Career Overview
In
In order to become a Drilling Fluids Tech, you need to study the field of Drilling fluids technology. There are various schools around the country which that have been graduating fluids hands for years, but most are private, owned by the Big Mud Companies, and they have become more particular about when and whom they choose to send to school these days, and for good reason. Over the years, most schools have become more book-oriented as well, and most have lost the practical aspect of properly running a fluid.
As a mud hand for 30 years, I have had the opportunity to work with mud technicians all over the world. A handful of techs actually "engineer" the drilling fluids, but most check the mud and prescribe reactive, temporary treatments. A hand graduating from mud school should be able to properly, professionally run drilling fluids anywhere, on any rig...
GET PROFESSIONAL TRAINING... it matters.
Students graduating from DFE tech are able to step
on a rig anywhere in the world and properly prescribe the correct
fluids treatment within an hour. Our technicians are trained in the art of
running mud properly instead of the reactive position of fixing it when it
begins to break, i.e., being run by the mud. There are mud checkers, and
there are Professional Fluids Technicians. The Professional Fluids Tech field is desperately in
need of good hands that actually understand the process of
"engineering" a drilling fluid. The industry needs technicians that can count,
technicians that can operate a basic office computer, and are able to communicate
well with other hands on the rigs.
Average starting salary for fluids technicians is +/- $4500
to $5500 per month. That's 54K to 66K per year. This does not include 401K
matching, a company vehicle and expense account, all gasoline paid,
inexpensive insurance benefits, and all equipment issued including computer
& mud equipment. In my opinion, the Mud Technician's position is the best job in the
oilfield, and one of the least known and understood. Hands may work 7
and 7, 14 and 14, 28 and 28, or make local rig checks on a daily basis.
Want to travel ?
DFE
tech
Be one.
