government employee, yes any, would do well to envision their worst day ever at work, and then think real hard about the oil patch worker who has endured tougher coffee breaks.

[IR_mike]

Originally Posted by coreya3212

Hal has said it all. Some of you folks gloating need a reality check. And any government employee, yes any, would do well to envision their worst day ever at work, and then think real hard about the oil patch worker who has endured tougher coffee breaks.

Needing a like button here mod's.

What are these "coffee breaks" you speak of

[rugatika]

Originally Posted by coreya3212

Hal has said it all. Some of you folks gloating need a reality check. And any government employee, yes any, would do well to envision their worst day ever at work, and then think real hard about the oil patch worker who has endured tougher coffee breaks.

Now you got them thinking there are actually coffee breaks in the patch.


Haha...like IRMike said. Beat me to it.

[brslk]

Originally Posted by hal53

Isn't it nice , all the pre conceived notions about oil patch hands from people who have never spent a day doing it. My rig crew is all 25-38 year old guys, the push, driller and derrick hand are all married with young kids, none of them drive jacked up 3/4 tons, the push had the newest truck of the bunch, a 2011 Ford 150. They all had mortgages on modest homes and tried to work enough hours every two weeks to pay the bills every one has, kids school fees, sports etc. If it rains for 2-3 days straight and the county doesn't allow movement for another few days due to wet roads, they don't see much of a pay cheque that pay period, but the bills don't stop. If they work 2 weeks straight, you're damned right they tuck some money away for the next time they are shut down due to cold, wet, budgets, equipment break down etc., etc. etc. These are the same guys that are now worried sick about losing their homes, vehicles etc. because there is NO work, they are scrambling to find any day rate work that is available. Sure, there are some that ****ed away every cent they made but there are many that lived by the motto a lot of oil patch hands do.. "live like your worst month ever, not your best month ever"
But carry on gloating and giggling about all the "deals" that will be available, trust me, the trickle down effect is coming to your neighborhood very soon. Electricians, plumbers, carpenters etc.,etc. are getting laid off now due to no work, sure hope they didn't "**** everything away"

No like button here so I have to quote it for truth.

[Eagle Trapper]

Enjoying this thread up stick while the boys break the bit, it's a beautiful -15 out here near hinton, thankful to be in the 14% working.

Good song to listen to here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYdvxBxHX2U&sns=em

[angery jonn]

avb3, am I understanding you correctly, those who work in the patch don't have a really job or trade?

[martinnordegg]

Oil is now at $32.50. Dollar $1.414. This is certainly one of the worst weeks so far for our economy.

[avb3]

Originally Posted by angery jonn

avb3, am I understanding you correctly, those who work in the patch don't have a really job or trade?

Apparently you didn't read all my comments. Get back to me when you do.