I was a field engineer for one of the big oil and gas service companies.
I would hesitatingly recommend it for the right person, which is someone youngish and fresh out of school, able to put work ahead of everything else including kids/family, who's reasonably tough and thick skinned, and up for a big adventure.
From the get go the training was spectacular. Similarly, the hours and schedules were long. In Canada they were sued so even trainees such as myself ended up getting the 2 weeks on 1 week off rotation schedule from day 1, however in pretty much every other country except others with strict labour laws, you will likely work the first 6-8 months until your initial training is done with maybe 10 days off given as treats. Of those two weeks you'd be at work for maybe half at the shop if things were slow, or all of it if it was busy and you were in the field.
Then you start running jobs on your own. 24/7 schedule. When it's busy expect to be gone for the whole 2 weeks. When you're running flat out the schedule would be something like work for 8-48 hours at well site on a job, sleep for 8-10 hours so that drivers could legally reset to drive again, repeat.
Money was great. Got to travel a lot, every third week off to do small trips. Slow down in spring meant you could take 4-6 weeks off, most of it paid, and do a big trip.
Allowed me to transfer to Asia after a few years and run really high profile jobs. More travel, more money, zero expenses, little tax. I credit this to being borderline FIRE at early 30s. However, zero rights for time management and no labour laws. On paper schedule was 8 weeks on, 3 off, but this was always rearranged. Longest stretch was 18 weeks with no days off, because it was busy. Several times I'd go on vacation expecting a few weeks off, only to be told to turn around and book a flight a few days later.
The oil industry at the field level is spectacular for a young person seeking money and adventure. That said I'm glad I got/was forced out when I did via layoff a few years ago, because when you're 30 making 200k a year, if you're a spendypants you need it, and if you're a saver (me) you realize this may be your best money making opportunity of your life so in either case 'one more year' syndrome is very real. The older people 40+ still doing the field life are largely all divorced, strained relationships with family, and seem to have little going for their life aside from money, work and fancy toys they rarely enjoy. Seems jumping out of bed at 2am for a phone call then telling the wife/kids you're fucking off for somewhere between 8 hours and 8 weeks puts a strain on things.
