Industry focus

Every few months Northseaoiljobs interviews a chosen professional working in the UK oil and gas sector to gain insight into the Industry.  By doing so hope we hope to share their knowledge, advice, and views with our candidates, and others interested in a career in the industry...

Voice of the Industry: Interview 

Geoff  Richards has been working in the North Sea and around the world as a Drilling operator and Supervisor.  NorthSeaOilJobs caught up with him to gain some insight into his career.

How long have you been working in the industry?

I have been working as a driller both on land and offshore for the passed twenty years.

How did you get into this role/position?

I completed my offshore training back in 1988.  My first role in the North Sea was as a Roustabout and Floorhand.  I then progressed to Derrickman, and after a few years experience Drillers Assistant, then after many more years experience I undertook master driller training and became a Drill Operator and  finally Drill Supervisor/Senior Toolpusher.  I have been doing this role ever since.

What are project currently working on?   

Right now I’m working in Azerbaijan on an 18 month offshore contract for the state oil company SOCAR.

Could you explain how the drilling team works and how it fits in with the overall operation of the rig?

Sure, the rig is divided into four main sections; the drilling section, the marine section, the technical section, and the catering section.  The rigs four section are controlled by the OIM (Offshore Installation Manager).  The OIM is pretty much like the ships captain. As drill Supervisor I have to maintain regular contact with the OIM, and update him daily on the drilling teams progress.

The actual drilling section consists of five main roles; Roughnecks or Floorhands, Derrickman, Assistant Driller, Driller/Toolpusher, and Drill/Toolpusher Supervisor. The Roughnecks have the most physically demanding job on the oil rig, Roughnecks and Floorhands must be on their feet for 12 hours a day. They oversee the blow out valve, and are almost always busy with the borehole equipment.

The Derrickman is the next level in the team and they handle the pipes in the derrick and ensure the mud pump is functioning at maximum efficiency.  Next is the Assistant Driller who acts as the Drillers right-hand man.  He must ensure that the all drill equipment is properly maintained and ready to use.  He also acts as communicator between the driller and the drill floor crew.

The Driller is the person who carries out the actual drilling and sits in his own workplace which on many modern setups is known as the cyber chair.  He takes readings of the operating equipment such as pressure, and temperature and calibrates all the drilling equipment accordingly.  There are many different readings that have to be checked and cross-checked and adjustments are always required.  To be a driller you have to be good at maths! The driller is also the leader of the drill floor and he communicates with myself, the drill supervisor.  The driller also keeps a journal of the daily operations which is submitted to me. As drilling supervisor I am responsible for the drill team and the entire drilling operation.  It is my job to ensure we drill on time and on target.  If problems are encountered along the way they have to be resolved quickly and efficiently. 

How has the industry changed since you first started twenty years ago?

The main thing that has changed quite considerably is the technology.  When I first started out in the North Sea back in the late eighties almost all wells were being drilled to a maximum depth of 1200ft and always in a straight line down through the borehole.  Now with Rotary Steerable tools (which allow three dimensional control of the bit without stopping the drill string rotation), wells can be drilled in deepwater  up to 35,000ft from the surface. We are currently witnessing the problems that can go with deepwater drilling such as the blowout the occurred and the resultant spill from the Deepwater Horizon in the U.S.  Expandable casing technology is also a relatively new advanced drilling method but none of these, however, can truly be seen as a revolutionary technology; none will fundamentally alter the way in which oil companies and drilling contractors carry out their business. There will always be a need for the Roughnecks, Derrickamans, DA’s, Drillers and Drill Supervisors, so thankfully I'll still be in a job for the foreseeable future!

Thanks Geoff, we wish you all the best with your career.

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