Print the Drilling Industry's Recuiting Brochure: |
Drilling Rigs
The drilling rig is a hallmark image of the oil and gas industry. It takes thousands of different job types to get these resources out of the ground and refined into everyday products, but drilling rigs and service rigs are right at industry's front lines.
The first step to locating oil or gas is to build a theory about where oil or gas deposits might be.
A drilling rig's job is to test that theory: drill down and prove it true or false. Drilling rigs use very technical equipment, both computerized and mechanical, and are worth millions of dollars. The crews who operate and maintain them develop unique skills to do this work.
Drilling rig employees are proud of the job they do and with good reason:
It’s hard work!
Before getting started, do as much research as possible to decide if this job is a good ft for you!
You will be working up to 12-hour shifts. Breaks are taken when the drilling operation allows for downtime. You will be expected to remember what needs to be done and the policies and procedures you learned in your training. Learn more about locations and hours of work for rig crews.
You will be an important member of the team! Getting along with co-workers is a big part of doing the job well!
A successful applicant will:
• Be physically fit
• Have a strong work ethic
• Be able to travel to remote locations
• Be comfortable working outdoors in all weather conditions
All contractors support safe healthy workplaces. Most contractors have drug testing policies in place.
You will be working with heavy equipment and hazardous substances. At the beginning of each shift, you will need to be well-rested, fit and focused!
Your Application You don't need a formal training program to start on a rig floor. Drilling contractors require that you have two safety certificates before they will consider you for a rig position. They will provide you with all other training. You must have H2S Alive (1-day course offered by Enform); and First Aid A reliable vehicle and driver's license is also necessary as you will be expected to travel to remote drilling locations. You'll start in the junior position of the rig crew, as a leasehand or a floorhand. You advance to more senior positions by proving you do your job well and by showing you are a team player. |
| Following Your Rig | ||
Rigs move from location to location with each new drilling job. The crews assigned to the rig follow it. Employees don't need to live close to their rig or even close to an oil and gas basin. They will travel to their rig for a 2-week shift and then return home for days off. |
 |
This map shows where oil and gas activity is in Alberta. In BC, rigs work in the northeast. Fort St. John is considered the BC hub for oil and gas. Saskatchewan's oil and gas activity (primarily oil) is in the province's southeast, but there is also activity in the central-west area of the province. |
Many senior people in drilling rig companies started on a rig crew. And other sectors in oil and gas value this hands-on experience as well!
Where can drilling experience take your career? Find out here!
