Transition from MLWD field engineer to other career path

[JoJo76]

Greetings all,

I have been working as a MLWD field engineer for a service company for 3 years, I really enjoy the rig life (apart from being away from family ). I have a bachelor degree in Petroleum Engineering. With the Covid thing getting manageable and the oil price going up, I am considering 2 options as below:

1. Crossing to DD and then drilling engineer ultimately - I am still single so working on offshore rigs is not a big problem, however if I have to spend time on the rig, might as well make the most out of it, then a few years as DD then drilling engineer, I don't think I can work offshore in a very long term . The thing is that at my segment currently, it is next to impossible for me to cross to DD as there is an abundant of local DDs. Is there any way for me to get to the DD side? - I found an old thread (10+ yrs ago) saying that I can go to companies that specialize in directional work only, is it still valid today?

2. Translate my skills as MLWD field engineer to positions in oil company or even companies from different industries. But I cannot think from the top of my head of any way to use MWD knowledge (surface system, acquisition software, MLWD tools - very specific stuffs) for another position - to my knowledge, only service companies use MWD. How do I set myself apart? Any tips to get out of this dilemma? If so, please point me at the right direction so I can go from there.
Thank you in advance.

Cheers!

 

[1503-44]

MBA? Hey, it worked for my brother in law.

 

[JoJo76]

Hi 1503-44,

Thanks for the reply, what type of MBA did your brother in law take?

 

[1503-44]

I didn't know there were MBA "types".

He worked for Schlumberger as a drilling engineer for 10yrs in Brunai, Algeria, US, France and Colombia, got some type of MBA and then they put him in charge of their internet development program in Paris, then a special program UN leasion thing they were doing in London, then NYC. He went back to Colombia and was country manager for a small Canadian oil company's operations there and has now left petroleum to be the country manager for a German heavy mining equipment supply company in Bogota.