DrillingJobs in drilling include junior positions on drilling and service rig crews. These occupations assist in the operation of the rig equipment when drilling, completing, or maintaining a well. This includes connecting and disconnecting pipes, handling, sorting and moving drill pipe or tubing, setting up and taking down the rig equipment and general clean-up of the rig area and lease site. Junior members of service rig crews may also drive trucks to transport materials and the rig equipment. These jobs do not require formal education. Health and safety certification is key for these roles, and in some cases, a valid driver's license may be required. Drilling a well beneath the surface of the North Sea is a similar process to drilling a hole in a piece of wood at home. The major difference is in the size and strength of the drill bit as it will be boring through some very hard rock formations. The depth of the well will depend on the site of the reservoir and can be from a thousand metres to a few kilometres deep. Lengths of drill pipe, on average 9 metres long, are attached to the drill bit and some drilling operations can take many hours to complete. The use of fluids, usually called drilling mud, to lubricate the drill bit can make the process very dirty and working on the drill floor means exposure to all types of weather conditions. As the well is being drilled, a casing to prevent the hole from collapsing will be cemented in. Appraisal wells are drilled at the exploration phase and, following the decision for the field to go 'on stream', production wells are drilled. As technology advances, the technique of directional drilling is being used to maximise the performance of the reservoirs. In many locations the drilling is horizontal, which means that the well is more than 80 degrees from the vertical. Career PathsThese are typically entry-level positions. Career advancement to operators and trades may be possible with appropriate educational qualifications, on-the-job training and completion of further technical and/or apprenticeship training. Routine WorkThis work is very hands-on, physically labour intensive and requires travel to project sites in sometimes remote locations. There are often opportunities for paid overtime. On the job you learn:
Classification of Drilling OccupationsRoustabout RoughnecklFloorman Derrickman Assistant Driller Driller Toolpusher Rig Superintendent Drilling Engineer Education/Qualification options:Most jobs do not require training before employment. The following organisations provide information on either on-job training or pre-entry training for health and safety, hazards. |