Drilling machine operator: features of the profession

Any work related to oilindustry is very prestigious and in demand in Russia. The rig driver is just such a profession. All of its features will be discussed in this article.

About the profession

The rig driver is a workerwho is engaged in the production of drilling while finding gas and oil fields, prospecting for minerals, etc. A representative of the profession in question is obliged not only to operate drilling machines, but also to repair them. A competent specialist in the field of drilling is required to know all the modes of operation of the existing equipment, should be able to adjust the cooling system, protection or control equipment at a distance.

The rig driver has a hugenumber of functions and responsibilities. In fact, he is fully responsible for the process of drilling in production. It is worth noting that the specialist in question must have a large amount of knowledge. Only thanks to the knowledge of the driver of the rig will be able to competently organize their professional activities.

Professional training

What can you say about the training of drivers of drilling rigs? To get a profession, you have to go to college or college for the relevant specialty.

It is possible to take special courses, but they are far from everywhere.

During the training, the future machinistThe installation receives all the necessary knowledge about the design and operation of drilling machines, various instruments, mechanisms, etc. Here are the main subjects and disciplines that the training course usually includes:

• socio-economic foundations;
• professional and special courses;
• occupational Safety and Health;
• drilling rules and techniques;
• geology;
• operation of drilling machines;
• practice and some other subjects.

It is worth noting that after graduation, the graduate will be issued a special certificate and certificate, thanks to which the driver of drilling rigs will be able to get a job.

What should the rig driver know?

Only a person who has a secondary vocational education and work experience of at least one year can become a master of a drilling rig.

Such an employee must have a specialcertificate of completion of education and a certificate required for admission to work. In addition to all of the above, the rig driver must have certain knowledge at a qualitative level. Of course, the amount of knowledge required for work also depends on the level of a professional. However, there are some general points about which the representative of the profession in question should have an idea:

• labor law (or its fundamentals);
• documentation: administrative, methodological or regulatory, but one way or another relating to the conduct of drilling operations;
• safety and internal labor regulations;
• basics of labor protection;
• rules of sanitation and hygiene.

Functions and duties of the driver of the drilling rig

The profession in question is incredibly complex, responsible and hard work.

The driver of the rig has a very large number of functions and responsibilities. Among them are:

• drilling operations at a designated construction site;
• mining works;
• selection and packaging of certain soil and groundwater samples;
• transportation of necessary items.

It is worth noting that the specialist in questionis obliged to perform all the functions assigned to him strictly under the supervision of a professional with higher qualifications. The worker needs to remember about compliance with safety regulations, as well as about the compliance of all work with certain technological standards (this is, first of all, the standards for selection, packaging, and transportation of products).

In addition to all of the above, the rig driver is obliged to confirm or upgrade his skills every 5 years.

On the rights of the driver of the rig

Like any other worker, the specialist in question has certain professional rights.

What is the right driver of the rig?

• The employee’s watch must meet all requirements.security. The specialist has the right to contact the authorities in case of any violations, whether it is out of service equipment, lack of some tools, etc.
• The employee has the right to discuss draft decisions with the management (in case these projects somehow relate to the labor activity of the specialist under consideration).
• The rig operator is able to coordinate with the management of the involvement in their work of any specialists.
• The specialist in question has the right to require assistance from his superiors in case of unforeseen situations, any problems, etc.

Thus, the rig master has a fairly wide range of professional rights.

About the responsibility of the driver of the rig

A large number of rights and obligations always gives rise to enormous responsibility. In the case of a drilling driver, this is the case.

What is the responsibility of the specialist in question?

• Like any other worker, the drilling driverInstallation is responsible for the improper performance of their professional functions and responsibilities. Everything that the job description prescribes for the functions of the specialist in question must be strictly observed, and very qualitatively and competently.
• The considered specialist bears strict liability for violation of the labor legislation of the Russian Federation, as well as normative acts concluded with the employer.
• The employee is liable (up to criminal) for committing offenses, crimes or any other unlawful acts in the workplace.
• An employee may also be held liable for causing harm to the organization (in accordance with the procedure established by the Labor Code of the Russian Federation).

Therefore, the responsibility of the drilling operatorInstallation is not much different from the responsibility of any other employee. However, it is important to remember about the huge number of functions assigned to the employee. Wrong their execution may well entail responsibility.

About the demand for the profession

Is the rig driver in demand in the labor market?

Jobs, it is worth noting, there really are, but far from everywhere. Everything will depend on the region (whether it is mining or not).

It is worth noting, however, one very importantmoment: the profession in question, at least in the Russian Federation, is quite promising and prestigious. The thing is that the drilling work is somehow connected with the extraction of some useful products: oil, gas, minerals, etc. The country needs these resources, and therefore the professions related to mining, will always be encouraged.

And what about career growth inthe profession in question? Here everything will depend only on the experience of the employee and on his desire to learn. It is very important to improve their skills in a timely manner. Thus, an assistant machinist drilling rigs can become a master, and a simple master is able to grow up to an engineering and technical worker. It is worth mentioning such positions as a senior technician, site manager, head of department, etc. The rig driver, having a due desire, may well take these places.

Drivers of drilling rigs 3 and 4 bits

What can you say about the driver of drilling rigs,having a third rank? It is worth starting with the fact that it is the most unskilled worker. As a rule, beginners who have just begun work after study and practice have the third category. A specialist with a third rank has the following responsibilities:

• participation in the drilling of first-class installations;
• use of power drills, portable hand sets, special rods.

The employee with the fourth category has a little more extensive functions. These include:

• performing drilling operations with the help of non-propelled percussion rotary machines;
• drilling using self-propelled rotary machines with a capacity of not more than 50 kW;
• drilling with sounding machines and much more.

Thus, a fourth-grade specialist has much more technical equipment available than a specialist with lower qualifications.

Drivers of drilling rigs 5 and 6 bits

The specialist, who has the fifth, penultimate level, works with the following types of equipment:

• cable drum machines;
• self-propelled rotary drilling machines;
• second class installations (the higher the class, the greater the load capacity of the installations);
• can use perforators, special electric drills, etc.

And what about a worker who has a sixththe most recent and important rank? Undoubtedly, such an employee has a large number of duties and rights. As a specialist with the highest qualifications, the driver of drilling rigs of the sixth category is obliged to monitor the performance of the work duties of all other workers. Of course, the range of rights and obligations of a specialist with the sixth grade is much broader.

Advantages and disadvantages of the profession

The profession in question has a number of advantages and disadvantages. It should start with the shortcomings of work.

These include:

• Unavailability of getting a job in someregions. The fact is that in some areas mining is not carried out in principle, and therefore finding a job will be quite problematic.
• Too many responsibilities and too higha responsibility. Drilling work is really quite difficult and problematic to carry out. After all, even a small mistake of a specialist can lead to serious problems.

The advantages of the profession include the following points:

• Kudos. Any work, one way or another connected with mining, is considered prestigious in Russia.
• Relevance. Pretty easy to be able to find a machinist rig job. Watch, however, may not be available in all regions. Nevertheless, the profession is not very difficult to get.
• Good wages.
• The possibility of an early career growth. With due desire, it will be able to climb the career ladder and the driver of the drilling rig. Direct employers interested in competent employees, enough for any production.