Derrickman Job

Derrickman nature of work

The derrickman is one of the drill rig crew members who gets his name from the fact that during trips he works on a platform attached to the derrick or mast, typically 85 ft (26 m) above the drill rig floor.

On small land drilling crews, the derrickman is second in rank to the driller. Larger offshore crews may have an assistant driller between the derrickman and the driller.

In a typical trip out of the hole (TOH), the derrickman wears a special derrickman safety harness that enables him to lean out from the work platform (called the monkeyboard) to reach the drillpipe in the center of the derrick or mast, throw a line around the pipe and pull it back into its storage location (the fingerboards) until it is time to run the pipe back into the well. In an emergency, the derrickman can quickly reach the ground by an escape line often called the Geronimo line.

His other job is to handle the mud-processing area during periods of circulation. The derrickman measures mud density and conducts the viscosity test on a regular basis. The derrickman reports to the toolpusher during periods of circulation, but is instructed in detail by the mud engineer on what to add to the mud, how fast and how much.

Derrickman are employed by drilling and well service contractors and by petroleum producing companies.

Derrickman work conditions

The derrickman usually work long hours in all weather conditions on extended roster systems, usually as member of a crew. In terms of skill, physical exertion and perceived danger, a derrickman has one of the most physically demanding jobs on the drill rig crew.

Derrickman duties and tasks

The derrickman perform some or all of the following duties:

• Align and manipulate sections of pipe or drill stem from a platform on the rig derrick during the removal and replacement of strings of pipe, or drill stem and drill bit
• Assist in setting up, taking down and transporting drilling and service rigs
• Operate and maintain drilling rig diesel motors, transmissions, pumps and drilling mud systems, and mix mud chemicals, cements and additives
• Read gauges to monitor pressure, density, rate and concentration and adjust pumping procedure as required
• Record mud flows and volumes and take samples
• Supervise floorhands and laborers

If you are able to meet these requirements and you are motivated to be part of highly motivated team of people please, apply for the derrickman position through a one of the links below:

Bloomberg

Chesapeake Energy Falls Short of Exit From Junk Status: Corporate Finance Bloomberg Enlarge image Chesapeake Comes Up Short of Investment-Grade Chesapeake Comes Up Short of Investment-Grade Daniel Acker/Bloomberg A derrick man, right, climbs down from an overhead platform after connecting a section of drill pipe on a Chesapeake Energy ... and more »

Mad Jack Hanks: Tales from the O-NO Ranch 1-30-12 Fence Post I looked out one cold December morning when the wind was blowing a wave of snow and there was the derrick man up in the crow's nest stackin' pipe that was being pulled from the hole. “Man, I'm glad that's him and not me,” I mumbled to myself almost out ...

Upstream Online

Avaldsnes rig workers in 'near miss' Upstream Online A rig mechanic and derrickman were standing just 2.5 metres away when a drill collar finger weighing 2.6 kilos crashed more than 24 metres onto the drilling area, according to a report filed by operator Lundin with Norway's Petroleum Safety Authority.