Gate Guard Info

Gate Guarding – Our 2nd Year

I’ve linked to the start of our 2nd year of Gate Guarding in South Texas.

It starts August 23, 2013 and runs through November 24, 2013. Check it out.

https://ourrvadventures.wordpress.com/2013/08/23/our-new-home-2/

---

Another Gate Guard Company

A blog reader told me about another Gate Guard company, Guard 1 Services, based in Houston.

They’re presently advertising for Gate Guards and paying $152/day, $27/day more than many of the other companies.

You can check out their ad here.

http://www.work-for-rvers-and-campers.com/tx-oilfield-security-gate-guards.html

---

How We Got Started Gate Guarding

I’ve had some more inquiries about gate guarding and how to get started, so here’s a repost of the info.

When we started last year, we just showed up at the Gate Guard Services yard in Whitsett, TX and told them we wanted to gate guard. We did not call ahead.

We had heard to do it that way because they get so many calls and requests for info that they really don’t pay any attention until you get there in person.

We got there on Thursday, April 5th about 5:30, but every one had already gone home at the office. But the guy working the shop showed us where to park. They have 5 FHU sites and a number of places with power and water. There is no charge for parking there while you’re waiting for a gate or coming off a gate.

The next morning. I went to the office and got our info packets and fingerprint cards. We then drove over to Floresville about 20 miles away and got our fingerprints done at the Sheriff’s Office.

Then we had to drive down to Corpus Christi on Tuesday, April 10th to process our applications and take our security guard tests. We had to wait until Tuesday because they only process apps on Tuesday and Thursday.

Five days later, on Sunday, April 15th, we were on our first gate.

Doing it this way will work in the Spring and Summer, but probably not as well in the Fall and Winter when the all the snowbirds are down in south Texas wanting to gate guard for the winter.

Gate Guarding pays $125 a day or more depending on how busy your gate is. And just to be clear, the $125 is per couple, not per person. But it is $4000.00 every 32 days. Not Bad.

The company furnishes you a 11KW diesel generator, diesel to run it, a 500 gallon water tank that they keep filled, and a portable septic system. So even though you are usually out in the middle of nowhere, you have full hookups.

The one real downside to gate guarding is that most gates are 24/7. So one of you has to be on the gate at all times. Some couples do 12 hour shifts, but Jan and I prefer to split it up. She works the gate from 7am to 1pm, I work from 1pm to 6pm, she works from 6pm to 11pm, and then I work from 11pm to 7am. This seems to work for us. Your mileage may differ.

But one thing to keep in mind is that although you’re working 12 hour shifts, you don’t actually WORK that much. Last year we averaged about 80 vehicles a day, and never had more than 130. Based on about 30 seconds per vehicle, you only actually work about 30-45 minutes a day. The rest of the time you’re sitting in the shade reading or playing on the computer. Jan read 84 books in 4 months last year.

For more information you can go back on our blog starting April 5th, 2012 and read about our gate guarding adventures last year. Or just leave me a comment.

---

List of Gate Guard Companies

The first 4 are the main ones, with GGS the biggest.

Gate Guard Services, L.P.- 361-949-6992

LOMA Rentals, LLC – 817-964-1828

Time Keepers – 830-816-5059  Toll Free – 877-851-7676

SiteWatch Gate Guards – 800-561-7202

____________________________________________

C & K Rentals  ckrentals@gvec.net

Chapa  361-449-6294

Guard 1 Services  800-994-2133

J&G Security  361-236-4555

KC Services  956-236-5255

MR Ranch Services  956-346-1994

Oil Field Support Services  361-815-7050

Overwatch  830-589-3002

Pro Gate Security – 830-776-8666

Primo Gate Guards – 361-563-9272

Red Horse Protection  817-244-0222

Regulators Gate Guards  361-945-4546

Riata  mccollum@riataoilfieldsecurity.com

Trinity  956-241-1675

---

Highest-Paid Oilfield Jobs

(Salaries Based on North Dakota Positions)

http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/Articles/2013/11/05/North-Dakota-Oil-Jobs-10-Highest-Paying-Positions

1. Drilling Consultant: $238,697

A drilling consultant is an expert in all types of drilling operations. To become one, you typically need a bachelor’s degree or higher in engineering or a related field and at least five to 10 years experience in the oil field. The job tends to require frequent travel.

2. Directional Driller: $192,799

This is one of the highest-paid positions you can get without a college degree, though a bachelor’s degree in engineering or geology can’t hurt. Directional drillers typically work on-site running a rig, and as the main liaisons with engineers, company men (see below) and geologists. They typically have three or more years of experience in the field.

3. Foreman or Superintendent: $182,483

Sometimes called a “company man,” this managerial/supervisor position involves overseeing day-to-day operations of a crew, including safety, budget and maintenance, and coordinating with the various contractors that work with the company. The job is largely held by senior oil and gas professionals with many years of experience.

4. Workover or Completion Driller: $151,947

A “workover” or “completion” rig is placed on a hole after it’s been drilled. It’s typically used to insert tubing or pipe into the hole, perform major maintenance operations and set up the infrastructure for a hydraulic fracturing job. It’s one of the more technically difficult jobs in the field and tends to require an engineering degree. A workover driller will also assess well performance and recommend solutions for optimizing oil production.

5. Reservoir Engineer: $149,611

There are many types of engineers in the oil field. One of the highest paid is a reservoir engineer, which involves estimating oil reserves and performing modeling studies to determine optimal locations and recovery methods. Other high-paid engineering jobs include a drilling engineer (averaging $142,664 a year), petroleum engineer ($126,448 a year) and mud engineer ($109,803 year).

6. Rig Manager: $140,560

Rig managers tend to oversee and manage the crew that’s working on-site. The job could include prepping and managing the budget and making sure targets are met. A bachelor’s degree isn’t usually required, as most rig managers start at the bottom as a rig hand or roustabout and work their way up.

7. Geoscientist or Geologist: $126,575

Geoscientists and geologists in the field study the composition, structure, process and physical aspects of the earth’s energy resources, including analyzing data and collecting samples. A bachelor’s degree or higher is required.

8. Coil Tubing Specialist: $106,976

Coil tubing refers to the metal piping used in an oil well after it’s been drilled. The tubing needed to pump fracking fluid down a well, among other operations. A coil tubing professional provides technical support and overseas the operation from start to finish, and tends to work as a contractor with many different oil companies. No bachelor’s degree is required.

9. Well Control Specialist or Well Tester: $102,868

Well control specialists or well testers typically travel from site to site, setting up and taking down rigs; inspecting production levels and equipment; and testing flowback quality. No bachelor’s degree required, though strong analytical skills, computer skills and experience with Excel spreadsheets is needed.

10. Stimulation Supervisor: $101,703

These jobs involve the work done to a well to increase production, including the process of hydraulic fracturing, when a mix of chemicals is pumped down the well to create fissures in the rock formation. It helps to have a degree in organic chemistry, chemical engineering or many years of experience working on fracking operations.