Derrickman jobs in the United States

Overview

Summary: 

Sets up, operates, maintains and dismantles derrick hoisting and drilling fluid circulating systems on drilling rig.  Aligns and manipulates tubulars to assist in making up and breaking out drill and casing strings.  Mixes and monitors drilling fluid during drilling operations.  Maintains inventories of drilling fluid components and mud pump parts.     

Responsibilities

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Participates in drilling rig erection (rig up) and dismantling (rig down), with primary responsibility for assuring integrity and functionality of derrick structure, hoisting systems, and circulating systems.  Inspects, positions and aligns components.  Sets and bolts crown block.  Strings cables through pulleys and blocks.  Clamps holding fixtures on ends of hoisting cables.   May provide work direction or assistance to other drilling crew members.
• Aligns and manipulates sections of pipe or drill stem from platform (monkeyboard) on rig derrick during drill string make up (tripping in or running) and break out (tripping out or pulling). Guides lengths of pipe into and out of elevators.  Steadies pipe during connection to or disconnection from drill or casing strings. Leans out from monkeyboard to reach drill pipe in derrick center, throws line around pipe, and pulls back into storage location (pipe stand or fingerboards).  
• Maintains on-site inventory of drilling fluid (mud) components and operates forklift to transfer from storage area to mud pits. Weighs clay and mixes with water and chemicals, as instructed by mud engineer, to make drilling fluid.  Monitors mud pit levels and drilling fluid density and viscosity while drilling is in progress.  Prepares mud reports, informs Driller and mud engineer of unexplained changes, and adjusts drilling fluid content or mud pumps as directed.  
• Maintains general watch duty to ensure mud pumps are operating efficiently and associated valves are opened or closed as required for operation in progress.  Listens to mud pumps and checks regularly for vibration and other problems. Carries out day-to-day mud pump maintenance, including checking and replacing liners, seals, pistons and valves.  Ensures drilling equipment and instruments associated with mud pumps, mud tanks and solids control are functioning properly and being maintained as required.  Maintains records of mud pump performance and up-to-date list of parts used.  Maintains orderly mud pump area by picking up and placing tools in designated storage areas after use.  Discards junk or scrap mud pump parts in designated areas.

Qualifications

Qualifications:

 Basic:

• Minimum High School diploma or equivalent.   
• Minimum 1 year continuous oil or gas drilling rig work experience, including time serving as fully-qualified Floorhand as well as time expended assisting Derrickman and Motorman in lieu of full-time Derrickhand work experience.  Amount of experience required may vary, depending on applied competencies of prospective incumbent.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Ability to read, write, and speak English.

Other Requirements 

• Ability to work and communicate effectively in team environment.
• Familiarity with function, safe use and basic maintenance of variety of machines and tools.
• Ability to read a limited number of two- and three-syllable words and to recognize similarities and differences between words and between series of numbers. Ability to print and speak sentences.
• Must read English technical and policy documents at a level that allows clear understanding of all safety and operational requirements of equipment and procedures and be able to verbalize those requirements and procedures to all assignedpersonnel.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office applications such as Word and Excel.

Physical Demands

• Regularly required to stand; walk; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; taste or smell; and talk or hear.
• Frequently required to lift or exert force up to 100 pounds.
• Requires close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. 

Work Environment  

• Frequently exposed to wet or humid non-weather conditions; moving mechanical parts; work in high, precarious places; fumes or airborne particles; toxic or caustic chemicals; outdoor weather conditions; and vibration.
• Noise level in work environment is usually loud.