Oilfield Equipment and Services

"Drill for oil? You mean drill into the ground to try and find oil? You're crazy."

You've heard the story more than once. There are always naysayers, just before something or someone takes off. Most times, it occur right before creating an entire new industry. As we talked about in our Exploration, Drilling and Production Sub-Industry page, Edwin Drake discovered the first underground oil reservoir near Titusville, Pennsylvania, after drilling a well only 69 feet deep.

Servicing Rig

To the naysayers from back in 1859, the answer is Yes, there are companies that drill for Oil and Gas. And yes, there are even companies that only specialize in providing necessary equipment and technical services for drilling.

The Oilfield equipment and services industry involves companies that do not directly own wells or produce crude oil. Instead, these companies provide the specialized equipment, expertise, services and skills needed for producing oil. Companies usually fall into one of two camps, those that rent drilling rigs and those that provide various services.

Oilfield service companies help drilling companies by setting up oil and gas wells. These companies assist in manufacturing, repairing and maintaining the equipment used in oil extraction.

These services can include:

Seismic Testing

Mapping the geographical structure underneath the surface

 

Transport Services

Moving land and water rigs

 

Directional Services

Specialization in horizontal drilling

Rigging Up and Rigging Down

Many of the hazards found in the oilfield equipment and serves industry are similar in nature to those highlighted in our drilling sub-industry page.   In addition, though, there are intricate hazards that occur when rigging up a well for the first time.

Rigging up and rigging down involves moving and transporting a rig from one site to the next.  It requires positioning and constructing various portions of equipment and initially putting together the rig for drilling.

Here are the steps to rigging up and the unique hazards associated with each step:

1. Setting Up the Substructure

Equipment is unloaded near the exact drilling location

Common Hazards Include: Struck by the crane and burns from cutting/welding

2. Installing the Rig Floor and Mast/ Derrick

Setting up the rig floor

Common Hazards Include: Struck by swinging equipment and falling tools.

3. Installing Handrails, Guardrails, Ladders, Stairs, and Walkways

Installed for safety and access to the rig

Common Hazards Include: Slips and falls

4. Installing the Power System

Power is needed to operate rig equipment

Common Hazards Include: Pinch points and chemical hazards

5. Rigging up the Circulating System

Mud tanks and pumps are set

Common Hazards Include: Pinch points and struck by hammer when connecting mud lines

6. Installing the Auxilary Equipment

Pipe racks are positioned

Common Hazards Include: Crushed when setting up pipes

For more precise information on Rigging up, visit OSHA's Oil and Gas Well Drilling Servicing eTool.

Top Companies

Here is a look at the companies you find operating across this industry segment.

Services the Above Companies Provide

Occupations

Here is a look at the top occupations found across this industry and the above top 10 US refineries: (Click an occupation to expand and learn more.)

• Construction Laborers and Extraction Occupations 

  Perform tasks involving physical labor at construction sites. There are roughly around 21,000 of these workers found in Exploration, Drilling and Production. You will find these workers using hand tools, repairing drilling equipment, and transporting materials. Helper, Laborer, Post Framer, and Construction Worker.

• Control and Valve Installers and Repairers 

  Install, repair, and maintain mechanical regulating and controlling devices and other mechanical governors. There are a little over 500 of these workers in Exploration, Drilling and Production. You will find these workers repairing mechanical control devices, lubricating mechanical parts, and installing electric meters. Common job titles for this worker are Control Valve Technician, Service Technician, and Valve Technician.

  

  Employement of Control and Valve Installers and Repairers

• Derrick, Rotary Drill, and Service Unit Operators  

  Rig derrick equipment and operate pumps to circulate mud through drill holes. There are around 9,200 of this occupation employed in Exploration, Drilling and Production. You will find these workers inspecting derricks, repairing mud tanks, and setting crown blocks to posts at the top of derricks. Common job titles for this occupation are Derrick Hand, Derrick Worker and Floor Hand.

  

  Employement of Derrick, Rotary Drill, and Service Unit Operators

• Gas Plant Operators 

  Distribute or process gas by controlling compressors to maintain specified pressures on main pipelines. There are over 1,000 of these workers in Exploration, Drilling and Production. You will find this worker operating plant equipment, monitoring flammable products, and controlling compressors. Job titlees for this worker are Gas Controller and Plant Operator.

  

  Employement of Gas Plant Operators

• Geological and Petroleum Technicians 

  Gather samples such as rock, mud and soil. There are around 2,800 of these workers in Exploration, Drilling and Production. You will find these workers monitoring well exploration activities and analyzing drill cuttings. Common job titles are Data Technician and Technician.

• Industrial Machinery Mechanics 

  Worker activities include repairing, installing, and adjusting industrial machinery. There are around 2,100 of this occupation works in Exploration, Drilling and Production. You will find these workers cutting and welding metal to repair broken metal parts. Job titles for this position are Fixer, Industrial and Master Mechanic.

  

  Employement of Industrial Machinery Mechanics

• Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers 

  Lubricates machines, changes parts, and performs machinery maintenance. Exploration, Drilling and Production employs a little over 5,200 of these workers. You will find these workers cleaning machine and machine parts. Cleaning solvents, oil and metalworking fluids are a definite concern for these workers. Common Job titles for this position are Lubricator, Maintenance Man, and Oiler.

• Material Moving Workers 

  Help move materials across Exploration, Drilling and Production operations. There are around 10,000 of these workers in Oil and Gas extraction. You will find these workers operating conveyors, transporting materials, and operating machines. Common job titles are Laborer and Operator.

• Occupational Health and Safety Specialists 

  This occupation makes many of the PPE related decisions within a mine. They review, evaluate, and analyze work environments. This occupation also design programs and procedures to control, eliminate, and prevent disease or injury caused by chemical, physical, and biological agents or ergonomic factors. There are roughly around 1,000 of these workers found in Exploration, Drilling and Production. You will find these workers recommending safety measures and evaluating workplace safety equipment. Common Job titles for this position are Certified Industrial Hygienist; Chief Safety Officer; Corporate Safety Director; Director Employee Safety and Health; Environmental Health and Safety Manager; Environmental, Health, and Safety EHS Officer; Health and Safety Manager; Risk Control Consultant; Safety Consultant; Safety Specialist

• Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers 

  Operate petroleum refining or processing units. There are around 3,800 of these workers in Exploration, Drilling and Production. You will find these workers monitoring gauges, opening valves to regualte the flow of oil, and operating manifold/pumping systems. Common Job titles for this position are Gauger, Head Operator, Pumper, and Refinery Operator

  

  Employement of Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers

• Plant and System Operators 

  Monitor both input and output to ensure systems are working correctly. There are roughly 5,300 of these workers in Exploration, Drilling and Production. You will find these workers operating valves, engines, generators and pumps to keep everything running smoothly. Common job titles are Process Operator and Operator.

  

  Employement of Plant and System Operators

• Pump Operators Station Operators  

  Operate power-driven, stationary, or portable pumps to transfer gases, oil, other liquids, slurries, or powdered materials to and from various vessels. There are around 900 of these workers in Oil and Gas extraction. You will find these workers tending vessels that store gasses and turning valves. Common job titles for this position are Chemical Operator, Pipeline Operator, and Pumper.

  

  Employement of Pump Operators Station Operators

• Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas 

  Operate a variety of drills to remove underground oil and gas. They also remove core samples for testing during oil and gas exploration. There are around 1,800 of these workers in Oil and Gas extraction. You will find this worker connecting sections of dril pipe, operating drilling equipment, and raising drill pipes. Common job titles for this occupation are Drill Operator, Driller, and Oil Rig Operator

  

  Employement of Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas

• Roustabouts 

  Assemble and repair oil field equipment using hand and power tools. There are around 5,000 of these workers in Exploration, Drilling and Production. You will find these workers tightening pipes, casings and pump rods. The workers move a lot of peipe and bolt together a lot of pumps. Common job titles for this occupation are Floor Hand, Galley Hand and Rig Hand.

  

  Employement of Roustabouts

• Service Unit Operators 

  Operate equipment to increase oil flow from producing wells. There are 6,400 of these workers in Exploration, Drilling and Production. They also remove stuck pipe, casing, tools, or other obstructions from drilling wells. You will find these workers installing pressure-control devices, maintaining safety inspections and operating cranes and other lifting equipment. Common job titles are Rig Operator, Tool Pusher, and Wireline Operator.

  

  Employement of Service Unit Operators

• Wellhead Pumpers 

  Operate power pumps producing flow of oil or gas from wells. There are around 8,000 of these workers in Exploration, Drilling and Production. You will find these workers operating pumps, unloading pipes and pumping equipment, repairing oil gauges, and performing routine maintenance. Common job titles for this occupation are Oilfield Operator, Pumper, and Well Head Pumper.

  

  Employement of Wellhead Pumpers

• Metal Workers and Plastic Workers 

  Operate machines designed to cut, shape and form metal. There are roughly 400 of these workers in Oil and Gas extraction. You will find these workers fabricating metal products, lifting heavy materials and working with their hands. Common job titles are Sheet Metal worker and Welder. Be sure to check out our Metal Fabrication industry educational page.

• Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Workers 

  Operate welding, soldering or brazing machines that weld, braze, or heat treat metal products. Exploration, Drilling and Production employs around 300 of these workers. You will find these workers adding material to work pieces, joining metal components, and annealing finished work pieces. Common Job titles for this position are Fabricator, Mig Welder, Spot Welder, Fitter-Welder, and Braze Operators.

• Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers 

  Use hand-welding, flame-cutting, hand soldering, and brazing equipment to weld/join metal components, fill holes, indentations, or seams of fabricated metal products. Exploration, Drilling and Production mploys around 300 of these workers. You will find these workers welding components in flat, vertical or overhead positions. Common Job titles for this position are Maintenance Welder, Mig Welder, and Welder/Fabricator

  

  Employement of Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers

Equipment and Services Safety

The most dangerous Oil and Gas sub-industry belongs to the Equipment, Services and Support industry.  Pulling out casings, plugging wells and dismantling rigs are just a few of the activities that present hazardous working environments.

For every 100 employees, there are 3 incidents.  The closest sub-industry to this one is Oil and Gas Extraction at 1.5 incidents, which still falls into what this industry specializes in and provides. 

Workers have to be always work safely in this industry, which starts with the correct mindset.

"Don’t be safety blinded, be safety minded"

Sometimes, workers become blinded by the everyday familiar routines that are established. Unfortunately, this is when accidents are not far away from occurring... Being safety minded is the key to avoiding this trapped mindset.

At MCR Safety, we protect people! Staying safety minded is what we do.
Let us keep you protected when rigging up and servicing oil wells.