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The mousehole is the area on the drilling rig where the next joint of drilling pipe is stored. This is located between the rotary table and vee-door, and is usually fitted with a casing and bottom. Rotating mouseholes, introduced in the early 1990s, have helped cut the time and labor dedicated to adding joints to theRead more

In the drilling industry, elevators are hinged devices used to lift and lower piping, casing and tubes. Their use is essential, as any maintenance issues can bring drilling to a halt. Therefore, it’s necessary to understand the differences between types of elevators and when their use is appropriate. Below, we’ve provided an overview of theRead more

Oilfield drilling is a complex process involving multiple engineered pieces of equipment to ensure proper extraction, cleaning, and safety. While the variety of oilfield equipment used can at first be overwhelming, we’ve listed out the five most important pieces to become familiar with. Each of these play an important role in reducing costs, accidents, fireRead more

We’ve already written a post about the BP oil spill and its aftereffects. That accident, which occurred during a normal operating procedure, highlights the very real and ever-present dangers inherent to oil rig operations. Anyone working on an oil rig, from roustabouts to drillers, should be keenly aware of the dangers of their job —Read more

Offshore drilling has consistently been ranked by Forbes, Yahoo!, and other business publications as one of the best jobs attainable without a college degree. To anyone that’s familiar with offshore oil drilling, this is not surprising. Offshore drilling  (and becoming an offshore driller) has few barriers to entry, pays far above average for similar workRead more

The rig site, like any industrial environment, contains several areas and processes that can prove dangerous without the proper amount of caution and the right equipment. Anyone that has spent any amount of time on oil rigs knows that a majority of the hazards can be described as “slips, trips, and falls” and “pinch points.”Read more

For those of us who have worked primarily on American oil and gas rigs, international drilling affairs may appear to be a world away. But recent developments in the South China Sea, the deepest body of water on earth and a rich oilfield, may have lasting implications for international waters. In May of 2014, coincidingRead more

Oil and gas elevators are easily some of the most stressed components in the drilling industry. They require regular, careful inspection to ensure proper functionality. Oil rigs usually carry sets of elevators and spare duplicates just in case. And for good reason. Whenever an elevator fails, all operations stop. Nothing can be done until it’sRead more

Falling prices for oil and gas have caused many explorers to slash their capital spending plans for 2015, and along with reduced spending, there’s been a reduction in drilling plans. Even companies that released a scaled-back program at the beginning of January are revisiting those plans and cutting back even further. Explorers are slashing theirRead more

Working on a drilling rig is risky business by anyone’s standards. Safety must a matter of paramount concern in order to prevent injuries and accidents. As the following paragraphs excerpted from an article about oil and gas industry worker safety attests, hazards can occur for many reasons. “At sea, risks include storms and inclement weather,Read more