Duties and Tasks

• Conducts preliminary surveys of petroleum and natural gas deposits with prospectors, geologists, geophysicists, other scientists and engineers to determine the resources present, the feasibility of extracting the reserves, and the design and development of the extraction process.

• Prepares operation and project cost estimates and production schedules, and reports the progress, production and costs compared to budget.

• Assesses the natural, technical, financial and safety risks associated with the phases of the project development, construction and operations.

• Co-ordinates the utilisation of labour and equipment consistent with efficiency targets, statutes, safety guidelines and environmental conditions.

• Conducts research and provides advice on engineering operations for the exploration, location and extraction of petroleum and natural gas.

• Determines location for drilling.

• Decides on types of derrick and equipment including seabed platforms.

• Devises methods of controlling the flow of oil and gas from wells.

Petroleum Engineer at work
(Source: CareerGirls)

Working conditions

Petroleum engineers may work in the offices of petroleum mining companies, or they may work on petroleum mining rigs. Those working in offices usually work regular hours but may be expected to work longer hours when necessary. Those working on oil and gas rigs usually stay on the rig for extended periods, working and living in close proximity to other staff. Weather conditions on the rig may be harsh.

 

Tools and technologies

Petroleum engineers usually work with computers, especially computer-aided design (CAD) software, as well as word processing, data management and mapping software. They also use other office equipment. Although they do not operate it directly, they need to understand the way in which petroleum extraction, storage and transportation equipment works.

Education and Training

To become a petroleum engineer you usually need to complete a degree in engineering with a major in oil and gas, or petroleum engineering.

Employment Opportunities

Activity in the petroleum industry is cyclical, fluctuating with the world price of oil. Oil prices have largely been strong since the turn of the century, making petroleum engineers in demand.

 

 

 

Drilling engineers are vital to the petroleum industry, managing the safe and efficient drilling of wells to procure oil or gas. Drilling engineers are petroleum engineers that specialize in the drilling process. Drilling engineers plan, develop and oversee the drilling operations of oil and gas wells. They contribute throughout the lifecycle of a well, from the design stage to testing, completion and abandonment. They also plan and administer the budgets of drilling operations.

 

When a new oil or gas discovery is made, drilling engineers are responsible for designing and creating the wells that will exploit it. They must understand the geological structure of the oil reservoir and the techniques needed to drill into it without destabilizing the area. They'll choose appropriate drilling and well-construction techniques and design a well based on those criteria. They'll also estimate construction costs and oversee the construction process. When a well is fully exploited and ready to be decommissioned, drilling engineers either "mothball" the well or return the site to a stable and natural condition.

 

Drilling engineers plan and organise all the operations that take place in the drilling of oil and gas wells. They draw up plans for drilling operations, taking account of costs and deadlines. They specify the drilling program and plan the wells, supervise the drilling crew and are responsible for safety management and ensuring that an operation follows all environmental regulations. They are involved from the initial stages of well development, through to the testing and operations phases, until the completion and abandonment of an oil and gas deposit.

They are involved in the entire drilling life cycle, from initial well design to testing to supervising a drilling crew. Drilling engineers often work on teams of geologists, drilling contractors, and other construction managers. People with good communication and engineering skills who are willing to travel can succeed in this role. Most drilling engineers work full time both in the office and the field. Their shifts can include long, late hours since drilling is a 24/7 operation. They may work in onshore or offshore drilling environments.

 

Drilling engineers take responsibility for the wellhead.
(Source: Offshore Technology)

 

ANZSCO ID: 233612

Alternative names: Drill Engineer

 

Knowledge, skills and attributes        

• strong communication and interpersonal skills, as well as the ability to build and maintain relationships with a range of people

• a good technical understanding of the scientific principles of disciplines such as geology, physics, maths and chemistry

• a high level of numeracy and IT skills

• the analytical ability to think through potentially complex problems and develop solutions

• initiative and drive

• teamwork skills and the ability to cooperate with others

• sensitivity to different cultures and ways of working

• the ability to work under pressure.

Drilling engineers should have strong math and communication skills. Employers seek candidates with at least seven years of drilling experience, a bachelor’s degree in engineering, and the following skills:

• Engineering expertise – drilling engineers use analysis, mathematical calculations, and engineering principles to get their job done
  Drilling design – planning and executing drilling designs and operations is essential to this role
  Data analysis – engineers who drill must conduct thorough analysis on relevant data obtained from drilling sites to make their plans
  Budgeting – drilling engineers prepare project budgets and carefully monitor costs
  Analytical skills – analyzing drilling performance and factors that affect project cost and effectiveness is an essential skill for drilling engineers
  Writing – drilling engineers are often required to write reports suggesting necessary actions or recommendations
  Interpersonal skills – to successfully complete drilling projects, engineers must work with geologists, specialists, and project partners, and so need strong communication skills
  Leadership skills – the ability to lead engineering project meetings and problem-solving efforts with clients is crucial for drilling engineers
     

Cindy MacDonnell: Drilling Engineer
https://youtu.be/c83CvjQ6nYE

 

Duties and Tasks

As a drilling engineer, you'll need to:

• Design Drilling Plans: Drilling engineers plan all activities related to resource extraction. They are normally involved from initial design to the final abandonment stage of a project. When needed, a drilling engineer recommends other drilling design alternatives using specialist techniques such as hydraulics, casing design, cement design, etc.

• Evaluate Drilling Sites: Drilling engineers evaluate the desirability and feasibility of a well site. They collect a significant amount of data to project daily output levels. Drilling engineers forecast how long a site would produce desired quantities of resources, such as oil or gas. The reports and suggestions they produce from their evaluations help optimize drilling operations.

• Calculate Overhead Drilling Costs: Calculating the total cost of additional drilling expenses – such as heavy machinery, rig construction, and other structures – is a key duty of drilling engineers. They perform constant budget and benefit analysis. Every day, they closely monitor drilling and extraction operations to make sure work is going according to schedule and that project objectives are being met.

• Maintain Stakeholder Communication: Drilling engineers serve as a key liaison between internal and external parties to help support the success of a drilling operation. When conflicts arise, they get multiple stakeholders to agree on needed change and approve a new plan. In some cases, drilling engineers ensure that a project is adhering to environment standards and legislative requirements.

• Monitor Drilling Processes: When a drilling project is being executed, engineers monitor all phases of the operation. They perform benchmarking, identify areas that need improvement, or find ways to apply new technologies for efficiency. To keep drilling operations on track, drilling engineers may make daily operational calls, check the accuracy of reports, run risk assessments, or adjust logistics. They make cost-effective changes that keep complex drilling projects on time and on budget.

Detail:

• prepare well data sheets

• design and select well-head equipment

• draw up drilling programmes, taking account of desired production flow rates

• obtain relevant data, carrying out engineering analysis on site, recommending necessary actions and writing up reports

• monitor the daily progress of well operations

• keep track of current daily costs, comparing actual costs with expenditure proposals and recommending cost-effective changes

• liaise with specialist contractors and suppliers, such as cement companies or suppliers of drilling fluids

• monitor safety and ensure the good maintenance of the well

• adhere to environmental protection standards, in some cases through direct discussion with local governments to ensure compliance with legislative requirements

• establish and administer drilling and service contracts

• coordinate and supervise the work of the drilling team

• undertake engineering design and the planning of wells (including development work)

• design directional well paths (horizontally or multi-laterally, as appropriate)

• manage operations on behalf of small clients

• contribute to conceptual field development design

• work with multidisciplinary professionals to evaluate the commercial viability of the well and monitor progress during drilling

• return the site to its natural environmental setting if drilling isn't pursued.

 

(Source: WiseGeek)

Working conditions

Drilling engineers usually work on-site on oil and gas rigs, either on/ offshore. These facilities are usually extremely isolated and weather conditions at sea may be harsh. They usually work regular hours, but will often work for extended periods at a time, before taking leave to return home. On-site conditions may be cramped and rig workers usually live and work in close proximity to other staff for extended periods.

 

What to Expect
  

• You'll often be required to work offshore or in remote areas, but office-based roles are available too.

• Oil exploration is an international activity and the work of a drilling engineer can take you all over the world, from Africa to Eastern Europe and the Middle East.

• The work on offshore rigs is physically demanding, often undertaken in dirty, wet and noisy conditions. The weather may also be unpleasant.

• Living conditions on most rigs are very comfortable. Rigs usually accommodate 50 to 100 people. Rooms are compact and are frequently shared with a colleague working the opposite 12-hour shift, so you'll rarely see your roommate. All meals and laundry services are provided. Regular facilities include a gym and snooker room with access to computers and DVDs. Alcohol is prohibited on the rig.

• Travel to different rigs by helicopter is normal (sometimes at short notice), so flexibility is required. Travel to sites in other parts of the world can be complex and difficult.

Tools and technologies

Drilling engineers use computer-aided design (CAD) software, as well as word processing, data management and mapping software. They also use other office equipment such as phones, faxes and photocopiers. They need to have a good understanding of the equipment used on rigging sites.
  

Education and training/entrance requirements

To become a drilling engineer you usually need to study a degree in engineering, majoring in petroleum, chemical or mechanical engineering.
  

 

 

 

Reservoir engineering is a branch of petroleum engineering. Reservoir Engineering is the science that studies how to effectively/optimally extract the Hydrocarbons from these reservoirs. It applies scientific principles to the fluid flow through porous medium during the development and production of oil and gas reservoirs so as to obtain a high economic recovery. Reservoir engineering involves more than applied reservoir mechanics. The objective of engineering is optimization.

To obtain optimum profit from a field the reservoir engineer or the engineering team must identify and define all individual reservoirs and their physical properties. Reservoir engineers utilize their knowledge of geology and fluid mechanics to locate fuel in underground reservoirs. Reservoir engineers take a larger view of the project, determining how best to exploit each new discovery. They'll decide how many wells to drill into the reservoir and where they'll be placed to enable the most cost-effective extraction of the petroleum. It isn't possible to completely empty an oil reservoir, but reservoir engineers continually work to refine existing extraction techniques and create new ones. Exploration is a risky and expensive proposition, so when reservoir engineers can extract more oil from existing wells -- even wells that are out of production -- it enables oil companies to keep their costs down.

Reservoir Engineer is responsible for identifying oil and gas reserves and developing strategies to maximize recovery. Designs and tests new wells and monitors and predicts performance.

Typically reports to a supervisor or manager. The Reservoir Engineer works on projects/matters of limited complexity in a support role. Work is closely managed.

 

ANZSCO ID: 233612

Alternative names: Entry Reservoir Engineer, Pipeline Engineer,

Specialisations

There are several types of Reservoir Engineers:

• Surveillance engineers – monitor existing reservoirs

• Production engineers – work at optimizing production rates of oil and gas

• Simulation modelling engineers – conduct simulation studies to locate potential reservoirs

• Geothermal engineers – develop and maintain hot water and steam reservoirs

 

 

A day with Gulmira Urazova - reservoir engineering
https://youtu.be/KMah7O_W9h4

 

   

Knowledge, skills and attributes   

• Reservoir engineers use their knowledge of geology and fluid mechanics to determine the location and amount of fuel in underground reservoirs.

• Reservoir engineers are essential to any oil and gas company as their technical expertise is incorporated in almost the whole life cycle of any project.

• Reservoir engineers work with advanced equipment, such as computer modeling and imaging programs, to locate reserves of oil and natural gas.

       

Duties and Tasks

• Design various reservoir field and identify appropriate tools to resolve all reservoir engineering issues and develop support package for new wells.

• Establish all developed and undeveloped reserves and maintain an efficient reserve systems and evaluate all completion and drilling activities and for various projects and coordinate with various teams for project development according to production guidelines.

• Monitor and analyze all surveillance programs for all reservoir performance and develop an efficient management strategy and participate in various activities to enable growth and collaborate with geoscientists and design development activities.

• Manage all work through reservoir analysis techniques and forecast prioritization of all development projects and recommend improvement to production and assist to recomplete all projects if required and provide technical support to all reservoir management activities.

• Analyze all test data and ensure accuracy of same and assist to design all reservoir models and collaborate with various team members to manage all communication for projects and recommend improvements to enhance performance.

• Provide support to management and manage all development and production projects and plan all area reserve and estimate all production requirements and analyze all studies and ensure optimization of all resources.

• Develop field plans for water injection and recommend improvements to same and perform analysis on all tests through standard applications and monitor all field and well performance.

• Participate in all reserve audits and prepare required documents and prepare technical presentations to be submitted to management.

• Using advanced numerical simulation techniques to forecast oil and gas production from both new and existing hydrocarbon fields

• Collaborating with other technical professionals in devising economically viable development plans for oil and gas accumulations

• Optimising recovery plans, including new well locations or projects involving enhanced recovery methods

• Managing the day-to-day operation of oil and gas fields

• Developing and executing data-gathering plans and using the results to develop projects to increase recovery efficiency

Reservoir engineers adopt various strategies in the development of low to ultralow permeability reservoirs, including the unconventional reservoirs. Some of the methods are as follows:

• Infill drilling resulting in relatively close well spacing

• Horizontal drilling, single lateral or multilateral

• Well stimulation by hydraulic fracturing and acidization.

Another major duty of engineers involves the analysis of the amount of fuel in reserve and the duration of reserve viability for investment purposes. This information frequently involves combining several mitigating factors, such as extraction costs and profit comparisons, into these forecasts. Oil and gas companies often use this type of analysis in making decisions about whether or not to go ahead with drilling ventures. In some instances, engineers may have to adjust their analysis for outside factors, such as machine efficiency or fluctuations in the price of oil.

Image of Oil Reservoir
(Source: ConocoPhillips)

 

Working conditions

Although reservoir engineers can complete some work off-site using computer models of reservoirs and frac sites, you typically travel to different job sites as needed and work long hours as projects develop.

  

Tools and technologies

Reservoir engineers use their knowledge of geology and fluid mechanics to determine the location and amount of fuel in underground reservoirs. Often, engineers work with advanced equipment, such as computer modeling and imaging programs, to locate reserves of oil and natural gas. As companies drill and tap these reserves, changes occur in the physical structure of the reservoir. In response to this, engineers need to make adjustments throughout the entire drilling process.

Often, these engineers work with advanced equipment, such as computer modelling and imaging programs, to locate reserves of oil and natural gas.

 

Education and training/entrance requirements

Those in this field will typically have a bachelor's degree in petroleum engineering, but may also need a professional engineer license if they intend to work in the public sector.

 

 

 

Drillers move, set up and operate drilling rigs and related equipment on offshore facilities such as oil or gas rigs or drilling platforms.

 

ANZSCO ID: 8219

Alternative names: Rig worker; Offshore rig worker;

  

Specialisations:

• Derrickman: you would work on a platform attached to the derrick, which is a mast that supports the drilling equipment. You’d be responsible for aligning the drill pipe, securing its foundation and connecting it to other components. A Derrickman also operates and maintains drilling motors and monitors pumping pressure.

• Ballast Control Operator, your job would be to control the oil rig’s stability. As a floating structure, an oil rig has a ballast tank, which holds water to provide stability in harsh currents. In this role, you’d be responsible for maintaining the rig’s position, monitoring the ballast controls, producing reports on the rig’s stability and supervising the transfer of bulk material.

• Oil and Gas Well Blaster (Offshore and Onshore) - uses explosives to access oil and gas reserves.

 
Knowledge, skills and attributes          

To become an oil & gas drilling worker, you would need:

• good practical skills

• willingness to live and work away from home

• good leadership and teamwork skills

• the ability to follow and give instructions

• good physical fitness

• attention to detail

• strong awareness of health and safety. 

• to be over the age of 18

Drilling Shale for Oil and Gas
(Source: ABC News)

 

Duties and Tasks

As a driller, you would supervise the drilling team and control the rate of drilling. Your work in this highly skilled role would include:

• check that drills have been set up properly

• oversee assembly of the drilling tools, and connecting sections of the drill pipe

• position drills and set angles and depths

• start and stop drill operations and coordinate other drilling workers on site

• operate and controlling the machinery that raises and lowers the drill

• operate secondary equipment, such as pumps (air and mud) and equipment used to prevent and correct problems

• keep records of the drilling process and take core drill samples

• making sure that the drilling team follows health and safety rules.

Working conditions

Oil & gas drilling workers typically live and work on a drilling rig or platform for several weeks, followed by the same amount of time as a rest period onshore. On a drilling rig you would work up to 12 hours a day, on a roster system.

You could work on a fixed production platform, or on a smaller mobile rig. Facilities can include living accommodation, canteens and recreation areas. Alcohol and smoking are banned on these structures. The job can be physically demanding, working in all types of weather conditions and at heights. You would need to wear protective clothing, including a harness, ear muffs and a thermal boiler suit.
  

 

Education and training/entrance requirements

You would normally be promoted into this job after first working with the drilling crew as a roustabout and / or roughneck. You will usually need at least two years’ experience and be aged 18 or over to apply for jobs.

Most oil & gas drilling workers would be required to have a VET qualification such as a Certificate in Drilling (Mining & Engineering). To get into these courses, you usually need to have gained your junior secondary school certificate or equivalent.
   

Employment Opportunities
  

Little growth in employment opportunities for oil & gas drilling workers is expected over the next five to ten years. Future employment prospects for this occupation are largely dependent on oil prices. Oil prices stimulate the drilling of new oil and gas fields and the re-drilling of existing fields. Lower oil prices limit or suspend this activity.

Global economic growth and oil and gas supply projections currently suggest that supplies will satisfy demand for the near to medium term. Employment prospects will vary by region.

 

A Day in the Life Offshore - Golden Eagle [Scottish]
https://youtu.be/cmrbbfdvnGU

 

 

Roughneck is a term used for a person whose occupation is hard manual labour. The term applies across a number of industries but is most commonly associated with the workers on a drilling rig. Originally, the term was used in the travelling carnivals of 19th-century United States, almost interchangeably with roustabout but by the 1930s, the terms had transferred to the oil drilling industry.

Interestingly, in the United Kingdom’s oil industry starting in the 1970s, roughneck specifically meant those who worked on the drill floor of a drilling rig handling specialized drilling equipment for drilling and pressure controls. However, in practice, these workers ranged from unskilled to highly skilled, depending subjectively on the individual worker’s aptitude and experience.

Roughnecks operate drilling equipment and machines on the instructions of drillers on offshore facilities such as oil and gas rigs and drilling platforms. Being a roughneck requires a lot of attention, speed and accuracy especially as any slight mistake could hamper the oil drilling process.

Roustabouts and roughnecks take care of a lot of cleaning, maintenance, painting, rust removal, and all kinds of other ‘peripheral’ tasks. With these things out of the way others on the crew can worry about getting the oil out of the ground efficiently and safely.

 

ANZSCO ID: 821912

 

Alternative names: Roughneck, Driller's assistant, Roustabouts, Leasehand, Floorhand,

 

Specialisations:

The crew of a land-based oil rig can be further divided into several positions:

• Toolpusher: This is the highest position at the drilling location and the person is responsible for every crew. A toolpusher may stay on location for a few days or weeks at a time during operations, whereas individual drilling crews work only eight- or 12-hour shifts or “tours”.

• Driller: The head of an individual crew, responsible for controlling a rig’s machinery during drilling, as well as most other rig operations.

• Derrickhand (derrick-man): Responsible for the drilling mud, the mud pits where drilling fluids are circulated around the system, and the mud pumps, as well as being the hand up in the derrick manipulating stands into and out of the fingers during tripping operations. The individual acts as a lead for the driller who is mostly restricted to the rig floor. In many cases, the derrickman is exclusively responsible for work in the derrick during “tripping” pipe in and out of the hole.

• Pit Watcher: Responsible for the drilling mud, the mud pits, and associated pumping/circulating of mud and various fluids through the pits, downhole and returning through the pits.

• Motorman (motorhand): Responsible for maintenance of various engines, water pumps, water lines, steam lines, boilers and various other machinery incorporated into the rig on a daily basis. Also, they are responsible for the movement of equipment on site. On a four-man drilling crew, the motorman is also the chain hand.

• Chainhand (Floorhand): This position is given to a floorhand that can also throw the chain that helps spin up the connections, but as of 2013 with some tasks being automated on the drilling rigs is pretty much just another floorhand that watches out for the worm and does not get as filthy.

• Leadhand/Floorhand (“worm”): Usually the lowest member of the drilling crew, those in this position are often nicknamed “worm” because this hand has the dirtiest and most physically demanding position. The floorhand works primarily on the rig floor where he is the one actually operating the tongs, iron roughneck, tugger, and catwalk, and doing pretty much any other job which is asked of him.

• Roustabout (lease hand): On bigger rigs and offshore rigs, a roustabout does most of the painting and cleaning so roughnecks can take care of other work.

Iron Roughneck is also a piece of specialized equipment used in oil drilling operations. Whether the pipe is being fed into the wellbore or it is being taken out, the iron roughneck uses a rotary table and torque wrench (es) to make up or break downpipe.

Roughnecks working
(Source: The Oil Bloc)

 

Knowledge, skills and attributes      

To become a roughneck or roustabout, you would need:

• good practical skills

• aptitude for mechanics and the ability to handle machinery

• willingness to live and work away from home

• good teamwork skills

• willingness to learn and follow instructions

• strong awareness of health and safety

• a clean police record

• a drug and alcohol clearance

• be able to pass a medical examination

• be at least 18 years old.

     
Maritime Drilling School - in Training as Roughnecks and Roustabouts
(Source: Maritime Drilling School)

Duties and Tasks

In oilfields, a roughneck’s duties can include anything involved with the connecting pipe down the well bore, as well as general work around a rig. There are usually 3 or 4 crews per oil rig, all working eight or 12 hour shifts. There might be 2 roughnecks or roustabouts assigned to each of the crews. In a given day here’s what a roughneck or roustabout might do:

As a roughneck, you would:

• help move offshore drilling rigs and equipment from site to site

• assemble and repair oil field machinery and equipment

• use various types of equipment to dig ditches, post holes, pour concrete for slaps or securing posts, put together derricks

• keep the deck clean and clear of safety hazards

• moving equipment around the rig

• scrape rust

• paint

• connect sections of pipe for the well

• rig and sling loads being moved by the rig’s crane

• set up drilling rigs and connect power cables or hoses for water and air supply

• help obtain drilling core samples by inserting and extracting drills

• add fresh lengths of pipe as the drill moves deeper into rock

• dig and clean mud pits and drains

• mix and test drilling fluids, chemicals and grout

• assist with well development and pumping tests

• operate lifting gear, ropes, winches and pumps

• use equipment and tools to correct problems in drilled holes

• clean, maintain and repair drilling equipment
  

Roughneck may be a promotion from roustabout.

As a roustabout, you would:

• maintain the drilling area in good working order

• offload supplies from boats and move them to storage areas

• move supplies and equipment to the work site

• use lifting gear and winches to load and stack equipment

• help to repair pumping equipment

• mix 'drilling mud' to lubricate drill bits.

 

Working conditions

Roughnecks typically live and work on a drilling rig or platform for several weeks, followed by the same amount of time as a rest period onshore. On a drilling rig you would work up to 12 hours a day, on a roster system. You could work on a fixed production platform, or on a smaller mobile rig. Facilities can include living accommodation, canteens and recreation areas. Alcohol and smoking are banned on these structures.

The job can be physically demanding, working in all types of weather conditions and at heights. You would need to wear protective clothing, including a harness, ear muffs and a thermal boiler suit.

  

Tools and technologies

 

Roustabout, Oil and Gas Career Video
https://youtu.be/Xy5Gl4e66jE

 

Education and training/entrance requirements

You do not need formal qualifications to work as a roughneck. You may have experience as a roustabout or in areas such as shipbuilding, construction or engineering.

Most roughnecks would, however, be required to have a VET qualification such as a Certificate in Drilling (Mining & Engineering). To get into these courses, you usually need to have gained your junior secondary school certificate or equivalent.

 

Employment Opportunities

Little growth in employment opportunities for oil & gas drilling workers is expected over the next five to ten years. Future employment prospects for this occupation are largely dependent on oil prices. Oil prices stimulate the drilling of new oil and gas fields and the re-drilling of existing fields. Lower oil prices limit or suspend this activity.

Global economic growth and oil and gas supply projections currently suggest that supplies will satisfy demand for the near to medium term. Employment prospects will vary by region.

 

 

 

 

This is the highest position at the drilling location and the person is responsible for every crew.

Toolpushers supervise the operation of offshore oil rigs and mining drills on land rigs. They manage the personnel that work on the rig and report to the head of operations regarding the work that is undertaken on the rig.

They co-ordinate the various departments on a drilling rig and ensure that the work undertaken on the rig meets appointed deadlines. They may co-ordinate human resources, organise the delivery of tools, fuel and other resources to the drilling site, resolve work-based problems or disputes, make recommendation about improving productivity, oversee general safety and administer payroll.

 

 

ANZSCO ID: 821912
  

Alternative names: Tool pusher, Tool-Pusher, Rig Supervisor,

 

Knowledge, skills and attributes

• Technical Knowledge: Understands the technical aspects of the drilling rig and equipment, including blowout preventers and mud systems.

• Good health & physical fitness, with the ability to pass a medical examination

• To be able to work as part of a team

• Leadership skills shown

• Organisational skills demonstrated

• The ability to handle machinery

• A clean police record and the ability to pass a drug and alcohol clearance

• To be 18 years of age or older
  

(Source: Jobs & Skills WA)

Duties and Tasks

A Toolpusher oversees all drilling operations and personnel on an oil rig, managing daily activities, ensuring safety compliance, and maintaining equipment. Key duties include directing rig operations, overseeing drilling equipment and supplies, monitoring crew performance, maintaining safety standards, and serving as a liaison between the rig and company representatives.

The Tool Pusher assumes responsibility for all drilling rig modules and equipment.

• Liaising closely with their Rig Manager on all key issues.

• Supervising all drilling, work over (and/or concurrent well intervention where appropriate) and well maintenance activities, including the management of the integrated services contractors and support personnel, to ensure that all operations meet contractual quality and performance criteria.

• Tool Pushers are in charge of ensuring the rig has all necessary tools, equipment, and supplies. They work closely with the representative of the operating/exploration company in regard to the actual drilling of the well.

• They frequently do paperwork related to the rig crew regarding payroll, benefits, and related matters.

• Supervise Operations: Directs all drilling, well completion, and workover activities to ensure they meet company standards and contractual requirements.

• Equipment Oversight: Ensures all necessary drilling equipment, parts, tools, and supplies are on hand and in good working order.

• Rig Moving: Leads and directs the crew in moving the drilling rig from one location to another.

• Personnel Supervision: Manages and leads the drilling crew, including hiring, training, and overseeing personnel issues.

• Performance Monitoring: Monitors crew performance, allocates personnel efficiently, and provides feedback.

• Training & Development: Mentors, coaches, and develops crew members to ensure competency for their roles and future advancement.

• Leadership: Promotes a positive and friendly working environment on the rig.

• Safety Protocols: Ensures strict adherence to all safety protocols, procedures, and regulations.

• Risk Assessments: Conducts and oversees risk assessments to maintain a safe working environment.

• Compliance: Ensures operations comply with the client's program, current legislation, and company standards.

• Reporting: Prepares and submits drilling reports as required.

• Liaison: Acts as a primary point of contact, coordinating between rig workers, company representatives, and engineers to address operational challenges.

• Inventory: Maintains inventory of all necessary tools, equipment, and supplies.

 

Working conditions

Toolpushers work in the offices that supervise the operation of drilling rigs. Although they are required to have practical and technical knowledge about the operation of drilling rigs they mostly undertake administrative work in an office environment.

A toolpusher may stay on location for a few days or weeks at a time during operations, whereas individual drilling crews work only eight- or 12-hour shifts or “tours”.

Tool Pusher typically reports into the OIM (Offshore Installation Manager / The Master / Rig Superintendent) when offshore, or the Rig Superintendent when onshore.

Tools and technologies

Toolpushers need to be familiar with all the equipment required in drilling operations, including the drills and their various components. However, as toolpusher is a mostly administrative role they also need to be familiar with office equipment such as phones, faxes and computers.

Education and training

As an administrative role in the oil and gas industry, the most appropriate pathway for becoming a toolpusher is by entering the industry as a driller's offsider/leasehand, where you will learn to become a driller. You can then work your way up into the toolpusher role.

Tool Pushers usually start at an entry-level position (i.e., a roustabout or roughneck) and work their way up over several years. With the advancement in offshore drilling technology, cyber drilling experience is normally required before a driller can be promoted to the position of Tool Pusher.

To enter the industry as a driller's assistant you can complete a Certificate II in Drilling Operations. This course is available at TAFE Colleges and other registered training organisations throughout Australia.

It is also possible to complete a traineeship in drilling operations. The traineeship usually takes 12 to 24 months to complete.

 

 

Related Jobs or Working with these Jobs

Environmental Scientist	Geologist	Geophysicist	Miner
Mining Engineer	Petrophysicist	Surveyor

 

 

Materials sourced from
Jobs & Skills WA [Petroleum Engineer; Drilling Engineer; Toolpusher; ]
WebArchive Only -CareerHQ [Oil, Gas Drilling Worker; Roughneck Driller's Assistant; ]
JobHero [Drilling Engineer; ]
Prospects UK [Drilling Engineer; ]
Work Chron [Difference between Drilling Engineer and Reservoir Engineer; ]
Salary [Reservoir Engineer; ]
Great Sample Resume [Reservoir Engineer; ]
Study [Reservoir Engineer; ]
Shell [Reservoir Engineer; ]
Brunel [Tool Pusher; ]
Scribd [Tool-Pusher; ]
The Oil Bloc [Roughneck; ]
JobMonkey [Roughneck and Roustabout;]
Watson Post [Reservoir Engineer; ]
 Your Career [Petroleum Engineer; ];

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