Oil driller

Oil drillers operate equipment on onshore and offshore oil installations. Offshore drilling crews are made up of people who do different tasks.

Work activities

Oil drillers work onshore and offshore, on both fixed and mobile oil rigs. They control the drilling equipment and supervise the drilling crews. Drillers operate equipment, in particular, they control the speed of the drill’s rotation. They also monitor and record progress. Roustabouts are general labourers who help with drilling activities. They keep the drilling area clean and tidy. Roustabouts also have general duties such as unloading and storing supplies as they arrive by boat or helicopter, painting the deck and mixing drilling mud. Roughnecks are more skilled than roustabouts. Working under the driller’s supervision, roughnecks are directly involved in the drilling process. They make up the right length of the drill string by putting together lengths of drill pipe. They put the drill string into the hole, pulling it back out to check for damage and worn drill bits. If a drill bit is worn, roughnecks take apart the pipe lengths and put in a new drill bit. They have general responsibility for maintaining the drill, keeping everything in good working order.

Derrick workers work about 90 feet above the floor of the rig on the derrick, the high tower. They handle sections of the drill pipe under the driller’s supervision. Tool-pusher is the name for the person who oversees the drilling operation, and sometimes the drilling rig. They make sure all the right materials and equipment are available and in good working order. They manage the crews and their shifts or rota and are responsible for health and safety on the rig. Offshore oil drillers normally work a shift pattern of 12 hours on duty and 12 hours off for a two- or three-week period. This is followed by a two- or three-week period of leave on the mainland. Occasionally, bad weather may prevent helicopters flying between the mainland and the rig, leading to an enforced stay on the rig. Protective clothing, boots and a helmet are usually worn.

Personal qualities and skills

As an oil driller, you need:

Good teamwork skills; you’ll be living and working with a small team in a fairly cramped space.
Good practical skills.
To be punctual.
To be able to tolerate harsh weather, and not mind being away from home for long periods.
To be prepared to fly to and from the rig or platform.
To be physically fit. Working on a rig can be physically demanding.
To be prepared to learn and follow safety procedures, as safety is very important.
A good head for heights.

Pay and opportunities

The pay rates given are approximate. Oil drillers earn in the range of around £20,000, rising to £60,000 a year, with experience. Higher salaries are possible for senior positions. Self-employment or freelancing, on a contract basis, is not as common as it once was, but is still possible in this line of work, once experience has been gained. Food and accommodation is included in the pay package for those working offshore.

Offshore oil drillers work 12-hour shifts. They normally spend two or three weeks offshore at work and two or three weeks resting onshore.

Employers have identified the skills that will be required by the workforce of the future. These are:

Practical or technical skills.
Problem-solving skills.
General IT skills.
Management/leadership skills.

Employers are drilling contractors employed by oil companies. Opportunities for oil drillers occur in drilling locations around the UK. Opportunities for experienced oil drillers occur in other countries where oil and gas is extracted throughout the world.

Where are vacancies advertised?

Vacancies are advertised in local/national newspapers, trade industry publications, and on the Government’s Find a Job service. Vacancies can also be found through specialist engineering recruitment agencies, internet job boards and the websites of professional engineering bodies.

Entry routes and training

You could enter this career path through a level 2 (intermediate) apprenticeship in the role of engineering operative, training on the job while working towards relevant qualifications.

All offshore employees must undertake an offshore survival course, which includes safety, survival and dealing with fires. You’ll need to contact the individual course provider to find out the cost. Training is given on-the-job and may be combined with short courses taken while you are on shore leave. As a roustabout you can progress to becoming a roughneck after about six months’ experience.

With further experience you can progress to become a derrickman/woman, assistant driller, then driller after about five years.

Qualifications

If you wish to enter this career through an intermediate apprenticeship, you will need GCSEs in English and maths, although you may be able to complete these alongside your programme.

For most offshore jobs in the UK, you need to be at least 18 years of age. All applicants have to pass a medical examination that may include a drugs test. Your colour vision may also be tested.

Adult opportunities

Age limits: It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits. You usually need to be at least 18 to work in an offshore job in the UK.

Relevant experience includes mechanical or technical work in engineering.

There are City & Guilds vocationally related qualifications in engineering practice at levels 2 and 3.

Related careers

Machine operator
Quarry worker