What is a Roustabout

Roustabout nature of work

A roustabout may be part of the oil drilling teams or crews, or may be on location temporarily for special operations. The roustabout is commonly hired to ensure that the skilled personnel that run an expensive oil drilling rig are not distracted by peripheral tasks, ranging from any unskilled manual labor on the rigsite like cleaning up location to cleaning threads to digging trenches to scraping and painting rig components.

Roustabouts are employed by oil and gas drilling and well servicing contractors and by petroleum producing companies.

What is a roustabout - work conditions

The oustabout usually work long hard days on extended roster systems outdoors in all weather conditions. The roustabout work is generally hard and physically demanding. This type of work can lead to more steady employment on a drill rig crew.

What is a roustabout - duties and tasks

The roustabout may perform some or all of the following tasks:

• The roustabout assemble or repair oil field equipment using hand and power tools
• The roustabout assist in slotting, welding and inserting casing screens
• The roustabout assist with well development and pumping tests
• The roustabout carry out minor maintenance and repairs, including lubrication
• The roustabout clean equipment, drill and camp sites
• The roustabout dig and clean mud pits and drains
• The roustabout help move drilling rigs and equipment from site to site, set up in the new site and connect power cables or hoses for water and air supply
• The roustabout help obtain drilling core samples
• The roustabout mix and test drilling fluids, chemicals and grout
• The roustabout operate equipment such as pumps for air, water and mud, and equipment and tools used to correct problems in drilled holes caused by mechanical breakdowns or by harmful natural conditions
• The roustabout perform other tasks as needed

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

Graduates adjust to tough job market The Advocate “I just love history so much,” he said, but added that if that doesn't happen, he might be better off working offshore, being a roustabout or a rigger or “some crazy blue-collar job.” “That's the biggest thing,” he said. “I just can't sit in a cube.

FuelFix (blog)

Oil boom resurrects North Dakota ghost town FuelFix (blog) The Rio Grande Valley resident took a job on a roustabout crew. The job is one of the lowest in the oil business and entails digging trenches, washing pits and moving rigs. Together with roommate and fellow worker, Juan Garcia, they earn $13 an hour ... and more »

Levy: Space, speculating and silver spoons Times Record News Black Gold Bill in Belton Dear Black Gold: When it comes to the oil industry, President Obama doesn't know the difference between a roustabout and a Rasta man. He is simply creating another straw man argument the Wizard of Oz would be proud of. and more »