A Roughneck's Job, The Reality Series Black Gold

They don't call them roughnecks for nothing. Recently a reality show about oilfield workers has brought some of what goes on on a drilling rig into the limelight. Reality shows are usually far from real and "Black Gold" while somewhat realistic as far as West Texas drilling on very small rigs goes is not a true picture of the industry. The true picture of oilfield work can run from one extreme to the other. On offshore rigs and larger, "caddilac" rigs there is no such thing as "throwing the spinning chain" as is done on Black Gold.

On the reality show it shows the roughnecks using a chain that is thrown around the drill pipe when they are making a connection. While this is still done on some smaller rigs in West Texas the practice has been all but abandoned due to the number of lost fingers and hands. The spinning chain has largely been replaced with kelly spinners that  unscrew the pipe when tripping out of the hole.

The other image that you see in the reality show of the rig hands drinking and partying every single night is also unrealistic. While a lot of this still goes on, it's not how day to day life is, especially offshore, where no drinking is allowed at all.

In real life most toolpushers on good rigs would never keep a crew of roughnecks that slept on the job and showed up for work late due to drinking too much.

What you see on Black Gold are often rougnecks that could not make, or don't want to put up with all the rules on the higher paying "caddilac" rigs and are forced to work for the smaller companies until they get enough experience or are there because they got fired from better jobs.

The smaller operators only put up with the kind of nonsense you see on Black Gold because it is hard to find many skilled rougnecks and drillers now.

The other concept that is not commonplace is rigs competing against another drilling rig as if in a race.

A drilling company will do everything it can to keep a good customer and does not need the concept of a race with another crew to spur them on, except to make good reality television. Rigs and rig crews are often paid a good bonus to complete a well in good time.

Another thing about the reality show Black Gold that is unusual in today's oilfield is seeing drillers and rougnecks, and for that matter anyone around the drilling rig not wearing a hard hat or safety glasses. Again this is something you migh see on the very crappiest rigs at the very bottom of the oilfield food chain. OSHA, the government agency that regulates the oil industry, has very steep fines for companies that violate safety standards. In addition, drilling companies pay insurance to a company. Those insurance companies would be quick to deny a claim for an injury if the employee was not wearing his safety gear.

While the reality series "Black Gold" does show hard working men doing a hard day's work, it is not by any means an accurate portrayal of the modern oil and gas drilling industry. It makes it seem as if the old stereotype of the hard drinking, fighting, redneck oil worker is the norm. In reality you will not usually see a crew of all white men on today's rigs. You will see a mix of white, hispanic, and black and overseas every other color and nationality.

On offshore rigs the conduct is similar to a military ship. Coast Guard rules apply and there is a zero tolerance for alcohol, drugs, fighting etc.

Offshore oil rig workers are professional, highly paid and often well educated individuals with complex high tech jobs to do. It is similar on high end land rigs.

Workers on highly automated, professionally managed rigs must get a chuckle out of shows like Black Gold knowing how most of the oilfield really is.

I know I do.

For a good understanding of what goes on on a drilling rig try the book "a Nontechnical Guide to Petroleum Geology, Drilling, Exploration and Production" available at the Amazon store below.