User:Mikhailov Kusserow/Sandput
Oilfield slang is jargon specific to oilfield workers. These can be referential to parts of oilfield equipment to terms for different jobs or people.
Jobs and People
[edit]Driller or Drill - Supervises a crew in a manner similiar to a shift supervisor. Most drillers usually have hiring and firing authority and are responsibile for hiring their own hands as well as transporting them to the job site in their own vehicle. The driller is generally supervised by a toolpusher but may be supervised by a drilling superintendant or representative for the corporation that the rig is contracted to. Very rarely drillers may actually own their own rig, as was the case for Bruce Willis's charecter in Armageddon. The owner/driller concept was very prevelant during the early days of the oil industry.
Derrickman - Usually serves as the second in charge of a crew after the driller. The derrickman is usually responsible for maintaining the pumps, the chemical compositions of the drilling fluid, and the components of the derrick. Common slang terms for the derrickman include dairyhand and screaming monkey due to the supposed sound of a derrickman falling from the derrick. Derrickmen are generally higher paid than floorhands.
Floorhands - These hands are responsible for the maintaining of the rig overall. Most crews have two floorhands. The senior is generally called the chainhand or motorman although these can be two seperate individuals. The junior floor hand, and usually the most inexperienced hand on the crew, is refered to as the tonghand or lead-tong.
- Chainhand/Motorman - This person is usually an experience hand capable of maintaining most parts of the rig. The chainhand portion refers to the fact that during tripping pipe this hand is responsible for throwing the chain to make up or break down pipe stands. The motorman refers to the fact that this individual is responsible for maintaining the motors on the drilling rig. These functions can be split when a five person crew is used with the motorman usually being either the senior floorhand or even the assistant driller.
- Tonghand/Lead-Tong-The tonghand is typically the most junior member of the crew. Their primary responsibility is to assist the rest of the crew in accomplishing their assigned tasks. Most tonghands are being broke-out into the oil field. They are often subject to various hazing rituals such as doping the balls.
Toolpusher - The toolpusher, or simply pusher, is generally incharge of the rig overall. They primarily supervise, hire, and fire drillers. Toolpushers usually have a trailer on site incase they are required to spend an exteded amount of time at the rig
Worm - Worms are rookies in the oilfield. Usually they are related either to a member of the crew, or to a close friend of a crew member. Worms go through a period known as "breaking out" that is similar to probation in most other enviroments. During the time spent as a "worm", hands are usually subject to hazing ranging from having shredded paper stuffed in their locker to having dope spread along their genitalia.