So you want to be a Driller or work on a Drill Rig? What you need to know......

By Jody Elliott, Director at The Resource Channel on 07 Aug 12

One of the most common questions we were asked during the recent Australian Gas Technology Conference in Perth was "How do I become a Driller" or "How do I get a start working on a Drill Rig?" We provide an overview for you here......

In almost all cases, onshore and offshore drilling is outsourced to drilling contractors; these are the companies who provide the equipment, people and expertise to drill the oil and gas wells or to drill to find a specific mineral.

There are approximately 859 offshore rigs in the world fleet at this time. Some are still under construction, but are included in the numbers. Some are en route from one location to another. Some are stacked, meaning they do not have a contract at this time and only have a skeleton crew on board.

The majority of the rigs, around 78%, are working. They are working in Australia, Asia, Eastern Europe, the Eastern Coast of Canada, the Far East, the Gulf of Mexico, Latin America, the Mediterranean, the Middle East, the North Sea and West Africa.

Drilling contractors are the ones who find the commodity, ie oil, gas, iron ore, nickel etc. They accomplish this with a piece of equipment called a drilling rig, just rig for short. They come in all shapes and sizes and work both land and offshore.

Most land rigs - because they are trailer mounted for highway transportation - are limited to a certain size. Except for their size, land rigs pretty much all look the same.

Offshore rigs however come in all shapes and sizes. Each type of rig has a specific environment it was created to work in, going from the protected shallow waters of inland marshes that are only a few feet deep to the most hostile oceans of the world in water depths which are thousands of feet deep.

Oil and Gas drill rigs are located as follows across the globe:

Eastern Europe – 29
The Far East – 26
Gulf of Mexico – 336
Latin America – 125
The Mediterranean – 10
The Middle East – 76
The North Sea – 80
West Africa – 59
Australia / Asia – 76
Southern Asia – 28
East Coast Canada – 5

Jobs on the rigs will include cleaner / painters and roustabouts (both entry level) riggers (slingers), floorhands, crane operators, welders, electricians, mechanics, motormen, oilers, engineers, chief engineers, derrickmen, assistant drillers, drillers, tool pushers, warehousemen, medic / safety persons, ballast controlmen, DP operators, barge operators, barge engineers, rig managers and rig superintendents.

Source: http://www.offshoreguides.com/cptron/contact_drilling_contractors.htm

Typical Driller Tasks:

Assembling, dismantling and moving drill rigs and accessory equipment
Taking and packaging ore, liquid and gas samples
Performing maintenance and minor repairs, lubrication and cleaning on plant
Keeping detailed operation logs, record performance details and information obtained from wells
Performing drilling operations involved in the opening up of new shafts, air vents, drives and rises
Position and prime explosives using explosive cartridges and detonators
Operate secondary plants for the purpose of expelling air, water and mud

Training Options include:

National