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Did You Know? The largest number of people to be killed on an oil rig happened in 1988 when 167 men died as a result of the explosions and fire on board the Piper Alpha, including two operators of a Fast Rescue Craft. 62 men survived, mostly by jumping into the sea from the high decks of the platform. Between 1988 and 1990, the two-part Cullen Inquiry established the causes of the tragedy and made recommendations for future safety regimes offshore. 106 recommendations were made which were subsequently accepted and implemented by the offshore operators. Source: Oil Rig Disasters |
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:
233612Alternative 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.
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;
];
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; ]
The Oil Bloc
[Roughneck;
]
JobMonkey [Roughneck
and Roustabout;]
Watson Post [Reservoir
Engineer; ]
Your Career [Petroleum
Engineer; ];
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