Currently in Abu Dhabi for interview with adco. Right now they have a recruitment drive to hire new people. There are lots of people (mostly asian, african) here from many discipline, from subsurface to maintenance and even IT and safety officer. Met afew malaysian also.
And lucky for me is I got the job, yey!

thanks for the reply.i would love to know more about the chopper.the company it self own the chopper ? or charted ? thanks bro.

Ha ha... thanks! I was called to be interviewed as geologist, but during interview I told them Im a geomodeller. So they interviewed me as geomodeller instead.
Met many petronas staff during this recruitment drive. And many of them also successful. So petronas will loose abunch of good guys again.
But I have to say, the adco payscale is not that good. I reject their offer twice before they gave me a number that I can consider.

Ha ha... thanks! I was called to be interviewed as geologist, but during interview I told them Im a geomodeller. So they interviewed me as geomodeller instead.
Met many petronas staff during this recruitment drive. And many of them also successful. So petronas will loose abunch of good guys again.
But I have to say, the adco payscale is not that good. I reject their offer twice before they gave me a number that I can consider.

so youre going there alone or with your family?btw do you guys go to the site or work at the site or at the office,  and make routine stops/visits to the site??made me wonder since the housing would be distanced from a production site/oil field right?

For my grade they have both school and housing allowance.  School is aed35k per annum (which is not quite enough)  while housing is aed150k per annum (which I read is decent enough) .
By the way you are right about the cap for each grade. But I think they many people didn't (including myself)  is what they call market adjustment. So even if its max, they can put some amount for market adjustment.  For me I only manage to push my adjustment untill aed5k permonth only.

My role would be at the headquater. But I met few guys which their rotaion likes 5/3, 46/24. These guys im not sure about the housing allowance though.

Work force continues to ‘mature’
GeoSalaries Rise Almost 8 Percent
By LARRY NATION, AAPG Communications Director
As crude prices came out of the doldrums in 2010-11, so have the pay hikes for petroleum geologists.
Over the past year, salaries for petroleum geologists for the year showed a weighted average increase of 7.9 percent, according to the annual AAPG Salary Survey.
This compares with a 5 percent overall increase in 2009-10 and a 2 percent increase the previous year.



Mike Ayling, of MLA Resources, who has conducted the annual salary survey for AAPG since 1981, said the largest pay increases came in the “high demand” groups with 10-14 and 25-plus years experience, with increases between 10 and 12 percent.
“These demographic groups entered the work force at times when demand for geologists was not as high (mid-1980s and mid-1990s) – but now they are at the point in their careers where they can be key players,” Ayling said. “And, they are getting paid for it because the companies are wanting to keep them.”



The industry has a two-generation history of hiring and paying a premium for new talent in the good times – and during bad times, not so much. This has given the industry curious gaps in the age and experience levels in the work force.
In fact, Ayling noted that nearly 44 percent of the respondents to the 2010-11 AAPG survey had over 25 years experience, indicating the extent of the aging of the work force.
Ayling continued there are other factors at work with the numbers, including reluctance on the part of smaller and mid-size companies to staff-up at the entry levels, “because they can’t spare the mature geologist the time to mentor the new geologist.”
Also, at the senior levels, there is not much movement from job-to-job due to “golden handcuffs” of accruing bonuses and retirement programs – as well as uncertainties in the economy causing individuals to be hesitant to make a move.



Ayling also noted the economic insecurity has caused companies to be slow in their hiring decisions.
The survey found that the 0-2 year experience levels showed a small increase, up 6.2 percent, but recently graduated bachelor level geologists had a difficult time finding work – and the few that did worked for lower salaries, depressing the overall average.
The 3-5 year and 15-19 year geologist groups showed little change, but these groups contained few individuals, Ayling said.
The 6-9 year and 20-24 year groups had between a 5 and 6 percent increase.
Ayling also noted the number of people in the demographic age groups can have a big bearing on both the marketplace and the salaries they are paid due to the supply and demand for their level of experience and expertise.
The annual salary survey is based on employed, salaried geoscientists and is based on salaries alone. It does not include bonuses, employee benefits, autos or other perquisites.
It does not attempt to include anyone whose compensation is in the form of consulting fees, retainers or overrides.
The survey also is based on U.S. salaries only, considered the “gold standard” for the industry. The measurement for international salaries for explorationists is virtually on a country-by-country, case-by-case basis, Ayling said, which makes statistical averaging non-productive beyond the boundaries of any specific country.
Ayling added that many ex-pats are paid U.S.-based salaries, while the national oil companies opt to pay compatriots on a different, lower scale. 

those are net or gross?

To tell you you the truth, I was never intended to take geology during my uni. I was force to do so (kind of) by my sponsor. But heck, I guess it turn out ok after all.
Those kind of events take makes you realized later in your life that there is this thing call destiny.

now, solved puzzle, what a small world, hehe..
Do you know what is the current market for geophysicist/interpreter? As good as geomodeller? I'm more on the development.
Can you explain what do people expect from a geophysicist with 7 yrs experience? What kind of skills/experience they looking for? e.g. Skill in QI generation is a must or advantages (AVO/Inversion)?
Really appreciate your explanation and help, thanks. 
No matter how Petronas adjust the Tier 1 personnel salary, their salary scheme are still always lower compare to shell, slb... etc
bro congrat!!
if you entered university/college 5-6yrs ago or earlier, basically majority will not choose this course.
most ppl don't even look or think about geology.
and geology is my fifth choice that time.

Guys, if you received two offers, one is in middle east and the other one is in Australia, both with a similar package and job scope, which one do you consider? say if you have a family to take along.