AverageFarang Posted May 13, 2012 Share Posted May 13, 2012 What do you blokes know about what goes on down south in Songkhla? I've heard there's a place called Singha Nakhorn. I've heard it's not too far from Songkhla, and all the international oil companies are there. I've read that companies like Haliburton and Esso and PTT and Chevron all have office there. What's the score? Is all the drilling and exploration offshore, or are there any land-based oil fields. Cheers for any feedback. Oh, and what sort of money is being made down there. I'm talking about the companies, not the employees. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prefabs Posted May 13, 2012 Share Posted May 13, 2012 Maybe I read your last question too quick. You want to find out how much a company can make in that area? How many TV members would have access to that sort of information without resorting to other means, searching through company annual statements and records etc? Apart from that, I can confirm that there is a decent sized oil exploration and production centre down there Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigJohnnyBKK Posted May 13, 2012 Share Posted May 13, 2012 Some decent fields offshore near there, more gas than oil. You're probably better off posting to industry-specific discussion sites. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbk Posted May 13, 2012 Share Posted May 13, 2012 Moving to jobs in thailand Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhiwfawr Posted May 14, 2012 Share Posted May 14, 2012 Worked in this industry for a long time with the major operators,as for Thailand the companies are fined heavily if they dont reach their targets in the time that the operator allows ,hence most of the majors stay clear as safety can be compromised for productivity Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soutpeel Posted May 15, 2012 Share Posted May 15, 2012 (edited) If you are an expat, and you are looking for a job, you are about 10-15 years too late, unless you have a very specialised skills set that is in demand in the Gulf. The gulf of Thailand is greater than +/- 90% nationalised, so highly unlikely you will get a look in. Work permits are getting harder and harder to get every year via the DMF and typically is only for expats in senior positions offshore or specific technical skills which are not availible locally. Moneywise offshore for expats, about the same as everywhere else in the world (in some cases, the money in Thailand is significantly more) As regards offshore, at a guess, would say there are most likley 300+ operational platforms in the gulf of Thailand Edited May 15, 2012 by Soutpeel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soutpeel Posted May 15, 2012 Share Posted May 15, 2012 Worked in this industry for a long time with the major operators,as for Thailand the companies are fined heavily if they dont reach their targets in the time that the operator allows ,hence most of the majors stay clear as safety can be compromised for productivity You are talking through your bottom, companies are not fined, and the majors do not "stay clear" of safety over productivity....which bar stool were you sitting on when you heard this ? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PattayaParent Posted May 16, 2012 Share Posted May 16, 2012 I've read that companies like Haliburton and Esso and PTT and Chevron all have office there. They also have offices in Bangkok. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thaihome Posted May 16, 2012 Share Posted May 16, 2012 I've read that companies like Haliburton and Esso and PTT and Chevron all have office there. They also have offices in Bangkok. They have offices in Bangkok. They have depots in Songkla. TH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScotsExpat Posted May 16, 2012 Share Posted May 16, 2012 I think I'll grab my popcorn and sit back for this one... I have just moved, in a senior position with a Global O&G service company, to Bangkok. Over and above my pay increase, Thailand still qualifies, from some companies, for a 'Hardship Allowance'. SKL gets more of an allowance than BKK. Business is actually increasing, companies are now looking at previously underdeveloped blocks since oil is through the roof and more advanced tools are starting to make them look profitable. If the OP is looking for work with an operator, then there are plenty out there, if you have the right skill sets. If not, forget it. This is not a fledgling industry in this part of the world and a new engineering grad will not have the skills required. An experienced guy, with North Sea, GOM or ME experience might have the CV people are looking for.. If he is looking for work with a service company, same goes. Plenty of locals leaving Uni with the same degrees, and it makes no difference to guys out here which Uni. The fact is, its cheaper to hire a local grad than an expat grad. In fact, the idea that a guy wants to move to Thailand for his first job is looked on with suspicion. Get some experience closer to home before you start to look overseas.... If he is looking for a position on the rigs, even harder. No degree, far cheaper to have a local roughneck than an expat who wants to get back on the beach as quick as possible so he can piss his pay into a Pattaya toilet trough. If you have TP/Driller experience, thats different. God, I wish people would just ask a straight question, instead of fannying about around the edges... If you want a specific, sensible question answered, post it.... I'll be here.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eeeya Posted May 18, 2012 Share Posted May 18, 2012 I know alot of Aussies who work offshore in Australia but live in Thailand. Better working conditions, food and safety culture to be had back home, but it still doesnt mean you cant live here on your time off. Forget about getting an expat junior position. As a previous poster said, your better off getting experience in your own backyard then looking for opportunities else where. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonw8uk Posted May 18, 2012 Share Posted May 18, 2012 I think I'll grab my popcorn and sit back for this one... I have just moved, in a senior position with a Global O&G service company, to Bangkok. Over and above my pay increase, Thailand still qualifies, from some companies, for a 'Hardship Allowance'. SKL gets more of an allowance than BKK. Business is actually increasing, companies are now looking at previously underdeveloped blocks since oil is through the roof and more advanced tools are starting to make them look profitable. If the OP is looking for work with an operator, then there are plenty out there, if you have the right skill sets. If not, forget it. This is not a fledgling industry in this part of the world and a new engineering grad will not have the skills required. An experienced guy, with North Sea, GOM or ME experience might have the CV people are looking for.. If he is looking for work with a service company, same goes. Plenty of locals leaving Uni with the same degrees, and it makes no difference to guys out here which Uni. The fact is, its cheaper to hire a local grad than an expat grad. In fact, the idea that a guy wants to move to Thailand for his first job is looked on with suspicion. Get some experience closer to home before you start to look overseas.... If he is looking for a position on the rigs, even harder. No degree, far cheaper to have a local roughneck than an expat who wants to get back on the beach as quick as possible so he can piss his pay into a Pattaya toilet trough. If you have TP/Driller experience, thats different. God, I wish people would just ask a straight question, instead of fannying about around the edges... If you want a specific, sensible question answered, post it.... I'll be here.... May I ask did you get this job not knowing anyone in the Thai O&G industry? Seems like a closed shop to me (understandably so.....if your already in the clique..!) Currently working in South Korea on a large australian project, and we have some stuff being made around Leam Chabang, but dammit I can't get out there~!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soutpeel Posted May 18, 2012 Share Posted May 18, 2012 Better working conditions, food and safety culture to be had back home You base this statement on what ? In the gulf of Thailand, the working conditions, food and safety culture are the same as, if not better, than some of the "western" locations I have worked in before Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soutpeel Posted May 18, 2012 Share Posted May 18, 2012 May I ask did you get this job not knowing anyone in the Thai O&G industry? Seems like a closed shop to me (understandably so.....if your already in the clique..!) The O&G industry worldwide is a "closed shop" ....it generally involves not what you know, but who you know In some respects this is not a bad thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eeeya Posted May 18, 2012 Share Posted May 18, 2012 Better working conditions, food and safety culture to be had back home You base this statement on what ? In the gulf of Thailand, the working conditions, food and safety culture are the same as, if not better, than some of the "western" locations I have worked in before Based on personal experience working in the industry im saying i prefer to work on drilling rigs in Australia, sure its not the ultimate adventure some want, but i save that for my time off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soutpeel Posted May 18, 2012 Share Posted May 18, 2012 Better working conditions, food and safety culture to be had back home You base this statement on what ? In the gulf of Thailand, the working conditions, food and safety culture are the same as, if not better, than some of the "western" locations I have worked in before Based on personal experience working in the industry im saying i prefer to work on drilling rigs in Australia, sure its not the ultimate adventure some want, but i save that for my time off. So you have worked drilling rigs in the Gulf of Thailand then ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eeeya Posted May 18, 2012 Share Posted May 18, 2012 Better working conditions, food and safety culture to be had back home You base this statement on what ? In the gulf of Thailand, the working conditions, food and safety culture are the same as, if not better, than some of the "western" locations I have worked in before Based on personal experience working in the industry im saying i prefer to work on drilling rigs in Australia, sure its not the ultimate adventure some want, but i save that for my time off. So you have worked drilling rigs in the Gulf of Thailand then ? yes but thats not the original point of my post, Initially i wanted to work in Thailand so I could live here. Later on I decided that I would work elsewhere which I found more enjoyable and commute here to thailand for my time off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotinsiam Posted May 19, 2012 Share Posted May 19, 2012 I think I'll grab my popcorn and sit back for this one... I have just moved, in a senior position with a Global O&G service company, to Bangkok. Over and above my pay increase, Thailand still qualifies, from some companies, for a 'Hardship Allowance'. SKL gets more of an allowance than BKK. Business is actually increasing, companies are now looking at previously underdeveloped blocks since oil is through the roof and more advanced tools are starting to make them look profitable. If the OP is looking for work with an operator, then there are plenty out there, if you have the right skill sets. If not, forget it. This is not a fledgling industry in this part of the world and a new engineering grad will not have the skills required. An experienced guy, with North Sea, GOM or ME experience might have the CV people are looking for.. If he is looking for work with a service company, same goes. Plenty of locals leaving Uni with the same degrees, and it makes no difference to guys out here which Uni. The fact is, its cheaper to hire a local grad than an expat grad. In fact, the idea that a guy wants to move to Thailand for his first job is looked on with suspicion. Get some experience closer to home before you start to look overseas.... If he is looking for a position on the rigs, even harder. No degree, far cheaper to have a local roughneck than an expat who wants to get back on the beach as quick as possible so he can piss his pay into a Pattaya toilet trough. If you have TP/Driller experience, thats different. God, I wish people would just ask a straight question, instead of fannying about around the edges... If you want a specific, sensible question answered, post it.... I'll be here.... May I ask did you get this job not knowing anyone in the Thai O&G industry? Seems like a closed shop to me (understandably so.....if your already in the clique..!) Currently working in South Korea on a large australian project, and we have some stuff being made around Leam Chabang, but dammit I can't get out there~!!!! It is easy to move locations when you are already within a multinational Oil / Service company - does your current company operate in Thailand? I sadly have to agree with previous posts that the days of highly paid foreign expats getting - let's say semi skilled positions on a rotation are over. The exceptions I see currently are if you want to go to Africa which is fine in some places, Saudi & Iraq. It is relatively easy to obtain a "live in" position in decent locations but again not in low level roles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rgs2001uk Posted May 19, 2012 Share Posted May 19, 2012 I think I'll grab my popcorn and sit back for this one... I have just moved, in a senior position with a Global O&G service company, to Bangkok. Over and above my pay increase, Thailand still qualifies, from some companies, for a 'Hardship Allowance'. SKL gets more of an allowance than BKK. Business is actually increasing, companies are now looking at previously underdeveloped blocks since oil is through the roof and more advanced tools are starting to make them look profitable. If the OP is looking for work with an operator, then there are plenty out there, if you have the right skill sets. If not, forget it. This is not a fledgling industry in this part of the world and a new engineering grad will not have the skills required. An experienced guy, with North Sea, GOM or ME experience might have the CV people are looking for.. If he is looking for work with a service company, same goes. Plenty of locals leaving Uni with the same degrees, and it makes no difference to guys out here which Uni. The fact is, its cheaper to hire a local grad than an expat grad. In fact, the idea that a guy wants to move to Thailand for his first job is looked on with suspicion. Get some experience closer to home before you start to look overseas.... If he is looking for a position on the rigs, even harder. No degree, far cheaper to have a local roughneck than an expat who wants to get back on the beach as quick as possible so he can piss his pay into a Pattaya toilet trough. If you have TP/Driller experience, thats different. God, I wish people would just ask a straight question, instead of fannying about around the edges... If you want a specific, sensible question answered, post it.... I'll be here.... "fannying about around the edges" LOL, Love it,havent heard that expression in years. I used to use the expression, fanny arsing around, the Yanks didnt have a clue. Thanks for making my day and giving me a laugh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnybgood Posted May 20, 2012 Share Posted May 20, 2012 "God, I wish people would just ask a straight question, instead of fannying about around the edges... If you want a specific, sensible question answered, post it... I'll be here...." Ok, there may be some interested, experienced, helpful guys reading ... With 20 years North Sea experience, initially as a wireline operator, 12 years as a [staff] Well Service Supervisor for a major-major. I took an early retirement package a few years ago and decided to never go offshore again. I arrived here in Thailand and have been dossing ever since. I need to work - and not necessarily for financial reasons! Faced with a divorce and a new freedom, does any one know of any well servicing companies recruiting in their Songkhla workshops? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NanLaew Posted May 20, 2012 Share Posted May 20, 2012 You base this statement on what ? In the gulf of Thailand, the working conditions, food and safety culture are the same as, if not better, than some of the "western" locations I have worked in before Based on personal experience working in the industry im saying i prefer to work on drilling rigs in Australia, sure its not the ultimate adventure some want, but i save that for my time off. So you have worked drilling rigs in the Gulf of Thailand then ? yes but thats not the original point of my post, Initially i wanted to work in Thailand so I could live here. Later on I decided that I would work elsewhere which I found more enjoyable and commute here to thailand for my time off. I would agree that working somewhere else and coming to Thailand for r&r was much more enjoyable for me than working AND living here. A comment on "the working conditions, food and safety culture" offshore Thailand versus offshore Australia. Aussie Government regulations and Union rules makes any compromise on these items non-negotiable whereas one would (and frequently does) put up with a lot more sh!t here because it is Thailand after all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NanLaew Posted May 20, 2012 Share Posted May 20, 2012 "God, I wish people would just ask a straight question, instead of fannying about around the edges... If you want a specific, sensible question answered, post it... I'll be here...." Ok, there may be some interested, experienced, helpful guys reading ... With 20 years North Sea experience, initially as a wireline operator, 12 years as a [staff] Well Service Supervisor for a major-major. I took an early retirement package a few years ago and decided to never go offshore again. I arrived here in Thailand and have been dossing ever since. I need to work - and not necessarily for financial reasons! Faced with a divorce and a new freedom, does any one know of any well servicing companies recruiting in their Songkhla workshops? Once again, the Thai E&P business isn't about to hire experienced expatriates when a local-hire with less experience can do the job. It's been said already that the Department of Mineral Fuels (DMF) has to approve any foreign hires and that's usually limited to experienced people for project-specific jobs. Unless you know someone who can put in a good word, you are on the outside, looking in. There's several manpower agencies in the region and it would be easier to get your cv filed with them and expect to work somewhere outside the Gulf of Thailand while you rebuild your dream. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eeeya Posted May 20, 2012 Share Posted May 20, 2012 I work for a major service company in Australia. The best part is in this location if we work too many hours we can shut it down, rig can circulate until we wake up aftet 8 hrs rest. Its a luxury not many locations will give. No way I'm dying for a bit of oil or gas. Sent from my HTC One X using Thaivisa Connect App Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tutsiwarrior Posted May 20, 2012 Share Posted May 20, 2012 a big, well known O&G company in Sarawak has made me an offer to work on O&M (primarily maintenance)@ USD17000 per month and a 4 on 4 off rotation...my background is in new power generation projects and the offer was made only on sight of my CV with no phone interview or nothin' and I'm almost 62 y.o....they said that they'll train me up for what they want me to do... sounds attractive but a bit weird...any of you O&G folks care to comment? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soutpeel Posted May 20, 2012 Share Posted May 20, 2012 a big, well known O&G company in Sarawak has made me an offer to work on O&M (primarily maintenance)@ USD17000 per month and a 4 on 4 off rotation...my background is in new power generation projects and the offer was made only on sight of my CV with no phone interview or nothin' and I'm almost 62 y.o....they said that they'll train me up for what they want me to do... sounds attractive but a bit weird...any of you O&G folks care to comment? Only weird bit is making an offer on CV alone, and not even a telephone interview, unless of course someone you know is already there and involved in the hiring Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soutpeel Posted May 20, 2012 Share Posted May 20, 2012 A comment on "the working conditions, food and safety culture" offshore Thailand versus offshore Australia. Aussie Government regulations and Union rules makes any compromise on these items non-negotiable whereas one would (and frequently does) put up with a lot more sh!t here because it is Thailand after all. Wasnt the PTTEP rig which caught fire a few years ago working under Aussie goverment/union rules, and this was being run from the Aussie Divsion of PTTEP out of Perth ? Having worked many years in the Gulf of Thailand can't say I have had to put up with any more shit than I have anywhere else I have worked over the years and in some respects its better than some Western countries I have worked in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tutsiwarrior Posted May 20, 2012 Share Posted May 20, 2012 a big, well known O&G company in Sarawak has made me an offer to work on O&M (primarily maintenance)@ USD17000 per month and a 4 on 4 off rotation...my background is in new power generation projects and the offer was made only on sight of my CV with no phone interview or nothin' and I'm almost 62 y.o....they said that they'll train me up for what they want me to do... sounds attractive but a bit weird...any of you O&G folks care to comment? Only weird bit is making an offer on CV alone, and not even a telephone interview, unless of course someone you know is already there and involved in the hiring thanks for that soutpeel...all the folks that I know professionally are solid power generation so that it would be unlikely that there is an inside connection...but, one never knows...the most confusing bit is that there was no phone interview...it's like: 'we don't care!...come on over!...' and for another power job I just had to travel to NYC from Thailand to do a medical exam for a saudi work visa and I'm not even on the stinkin' payroll yet!!!??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soutpeel Posted May 20, 2012 Share Posted May 20, 2012 (edited) a big, well known O&G company in Sarawak has made me an offer to work on O&M (primarily maintenance)@ USD17000 per month and a 4 on 4 off rotation...my background is in new power generation projects and the offer was made only on sight of my CV with no phone interview or nothin' and I'm almost 62 y.o....they said that they'll train me up for what they want me to do... sounds attractive but a bit weird...any of you O&G folks care to comment? Only weird bit is making an offer on CV alone, and not even a telephone interview, unless of course someone you know is already there and involved in the hiring thanks for that soutpeel...all the folks that I know professionally are solid power generation so that it would be unlikely that there is an inside connection...but, one never knows...the most confusing bit is that there was no phone interview...it's like: 'we don't care!...come on over!...' and for another power job I just had to travel to NYC from Thailand to do a medical exam for a saudi work visa and I'm not even on the stinkin' payroll yet!!!??? I have been suprised over the years over the number of people working all over the world who know me, have worked with them somewhere, or they know of me from someone else...and not all O&G related...early on in my career I was involved in commercial nuclear and have met guys from those days working O&G now I nearly took a job a few years ago in Africa and I got a phone call from a guy who I used to work with in Thailand and my office would have been next to his and he wasnt involved in the hiring process, but my name must have been thrown about on the site, so you never know who you will bump into in this industry, so always good not to burn too many bridges, as somebody working for you today could end up being your boss somewhere else.. Its still strange that they havent even given you a telephone interview as this is the standard MO....maybe who ever was there before you quit or was run off suddenly and they are trying to fill the postion quickly. It maybe worth asking the question of why they dont want to interview you...not suggesting that you have done it...but some people have a habit of embellishing their CV's and this typically comes out even in a telephone interview....have caught out people in past claiming that have worked on certain jobs, which just happened to be jobs I was on, and quite amusing to listen to the comments when I said how come I have never met them... On face value the money offered is in the ball park as the rotation Edited May 20, 2012 by Soutpeel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tutsiwarrior Posted May 20, 2012 Share Posted May 20, 2012 (edited) in the offer letter they said explicitly that no interview would be required due to my experience and my CV is solid but it's all power generation and I have no O&G experience at all!?...strange...but they did say that a 3 week training course will be required...and I'm not to mobilize until the end of July so that it sounds like they're in no hurry to get me to site... I will request a detailed job description and ask a few questions...good to hear that what they are offering is 'ballpark'... yeah...many times it's 'who you know' and I've been offered jobs before due to a previous associate being 'in the loop' and when in an interview if one mentions a few names then OK...there might be someone with the employer who I've worked with before in power generation but I'm not aware... btw the employers want an 'affidavit of guarantee and a letter of attestation' from the Malaysian Court of High Justice before they can process my visa and they say that these are required due to high employee turnover and that I must contact lawyers in KL for this purpose at their expense...'high employee turnover'? that don't sound too good...the job is in Sarawak and I can handle any remote location if the facilities are good...if they ain't got a salad bar in the canteen then I walk... Edited May 20, 2012 by tutsiwarrior Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soutpeel Posted May 20, 2012 Share Posted May 20, 2012 btw the employers want an 'affidavit of guarantee and a letter of attestation' from the Malaysian Court of High Justice before they can process my visa and they say that these are required due to high employee turnover and that I must contact lawyers in KL for this purpose at their expense...'high employee turnover'? that don't sound too good...the job is in Sarawak and I can handle any remote location if the facilities are good...if they ain't got a salad bar in the canteen then I walk... Know guys who work in Malaysia and never heard of this one before....if they start asking you to pay an "admin fee" upfront before being issued a visa...be very careful....this could be a scam. Never heard of the "admin fee" scam coming out of Malaysia, but this sort of scam is common in Nigeria and they are getting quite sophisticated these days, using details of real projects, money offered is realistic as are the T&C's, they also offer you jobs based on CV alone and then tell you you have to pay a couple of hundred dollars upfront to cover admin costs, typically to a "lawyer" you pay the money over in good faith and its the last you ever hear from them... One further question if i may ?......did you apply for the job or did this come out the blue ?....if so I would be even more careful, also considering they did even want to talk to you on the telephone Not saying this is a scam...but some of the signs are there indicating this could be the case Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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