Rig Managers are responsible for every aspect of a rig operation, from setup to takedown. They’re responsible for the safety and leadership of their crews. And they’re responsible for all daily paperwork and other business matters. They’re hands-on leaders in the world of oil and gas.

What a typical day looks like:

Every day is different, but Rig Managers almost always begin with suiting up in their Personal Protective Equipment and doing a pre-tour meeting with the crew to go over expected daily events and safety. Rig Managers are key participants in preventative and regulatory safety inspections and meetings, so they spend a large portion of the day meeting with other people whose work affects the rig operations such as operator representatives, subcontractors, engineers and operations managers.

But the job isn’t all meetings—there’s paperwork too. During the permit to work system, a Rig Manager reviews proposed activities for the day while their crew assists with completing critical Job Hazard Analyses and Health, Safety & Environment management forms and tools. Then, over the course of the day, they track every aspect of rig operations—drilling parameters, safety statistics, man-hours, costs, volumes and equipment maintenance—to complete the daily drilling report.

The kinds of problems Rig Managers solve at work:

If there’s a problem downhole, or even between crew members, the rig crew will look to their Rig Manager for direction. Their experience, math skills, hands-on guidance and presence of mind make a Rig Manager an effective leader during all operations, especially when things don’t go as planned. They need to recognize the strengths on their team and coordinate manpower in the most effective way to solve problems. And through all of this, Rig Managers need to consider their own personal safety and the safety of their crews amid the many workplace hazards.

Skills used most on the job:

Rig Managers rise to their positions through years of experience on the rigs where they’ve proven they work well with machines, paper and people. When they’re not reviewing activities or completing reports, they’re leading, coordinating and problem-solving.

In an industry based on generating great power, it’s no surprise that everyone looks to one person with great responsibility.

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