Rig Crew and Company Man - Oil and Gas Drilling: From Planning to Production

EnergyTrainingResLLC

16 Oct 201204:23

Summary

TLDRThe script describes the intricate roles and responsibilities within an oil and gas drilling operation. Rig managers, also known as tool-pushers, supervise around-the-clock activities, ensuring crew safety and efficiency. The driller, derrickman, and motormen perform specific tasks, including operating equipment and maintaining machinery. The company man represents the operator's interests, coordinating vendors and contractors to adhere to company standards. The operator is responsible for supplying materials, hiring experts, and arranging technical services, emphasizing the unique approach each operator takes to drilling.

Takeaways

👷‍♂️ The rig operates 24/7 with two rotating rig managers, also known as tool-pushers, who have multiple responsibilities including interfacing with the operator representative, monitoring drilling progress, and overseeing repairs.
🔑 The rig manager's toughest job is ensuring full crews, especially training new hands, maintaining safety, and keeping operations on schedule to meet the high expectations tied to the operation's cost.
👥 The rig works with two five-man crews on 12-hour shifts, known as 'towers', with a work schedule of seven days on and seven days off, rotating with the other team.
🚩 The driller, or lead man, operates the rig's tools, supervises any breakdowns, and ensures that the crew performs their jobs correctly, including maintenance tasks.
💧 The Derrickman is responsible for the mud system, which is crucial for the drilling operation, and may also assist with trips or other needs.
🔧 The Motormen handle mechanical issues on the ground, including engine maintenance and regular upkeep of ground equipment.
👷 The two floor hands perform tasks on the floor, such as making connections, assisting with the mud system, and keeping the rig clean.
🌐 The presence of the company man on site represents the operator's interests, directing the well program and ensuring compliance with company standards.
🛠️ The operator is responsible for supplying mud, arranging casing and cementing services, renting specialized equipment, and organizing technical support like directional drilling or logging services.
🛑 The operator's role is hands-on and varies significantly among different companies, with each having their unique approach to drilling a well, often determined by the engineers involved.

Q & A

What is the primary role of the rig crew in an oil and gas well drilling operation?
-The rig crew, under the supervision of the rig managers, works around the clock to operate the drilling rig, monitor drilling progress, supervise the crew, oversee repairs, and procure necessary parts, supplies, and services for the rig's operation.
What is the term used for the rig managers who supervise the drilling operations?
-The rig managers are also referred to as 'tool-pushers' and they have multiple responsibilities including interfacing with the operator representative, overseeing the crew, and preparing reports.
What challenges do rig managers face in their job?
-Rig managers face challenges such as ensuring they have full crews, training new personnel, maintaining safety to prevent accidents, and managing the pace of work to keep operations on schedule.
How does the work schedule for rig managers and their crews typically operate?
-Each rig manager and their crew work seven days on and seven days off, rotating with the other team, working 12-hour shifts known as 'towers'.
What is the role of the driller, also known as the lead man on the rig?
-The driller operates the rig's equipment, oversees any breakdowns, ensures that the crew members perform their tasks, and directs traffic for jobs or maintenance that needs to be done.
What is the significance of the mud system in the drilling operation?
-The mud system is one of the most important aspects of the rig, and the derrick man is responsible for its maintenance. It is crucial for lubricating the drill bit, removing cuttings, and maintaining wellbore stability.
What are the responsibilities of the motormen on the rig?
-Motormen handle most mechanical issues on the ground, including the operation and maintenance of engines, ensuring proper functioning of equipment, and performing regular maintenance tasks.
What tasks are typically assigned to the floor hands on a drilling rig?
-Floor hands stay on the floor, making connections, assisting the derrick man with the mud system, and performing any necessary tasks such as cleaning and maintenance.
Who is the 'company man' and what is their role in the drilling operation?
-The 'company man' is the operator's representative on site who directs the well program, ensuring that drilling is done according to the company's standards and that all supplies and services are properly utilized.
What responsibilities does the operator have regarding the drilling supplies and services?
-The operator is responsible for bringing mud supplies to the drill site, hiring a mud engineer, arranging casing and cementing supplies and services, renting special downhole equipment, and arranging any technical support services needed.
How does the approach to drilling a well differ between different operators?
-The approach to drilling a well can vary significantly between different operators due to their unique methods, preferences, and the specific engineers they employ, leading to different ways of drilling even the same well.

Outlines

00:00

🛠 Rig Crew Roles and Operations

This paragraph outlines the various roles involved in the drilling of an oil and gas well, emphasizing the round-the-clock operation under the supervision of two rotating rig managers, also known as tool-pushers. Their responsibilities include interfacing with the operator representative, monitoring drilling progress, supervising the crew, overseeing repairs, preparing reports, and procuring necessary parts and services. The rig managers also ensure the safety and training of new crew members. The paragraph describes the hectic pace of work and the importance of maintaining a set schedule due to the high costs involved. It also introduces the lead man, driller, derrickman, motormen, and floor hands, detailing their specific duties and contributions to the rig's operation.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Drilling

Drilling is the process of making a hole in the ground to extract resources such as oil and gas. In the context of the video, it is the primary activity that involves various personnel and equipment to bore into the earth's surface. The script mentions 'drilling of an oil and gas well,' highlighting the purpose of the operation.

💡Rig Crew

A rig crew refers to the team of workers who operate the drilling rig. They are responsible for the day-to-day activities of drilling. The script describes the rig working 'around the clock under the supervision of two rotating rig managers,' emphasizing the round-the-clock nature of the work and the role of the rig crew.

💡Operator Personnel

Operator personnel are the employees of the company that owns the rights to the oil and gas being drilled. They oversee the drilling process to ensure it meets the company's standards. The script mentions 'operator representative' and 'company man,' who are part of the operator personnel and have a 'major hands-on role' in the drilling process.

💡Tool-Pushers

Tool-pushers, also known as rig managers, are in charge of the drilling operations on the rig floor. They supervise the crew, monitor drilling progress, and ensure the rig operates efficiently. The script uses the term 'tool-pushers' to describe the rig managers who 'interface with the operator representative' and have 'many functions.'

💡Crews

Crews in the context of the video refer to groups of workers who perform the actual drilling tasks. The script specifies that the rig operates with 'two five-man crews working 12-hour shifts,' indicating the structured work schedule and team organization.

💡Driller

The driller, also referred to as the lead man on the cruise, is responsible for operating the rig's mechanical components and overseeing the work of the crew. The script describes the driller's role as ensuring that 'the hands do their job' and that 'any breakdowns' are addressed.

💡Derrickman

The derrickman is responsible for the mud system on the rig, which is crucial for drilling operations. The script mentions the derrickman's role in 'taking care of the mud system' and 'working Derrick's close fight back for trips,' indicating their importance in maintaining the drilling fluid system.

💡Motormen

Motormen handle the mechanical issues on the ground, including engines and regular maintenance of equipment. The script refers to the motormen's responsibilities as 'taking care of most mechanical issues on the ground' and ensuring that 'everything grieves on the ground' is functioning properly.

💡Floor Hands

Floor hands are workers who perform various tasks on the drilling floor, such as making connections and assisting with the mud system. The script describes floor hands as 'basically stay[ing] on the floor' and being 'more or less helpers,' doing 'whatever needs to be done.'

💡Company Man

The company man is the operator's representative on site, ensuring that the drilling operations meet the company's standards and protocols. The script explains that the company man's job is to 'keep the well running smooth' and to make sure that the drilling is done 'among supplies and services used during drilling' according to the company's requirements.

💡Mud Engineer

A mud engineer is responsible for monitoring the mud program, which involves managing the drilling fluid that helps in lubricating the drill bit and carrying cuttings out of the hole. The script mentions that the operator 'hires a mud engineer to monitor the mud program,' indicating the specialized role in the drilling process.

Highlights

Drilling an oil and gas well involves various personnel including rig crew, operator personnel, contractors, and off-site support staff.

The rig operates 24/7 under the supervision of two rotating rig managers, also known as tool-pushers.

Rig managers have multiple responsibilities such as interfacing with the operator representative, monitoring drilling progress, supervising the crew, overseeing repairs, preparing reports, and procuring necessary parts, supplies, and services.

Ensuring full crews, especially training new personnel, and maintaining safety are among the toughest parts of a rig manager's job.

The pace on a drilling rig is hectic, with the expectation to complete each job quickly and maintain a set schedule.

Two five-man crews work 12-hour shifts called 'towers', rotating every seven days with the other team.

The driller, or lead man, operates the rig's equipment, supervises any breakdowns, and ensures tasks and maintenance are completed properly.

The derrickman is responsible for the mud system, which is crucial to the rig's operation, and may assist with trips or other needs.

Motormen handle most mechanical issues on the ground, including engine maintenance and regular upkeep of equipment.

Floor hands stay on the floor, making connections, assisting with the mud system, and keeping the rig clean.

The company man, the operator's representative on site, directs the well program using various vendors and contractors.

The company man ensures the well is drilled according to company standards and that supplies and services meet requirements.

The operator is responsible for bringing mud supplies to the drill site and hiring a mud engineer to monitor the mud program.

The operator also arranges casing, cementing, and rental of special downhole equipment like mud motors and drilling tools.

Technical support services such as directional drilling or logging are arranged by the operator.

Operators have a significant hands-on role in drilling wells, with each operator having a unique approach influenced by their engineers and drilling preferences.