In this video, we're going to take a look at the main positions on the drilling rig and we'll
discuss the responsibilities of a different crew members on the drilling rig and
this will be a good introduction to anybody who wants to work on the drilling rig or
just wants to get a better idea of on how the drilling rig crews operate.
Most operators actually don't have drilling rigs and instead they hire third-party drilling companies to drill the wells.
So here's a breakdown of typical positions on a drilling rig and their responsibilities. First
we have roughneck, he is usually the most junior member of the team who reports to the driller.
He makes up and breaks down joints of pipe while running in the hole or pulling to the surface. He also
helps to maintain all the equipment, cleans it and assists other members of the team whenever needed.
Next, we have derrickman, he usually works above the drilling floor on the monkey board and his
main responsibility is racking the stances of pipe. To work as a derrickman you should be comfortable
spending long hours at heights. He also maintains mud motors and is responsible for mud preparation.
Next, we have the motorman. As the name suggests he is mainly responsible to ensure that all the
motors and the rig machinery operate without any major breakdowns. He often spends his time
doing preventative maintenance and performing machinery inspection to avoid
downtime during the drilling operations due to motor failures. Next, we have a driller. A driller is
in charge of the drilling crew and he reports to the toolpusher. He is responsible for running the rig
which includes raising and lowering the drill pipe,
controlling speeds, operating BOPs and following the drill program.
Next, there is a toolpusher. He is the most senior member of the team and everyone on the drilling
rig reports to him. He oversees the drilling operation and he usually stays on location while
the rest of the crew stays in the camp or hotel. The toolpusher also works closely with the company man
to ensure that the well is being drilled as per plan.
Lastly, we have a company man. The company man or on-site representative (OSR) works for the operator.
He is the one who is in charge of every operation happening on the lease.
So how can you start working on a drilling rig? Most people start working on a drilling rig as roughnecks and then slowly progress to more senior positions and eventually become drillers and toolpushers.
Let's take a look at the basic requirements to start working on the drilling rig. First of all you need to have a driving license with a good driving record. If you have a Class 1 license it might be easier for you to get a job.
You also need a high school diploma however having a post-secondary education related to
oil and gas field can help you to get promoted faster. You also need to be able to pass the
drug test, alcohol, and physical tests and able to lift 80 pounds. H2S and first aid
course certificates are also required. H2S is one day course and the first aid it is a two-day course.
Next, you need to have good people skills because you will be working on a team and it
helps if you can work in a team environment and lastly, you need to have good problem solving
analytical skills. So how do you get the job on the drilling rig? If you can fulfill most
of the requirements we just discussed, you can start applying for the jobs online when the
the industry is booming it's pretty easy to get a job on the drilling rig as a roughneck even
though you can get a job without any experience it's it might be easier if you already have some
experience in a similar industry that requires hard labor like for example construction it also
helps if you know somebody who can recommend you to the toolpusher or get your resume to
him so that you can avoid going through the online application process which can be slow
and lastly, let's take a look at what can you expect when you start working on the drilling
rig. First of all, you will be working 12 hours a day and it will probably take another half an
hour for you to get from the drilling well site to the hotel or camp. The rotations are usually
15 days on and six days off however if you are working in more remote locations or if you're
working overseas it can be longer rotations such as one month on and on one month off. Usually quite
a bit of physical work is required to work on the drilling rig especially if you're just starting
and you need to be prepared to get dirty and work in extreme weather conditions. The temperatures can
be really high in the summer and very cold in the winter. Also, you should be aware that
there is quite a bit of noise on the location and you need to be able to work in a noisy
environment. Salaries are usually pretty good on the drilling rig and as you get promoted
and to move to more supervisory positions the amount of physical work that you'll be doing
will decrease. Getting a job on a drilling rig is a great way to get into the oil and gas industry
Thanks guys for watching this video. Please don't forget to subscribe and i will see you guys later!