Tool Pusher:
The drilling company employee in charge of all drilling and non-drilling operations occurring on and around the drilling rig. He/she is the lead, onsite representative of the drilling contracting company. In addition, the tool pusher is the key contact between the drilling contracting company and The Company Man (lead wellsite representative of the operating company). The Drillers (below) report to the tool pusher. From the drilling company’s perspective, the tool pusher is the principal representative in charge of the safety and environmental aspects of the drilling operations.
Drilling Crew:
Driller:
The drilling company employee in charge of drilling operations and supervision of a drilling crew. The driller reports to the tool pusher.
Derrickman (one per crew):
The derrickman is typically second in rank in a drill crew behind the driller (Some large offshore drilling crews may have a position of assistant driller ranked between the derrickman and the driller.). In old movies or documentaries, you may have watched scenes of a person working at the top of the Derrick of a drilling rig who is manually moving and handling Drillpipe; this is the derrickman. Historically, this would have been one of the more physically demanding and dangerous jobs on the rig crew. Most modern drilling rigs have automated pipe-handling equipment to preserve safe procedures during current drilling operations.
Roughnecks (several per drill crew):
Experienced members of a drilling crew who may work on the rig floor or up on the derrick. Typical tasks for a roughneck include tending to engines and pumps during operations, coupling or uncoupling Stands of Drillpipe during Tripping Operations into or out of the wellbore, and racking or unracking drillpipe.
Skilled Technicians:
Mechanics, electricians, crane operators, welders, etc., for operating and maintaining specialized rig equipment.
Roustabouts (several per rig crew):
General laborers working on or around the drilling rig. These are entry level jobs on a drilling rig and, in some companies, may be available for summer internships to engineering students. Typical tasks for a roustabout may include unloading, lifting, and hauling materials and supplies used for drilling operations, cleaning and maintaining the rig site (picking up litter, weeding, mowing the grass at the rig site, etc.), maintaining the roads (clearing brush and debris), etc.
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