A Feeling between Disappointed and Grateful

at Lab Jakarta - a mudschool preparation

Alhamdulillahirabbil alamin, almost one year I been working for world’s third largest oilfield service provider as a mud engineer. It was starting from accidentally apply in the career day at the ITB in 2009. This is really unexpected. A month after I got a phone interview from that company as drilling fluids engineer position, I directly living the process enthusiastically coz I thought it would be a challenging job. Step by step of the process I was passed through without don’t know what’s really happen on being a mud engineer. My colleague in our lab just told me that being a mud engineer isn’t an easy job. Beside we have to be physically strong (coz mainly they sometimes have to lift up hundreds sacks of chemicals), I also have to be have a good communication as I deal with many people with various job position in the rig.  Since then, I felt that I was in a wrong place. I was so sad. Then, I planned to quit but unfortunately at the time my boss get me to have a preparation for  a technical school called “mudschool” in a metropolitan city in the UAE. Well, I was living that without actually know what would happen to me. But for sure, everything is prepared for any reason. Be positive thinking is things that I need to do at that time.

I tried to ask for the opportunity to visit the rig though just for a day or two. I want to know what actually mud engineer do in the rig is. I do not want to be in a doubt whether the job is really what I want? But surprisingly, he didn’t allow me to go since he was so much busy. He suggested focusing on mud preparatory school itself instead of having a field exposure. I asked to one of the friends of similar companies (one of our main competitors) and yes, that was not much different from what has been described previously: This is the work of porters. I’m still trying positive thinking maybe this is right place for me as I’m rarely have sport. God gave the job with pretty much the physical portion in it.

 

lab practice at Mudschool

Finally I went for mudschool without knowing anything about my workplace afterward. I was not sure either how much daily bonus will I receive later. All I knew was bad news and bad news. In the mud school I met a guy who has been working as mud engineer for almost two years. He told me much about mud engineer. He said that the job was really hard, indeed but I will feel so proud have a title of mud engineer. It isn’t well paid but plays such an important role in the rig operation. He also told me that everyone thinks you are very high paid for it although the reality is not at all. In contrast, I should spend some money and various brand of cigarettes for what he called “sesajen” or entertainment cost as mostly in all rigs here it like a driving force for all crew to work (I mean execute my order). But he said not to worry about that since I’m possible to be a mud consultant someday which really high paid job. You’ll be paid 200 USD per day. That’s where you can collect the money as much as you want. Hmm,,, I think it’s common! Other job could pay me more than that. Haha. I just smile when hear it. Hopefully the bad news does not come like what he said.

The Mudschool then started. I was actually quite able to follow it unless a few terms about rig operations. FYI, I am a chemical engineering graduate. This is the first time I heard the strange terms that I have not even heard of. Because the mud science has a lot deal with chemistry, I feel fortunate to have a chemical background. I could better understand on its philosophy. Almost every person told me that chemical engineering graduates are fit being a mud engineer. Oh, really?! I just said: May be. Well, day by day I went through. I really enjoy being there to be honest. Every week-end I spent a vacation with my classmates. I feel so grateful. I start thinking that being a mud engineer would be nice, at least that’s my feeling at that time.

 

at Dubai Marina

Returning from school apparently did not make me immediately assigned to the field. I got home stand by for almost 3 months for no apparent reason. They just talked to me that I have to take a part in a drilling activity from the beginning. I sometimes think “why did they hire me for?”  “To do nothing?!” I could not wait longer to apply my mudschool knowledge in the real rig operation. hmm,,and Finally my turn came. Yeayyy. Working!! I got into the field for the first time in my life. I feel that that’s right really heavy being mud engineer. It does a tough job although my friend’s saying about the bad news not 100% correct. Some people called as a mud doctor. I’m just analyzing the mud, the rest if you want lift up some chemicals, there are special people for it that is mud boy. So actually it’s quite enjoyable job. But suddenly I was shocked because at the end of working time I just know that my daily bonus is the smallest among all the divisions in my company. That would be away up compared with competitors. Whats?!!

I actually liked it, but this fact makes me less excited about working here. Things that make me ‘hurt’ are my daily bonus which five times smaller than the MWD for trainees. and I know how exactly they work. I think it’s much easier than what I do. I must stand up in the mud tank without air conditioning, full working pressure, a lot of entertainment cost. But why I they paid that much?! That’s really not fair! It worst especially compared to the MWD of the other service company. Mine is ten times smaller. I start thinking realistically “if I’m fuckin tired of working the blazing sun with a pile of chemicals that must be lifted for ten days work like that. My friend as trainee in MWD was enough to work one day with relax in front of the laptop and the room that had air conditioning. So, you can imagine how it feels to be me right now. That’s very unfair. I complain almost every day to almost people I was talking to. In fact it is the first time I climbed the rig.

 

My First Field Training

I prefer to off from job to working with no significant daily bonus. I’m quite well paid for basic salary. Go to the field with working that fuckin hard does not necessarily increase my income significantly unless just a little. As if I can have returned time to the beginning and have known what kind of work here, I never ever want to accept their offer. For many times my senior in the rig told me too bad for an ITB graduates working in a place like this. That did not appreciate my almamater, he said. That’s Insulting! I’m better finding Oil Company or perhaps just take master compared to what now I’m working for. I was just saying “I might be able to get a new experience here. If there is a better, maybe I’ll quit and this knowledge will be useful for me someday”.

Until now I have worked in four different wells and all the seniors say “it’s a surprise there’s an ITB graduate willing to work as mud engineer” and for sure, I was bored with the answers. I kinda want to shout “hey, FYI, from the beginning I DON’T WANT TO WORK HERE” and there is one senior who said: you better recognize it as a free learning but you are paid. Later, if there’s a better job, just qute! Easy, right? Hmmm…That’s a good idea!

Every time I talked with colleague from another service company, they were so shock and said “if I were you, I would immediately quit. That’s really cruel, man ” Some others said to me “ haha, That’s your fault, why don’t you find out the job description first before you apply for that job?! Don’t be so random in picking up any job” things that makes me so disappointed is none of the rig crew believe if I’m paid that small. They only know the mud engineer must be well-paid. That’s it! So they dare to ask for cigarettes and any other entertainment things.

 

Field Time

But beyond all of my disappointment, it would be useless spending time with regret. Yes it is true; not worth it to work here. The power you out, the pressure you feel is not fair with the pay. If likened to a machine, this is very inefficient. Now I know that. But let’s look at the good side. That might be a little treats on this heart pain. So a mud engineer really can feel flattered as I play a vital role in a rig operation. I’m equipped with the HT (Handy Talkie) that connects directly to the Company Man, tool pusher, rig superintendent, MLU, and DD. That is the MWD is not obtained. You’re much more well-known than the MWD. You also can train your communication. Because you deal with a lot of people, ranging from mud boy, restabout, derrick man, tool pusher, HSE, material man, the geologist, etc. So the mud engineer can practice your patience a lot, learn to work in pressure, etc. This is what I experienced in previous wells. You’ll be accustomed to working under pressure like that. MWD may be yes, but you will become a stronger person either physical or psychological. And you also can set the schedule. Usually a mud engineer has regular work time which is 2-2 (two weeks on , two weeks off). So, for those who are married, it would be an advantage because for people who work in the field of time with family is such an expensive things.

Ups, there is another sad story being a mud engineer. It’s just a gossip. If drilling goes smooth, fast, and few barriers, then people who would be praised must be the DD engineer, but if there are obstacles on drilling (stuck pipe, loss, etc.) then the people would be blamed first is a mud engineer. Oh, what a sad fact. But my senior told me, that’s the art work on the rig, full of injustice but a lot of people like that … haha

Okay, for sure God is creating big plans for me. Because something happened with reason definitely! What I need to to do now is my best include looking for other new and promising fair- job than now .. hehe