An oil derrick, also known as a drilling rig, is a location where oil drilling takes place. Unskilled laborers to managers work on oil rigs, as well as non-oil related jobs like catering and delivery. Roustabout jobs are entry-level oil derrick positions that require employees to perform a variety of tasks on the rig. This is an entry-level position for unskilled laborers, and the work they will do will be difficult and exhausting, but it is a great way to get into the field and possibly work one’s way up the ranks.
Roughneck jobs are a step up from roustabout jobs on the oil rigs. In the process of installing pipe down into the oil well, a roughneck is likely to be present. Roughnecks must be in excellent physical condition, as the jobs they must perform are physically demanding and potentially dangerous. To get these oil derrick jobs, you’ll need safety training, and roughnecks usually start out as roustabouts who learn the ropes first. Although the pay gap between the two positions is not significant, the roughneck position is a step up in pay grade.
A mud logger is someone who keeps track of the materials that come out of the drill’s bore hole in order to compile a geology report for the area. This is one of the more specialized oil derrick jobs, and the person performing these tasks should be educated, with a bachelor’s degree from a college or university at the very least. A mud engineer is someone who examines the mud used to cool the drill bit and lubricate it; he or she will be in charge of making recommendations for the best chemicals or fluids to use in specific situations to avoid drill breakdown.
A driller is the drill team’s manager, and he is in charge of the drilling process as well as the people who work on it. In some cases, a drill is fully automated, so the driller’s job is limited to monitoring the drill’s progress to avoid damage or setbacks. He or she will usually report to the tool pusher, who is in charge of the entire drilling operation, both on and off the coast. A driller’s assistant is known as a derrickhand, and this person may be required to work atop a drilling derrick to ensure proper piping positioning.