Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas
Rig derrick equipment and operate pumps to circulate mud or fluid through drill hole.
What you’d do
- Start pumps that circulate mud through drill pipes and boreholes to cool drill bits and flush out drill cuttings.
- Control the viscosity and weight of the drilling fluid.
- Listen to mud pumps and check regularly for vibration and other problems to ensure that rig pumps and drilling mud systems are working properly.
- Inspect derricks, or order their inspection, prior to being raised or lowered.
- Prepare mud reports, and instruct crews about the handling of any chemical additives.
- Position and align derrick elements, using harnesses and platform climbing devices.
- Inspect derricks for flaws, and clean and oil derricks to maintain proper working conditions.
- Supervise crew members, and provide assistance in training them.
Skills that matter
- Operations Monitoring
- Operation and Control
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Repairing
- Speaking
How to get there
Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one
Also called
- Derrick Hand
- Derrick Man
- Derrickhand
- Derrickman
- Derrick Operator
- Derrick Worker
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