Oil Rig Jobs range from Offshore Oil Rig Jobs in Australia to Oil Rig Jobs in Alberta to Oil Rig Jobs in Texas. Below we examine the main oil rigs jobs available to those interested in working in the oil and gas industry.

Leasehand oil rig positions are entry-level. The position exists to help inexperienced individuals become familiar with the activities around an oil rig. Individuals beginning as Leasehands can move up to the position of Floorhand within a short period of time depending on their ability and availability of other positions at the oil rig site.

Leasehands perform various duties around the oil rig. They may be required to load and unload trucks, build fences, dig ditches, and assist other crew members with maintenance and pre-job preparedness. Leasehands are also responsible for housekeeping on the rig and often do extensive go-for driving on remote winter roads.

Floorhands on oil rigs spend a lot of time working on the oil rig floor. There are usually two floorhands on a crew but smaller rigs often have only one. In general, floorhands on oil rigs

use wrench-like tongs to smoothly and quickly connect and disconnect the lower parts of the drill pipe when it is being lowered into and raised from the hole,

clean and maintain equipment,

catch samples of drilled cuttings to be analyzed,

assist in laying casing into a well after it has been drilled, and

assist other members of the oil rig crew wherever needed.

Floorhands are also responsible for "housekeeping" on the rig:

cleaning the oil rig floor, and

painting or scrubbing around the rig.

An experienced Floorhand may move into the position of Motorhand. Motorhands, as with all positions, do not earn their position by equipment knowledge and function alone. It is earned by achieving safe work ethics, knowledge of procedures and by following (not deviating from!) those procedures.

Motorhands are responsible for operating and maintaining the engines that power the drilling equipment. These include the engines that

run the draw-works to hoist the drill pipe,

turn the rotary table (which turns the drill bit), and

circulate the drilling fluid.

There are usually three to four diesel engines and several electrical engines on the oil rig. When not busy with the engines, motorhands

lubricate moving parts,

regularly check tongs and spinning chain,

operate boilers,

ensure emergency shut-offs are tested and operational,

maintain a supply of hand tools, and

help other members of the crew.

Motorhands are also responsible for helping to train Floorhands and Leasehands. Power tong operators operate hydraulic power tongs which are used to connect casing as it is lowered.

An experienced Motorhand may move into the position of Derrickhand. Derrickhands work in the derrick on oil rigs, high above the rig floor on a platform called a monkeyboard. Derrickhands use a harness and platform climbing device to get to the proper position on the derrick when drill string (lengths of pipe) or casing pipe is being raised from or lowered into the hole. On the derrick, Derrickhands:

Guide the lengths of pipe into and out of the elevators, and

Steady each pipe while it is being connected to or disconnected from the drill or casing string.

Derrickhands on oil rig crews spend about 20% of their time up in the derrick. At other times during drilling, they:

Control the viscosity and weight of the drilling fluid or "mud,"

Listen to mud pumps and check them regularly for vibration and other problems,

Maintain and repair mudtanks and related equipment,

Prepare mud reports and instruct the crew handling chemical additives,

Ensure that the derrick is inspected before raising or lowering,

Help the driller with the operation and maintenance of equipment, and Assist in training new crew members.

Not everyone on a oil rig crew is capable of becoming a good derrickhand. Individuals who do not feel comfortable working in high places do not usually move into this position. However, those wishing to become drillers (see the Drillers profile) must have a good understanding of the derrickhand's duties.

Responsibilities among other things are:

To act as the Drillers representative around the rig to ensure and report back to him if any deviations from policy occur and support the Drillers role.

To conduct activities set by directions given by the Rig Manager and Driller and to report any change in programs given to him by the Well Site Consultant immediately.

After the Rig manager, the driller has the most senior position on the rig. The Driller is in charge of the operation of the rig and crew during their tour. They are primarily in control of operating the oil rig and hoisting equipment, and managing the rig floor and drillers console which includes brakes, throttles, clutches and various gauges. By watching various instruments and gauges closely, the Driller makes adjustments as conditions require.

Drillers report directly to Rig Managers and are the shift foremen responsible for the crew in coordination with the rig manager. Drillers are responsible for the drilling equipment, and for ensuring that the oil rig crew performs its job safely and efficiently, and within the regulatory requirements of the industry.

Drillers are actually the Rig Managers representative and responsible for the actions of his crew. In fact the Driller is a manager! He is responsible for:

Ensuring all his crewmembers are capable of performing their respective duties within the parameters of the company policies. Being told they know how to complete a task is not good enough. Proper working procedures must be witnessed and reconfirmed on a regular basis. People tend to deviate from procedure over time as they become too comfortable with the operation.

Ensuring that all employees wear the appropriate PPE.

Conducting and supervising regular safety meetings.

Completing BOP drills, equipment checks (crown saver, motor kills, etc.) as prescribed by company policy.

The crews knowledge and understanding the importance of these meetings, checks and drills.

Chairing camp fire drills on a regular basis and revisiting the drills as camp staff or crews change out.

Instilling a pride for safe work procedures by communicating in an effective manner and by leading by example. Yelling or screaming only makes the employee tense, on edge and in danger of losing concentration on his job thus is unacceptable under company policy. Communicate as you wish to be communicated to relevant to the tasks at hand.

Ensuring that all documentation is being completed such as meetings, Confined Space Code of Entry sheets, Slings and fall protection Log sheets, Hazard ID sheets, Incident Reports, Work Permits, Motor sheets, Pump sheets, Alert Confirmations and Memo Confirmations etc.

To keep his area and equipment clean and organized.

The Drilling Rig manager or Toolpush is the drilling companys representative on the rig.

Keeping the rig running efficiently is the main job of a toolpush. That means getting the hole drilled quickly and safely. The toolpush also has to keep costs down and the equipment in good repair. They are responsible for all the paperwork generated at the rig (P.O.s, tour sheets, reports, etc.) that they must ensure are filled out completely and properly. The electronic tour sheets have to be sent in daily. To do all this, the toolpush needs a reliable crew. This person is on call 24 hours a day.

Rig Managers are the overall supervisors of the rig. They coordinate the work of the crews and individuals on each rig under their supervision as well as the work of any additional service hands that may be required.

Rig Managers normally learn their job through on the job training by working up through the ranks of the basic crew. This experience is vital in order to supervise the oil rig operations, take over running of the rig in emergencies, or assist in times of peak load particularly during rig-up or rig-down operations. Rig Managers must always exhibit superior leadership, excellent managerial skills and precise organizational skills.

At the oil rig site the Rig Manager directs and coordinates all drilling activities with the oil company whilst determining and coordinating optimum drilling practices based upon their extensive experience. They are also responsible for the well being of every crewmember.

Specific responsibilities include but are not limited to:

co-ordinate the work of all crews,

ensure that the entire oil rig operation runs smoothly, safely and efficiently,

ensure that operations comply with company policies and government regulations,

make arrangements to prepare areas for drilling,

organize the setting up and dismantling of rigs, and

ensure that emergency evacuation and medical procedures are posted and understood.