Jobs, Careers and Occupations

Roustabout

Roustabout Nature of Work

A roustabout may be part of the drilling teams or crews, or may be on location temporarily for special operations. Roustabouts are commonly hired to ensure that the skilled personnel that run an expensive 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 drilling and well servicing contractors and by petroleum producing companies.

Roustabout Work Conditions

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

Roustabout Personal Requirements

• able to work as part of a team
• aptitude for mechanics and able to handle machinery
• be 18 years old (as it is a legal requirement on most mine and quarry sites)
• clean police record
• enjoy practical and manual activities
• good organisation skills
• have a drug and alcohol clearance
• pass a medical examination
• physically fit
• willing to work in remote areas under difficult conditions

Roustabout Employment Requirements

• Completion of secondary school may be required
• Completion of introductory college or Petroleum Industry Training Service (PITS) courses may be required
• Certificates in hydrogen sulphide awareness, workplace hazardous materials information system (WHMIS) or transportation of dangerous goods (TDG) may be required
• Progression to more senior operating positions is possible with experience
• After roustabouts understand how the rig operates and demonstrates their work ethic, they may be promoted to other positions in the crew
• On-the-job training

Roustabout Duties and Tasks

Roustabouts may perform some or all of the following tasks:

• Assemble or repair oil field equipment using hand and power tools
• Assist in slotting, welding and inserting casing screens
• Assist with well development and pumping tests
• Carry out minor maintenance and repairs, including lubrication
• Clean equipment, drill and camp sites
• Dig and clean mud pits and drains
• 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
• Help obtain drilling core samples
• Mix and test drilling fluids, chemicals and grout
• 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
• Perform other tasks as needed

Roustabout Example Titles

• Floorman/Woman
• Laborer
• Leasehand
• Service Rig Helper
• Shakerhand
• Well Treatment Helper

Roustabout Related Occupations

• Company Men
• Electricians
• Miners
• Motormen
• Derrickmen
• Helpers
• Laborers
• Petroleum Engineers
• Roughnecks
• Testers
• Operators
• Drillers
• Toolpushers

Oil and Gas Related Industries

• Engineering
• Environmental
• Mining

Westmoreland County Community College, FirstEnergy team up Tarentum Valley News Dispatch The school already offers a training program for workers to acquire skills for roustabout jobs in the state's booming natural gas industry. That certificate program, which began in September 2010, will evolve into a two-year certificate program ...