Operating company

An operatingcompany, or an operator, has the right to drill and produce petroleum at a particular site. The operator buys or leases that right from the owner of the rights to the subterranean oil or gas. Rights can be owned by individuals, companies, or, in some cases, by the federal or state government.

An operator can be a major, such as Exxon, Mobil, British Petroleum, Shell, Chevron, or Texaco. A major oil company produces oil and gas and transports them from the field to the refinery and plant. It also refines or processes the oil and gas and sells the products to consumers.

An operator can also be an independent. An independent operator is an individual or a relatively small company that produces and sells, oil and gas but does not transport, refine, or marketthem. Operating companies, whether major or independent, pay for the drilling of a well. They usually hire a drilling contractor to drill it.

Drilling contractors

In the United States and Canada, drilling contractors do virtually all the drilling. Operators have found it more cost-effective to hire a firm that specializes, in drilling than to maintain their own rigs. A drilling company may be small or large; it may drill mainly in one country or it may have rigs working all over the world.

In any case, a drilling company's job is to drill a hole. It must drill the hole to the depth and specifications set by the operating company. An operating company usually bids up several contractors. Often, the operator awards the contract to the lowest bidder, but not always. Sometimes a good work record may override a lower bid.

Service and supply companies

The drilling of any well involves several service and supply companies. Supply companies sell expendable equipment and materials, such as drill bits and mud, to the operator and drilling contractor. They also sell items such as pipes, fuel, lubricants, fire extinguishers, and spare parts. Moreover, they market safety equipment, rig components, paper, water, tools, computers, paint, grease, rags, and solvents. Think of any part or commodity that a rig needs to drill a well, and you'll find a supply company on hand to fill it.

Service companies offer special support to the drilling operation. Like supply companies, they exist to nil the special needs of the drilling project. For example, a mud logging company logs, or monitors, the drilling mud as it returns from the well. The returning mud carries cuttings and any formation fluids, such as gas or oil, to the surface. The operator can gain much knowledge about the formations being drilled by analyzing the returning drilling fluid.

Another kind of service company provides casing crews. A casing crew runs large pipe into the well to line, or case, it. Casing protects formations from contamination and stabilizes the well. After the casing crew runs the casing, another service company— a cementing company —cements the casing in the well. Cement bonds the casing to the hole. In many cases, when a well reaches a formation of interest (usually, a formation that may contain oil or gas), the operator hires a well logging company. The well logging crew runs sophisti­cated tools into the hole. These instru­ments measure and record formation properties. By looking at the record, or well log, the operator can often determine whether the well will produce oil or gas.

(Baker R. “A Primer of Oil Well Drilling”, 2001, Austin, Texas)

4.Compose collocations from the following words.

drilling	company
spare	bond
supply	equipment
hole	part
casing	components
cement	well
rig	logging
safety	contractor
	crew

Fill in the gaps with the most suitable words or terms from the text.

1. When a well reaches a formation of interest, the operator hires a.

2. If the is paid according to the daily costs of operating the rig, it’s a daywork contract.

3. When the portion of the hole is drilled, a runs a pipe into the well.

4. A nonintegrated oil company or individual whose operations are in the field of petroleum production is called.

5. help the operating company determine whether the well will produce oil or gas.

6. also transports, refines, and markets oil and its products.

7. An does not usually own the land or the minerals lying under the land.

8. The required items, including drill bits are sold by.

Match the two parts of the sentences.

1. The cement is pumped by company’s crew	A. used to ascertain downhole information about a well.
2. I’m not sure but he is responsible for	B. trying to provide logistics support to the rig crew.
3. Try to run any of the various logs	C. preparing and running casing into a well.
4. This company owns a drilling rig or rigs	D. to secure casing in the well.
5. As I know they specialize in	E. a rig needs is delivered by supply company.
6. Our rig manager is in the rig site right now	F. representing the company’s interests.
7. All necessary equipment that	G. and contracts services for drilling wells.

Terms and Vocabulary

drilling crew	буровая бригада
driller	бурильщик
derrickhand	верховой рабочий
floorhand	третий помощник бурильщика
motorman	дизелист
mud engineer	инженер по буровым растворам
mud logger	человек, ведущий учет данных о буровом растворе
people	персонал
rig manager	буровой менеджер
rotary helper	помощник бурильщика
roughneck	рабочий на буровой вышке
roustabout	подсобный рабочий
superintendent	руководитель
service	эксплуатация
maintenance	техническое обслуживание
rig floor	рабочая площадка буровой
tripping	спуско-подъемная операция
trip in	опускать буровую колонну
trip out	поднимать буровую колонну
monkeyboard	полати/люлька верхового
stand	свеча
graphic log	описание литографического разреза скважины
well-logging activity	каротаж
logs	буровой журнал, каротажная диаграмма
tongs	машинные ключи, щипцы
work shift	вахта
plan the strategy	планировать стратегию бурения скважины

Read the following text and fill in the table below it.

People

While it is true that you can't drill a well without a drilling rig and several companies to back up the rig, it is equally true that you can't drill a well without skilled people. Personnel run the rig and keep it running until the well reaches its objective. Let's look at some of the people involved in drilling.

Drilling crews work for the drilling contractor. Typically, the contractor hires a rig manager, or a superintendent, for each rig. This rig manager is usually called the toolpusher. The toolpusher supervises two or three crews that oper­ate the rig 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Besides the toolpusher, each rig has drillers, derrickhands, and rotary helpers ( also called floorhands or roughnecks). Sometimes the driller designates the most experienced rotary helper as a motorhand. The motorhand performs routine service and maintenance on the rig's engines.

The toolpusher is the contractor's top hand on the drilling location. This person oversees the drilling crews that work on the rig floor, supervises all drilling operations, and coordinates operating company and contractor affairs. During the time the rig is drilling, the toolpusher usually lives in an on-site trailer or portable building and is on call at all times.

Tool pushers are in charge of keeping the rig in all necessary tools and equipment, supplies, etc. They work closely in conjunction with the company man in regards to the actual drilling of the well. In recent times, toolpushers also have taken on somewhat of an administrative role, also, as they frequently do paperwork related to the rig crew regarding payroll, benefits, etc. Usually a tool pusher has started at the bottom and worked his way up and has been in the industry for a number of years.

The driller supervises the derrickhand and the rotary helpers with direction from the toolpusher. From a control console on the rig floor, the driller manipulates the controls that keep the drilling operation under way. This person is directly responsible for the drilling of the hole.

The driller is in charge of his crew, and running the rig itself. Most of the time, his job is simply to monitor the rig's activity. He is responsible for interpreting the signals the well gives regarding gas and fluids with high pressure. In an emergency he is also responsible for taking the correct counter measures. The driller will watch for gas levels coming out of the hole, how much drilling mud is going in and other information. While tripping, the driller will run the floor and work the rig.

When crew members run drill pipe into the hole ( trip in ), or when they pull pipe out of the hole (trip out ), the rig needs a derrickhand. The derrickhand handles the upper end of the pipe from the monkeyboard. The monkey-board is a small platform in the derrick. A drilling crew can trip pipe in or out of the hole one length, or joint, at a time. Usually, however, they trip pipe in stands to speed up the process. Since a stand is two or more lengths of pipe, the job goes faster than tripping them one joint at a time. Each stand of pipe is either about 60 feet long or about 90 feet long (about 18 or 27 metres).

The contractor therefore mounts the monkeyboard in the derrick at a height of either 50 or 80 feet (15 or 24 metres), depending on how long the stands are. When the bit is drilling and the pipe is in the hole, the derrickhand climbs down from the monkeyboard and works at ground level on the drilling mud, making sure it meets the specifications for drilling a particular part of the hole.

Mud engineer (sometimes referred to as the "Mud Man", though women also do this job today) works on an oil well drilling rig, and is responsible for the drilling fluid, also known as drilling mud which lubricates the drill bit and clears cuttings from the borehole. It is a well-paid job because of the importance of maintaining the drilling fluid in efficient drilling.

Mudlogger in the modern oil field typically works for a service company contracted by the oil company (or operator) and is tasked primarily with gathering data and collecting samples during the drilling of a well to identify possible indications of hydrocarbons. They then organize this information in the form of a graphic log, showing the data charted on a graphic representation of the wellbore. The oil industry representative or company man provides mudloggers their instruction. The mudlogger is told when to start well-logging activity and what services to provide. The mudlogger may also possess logs from wells drilled in the surrounding area. This information (known as "offset data") can provide valuable clues as to the characteristics of the particular geo-strata that the rig crew is about to drill through.

Mudloggers observe and interpret the indicators in the mud returns during the drilling process. At regular intervals the mudlogger logs properties such as drilling rate, mud weight, flowline temperature, natural gas content and type, oil indicators, pump pressure, pump rate, lithology (rock type) of the drilled cuttings, and various other items of interest. The job of a mudlogger requires a good deal of diligence and attention. Sampling the drilled cuttings must be performed at predetermined intervals, and can be difficult during rapid drilling. Another important task of the mudlogger is to monitor gas levels and notify other personnel on the rig when gas levels may be reaching dangerous levels, so appropriate steps can be taken to avoid a dangerous well blowout.

Roughneck (or ruffneck) is a slang term for an unskilled or slightly skilled laborer in a number of industries. In particular, it is the official name of a semi-skilled role on a North American oil rig. A roughneck's duties could include anything involved with the connecting and "tripping" of pipe down the well bore, and the roughneck is the person when it comes to general work around the rig.

Roustabout is a laborer typically performing temporary, unskilled work. "Roustabout" is also an official classification of oil rig personnel. Roustabouts working in the North American oil fields typically perform various jobs requiring little training. However, they frequently turn out to be long term employees and take on more difficult and sometimes dangerous jobs as they gain experience. Most go on to at least become roughnecks.

Motorman is the person who operates an electrified trolley car, tram, light rail, or rapid transit train. The term refers to the person who is in charge of the motor (of the electric car) in the same sense as a railroad engineer is in charge of the engine. А motorman is the member of the drilling crew who is responsible for the maintenance and operation of the engines on an oil rig.

Floorhand: Works the "make-up" tongs on the Driller side of the drilling floor while tripping in the hole.

Depending on the size of the rig, its equipment, and other factors, a contractor usually hires two or three rotary helpers for each work shift. On small rigs drilling shallow wells, for example, two rotary helpers on a shift can safely and efficiently perform the required duties. On large rigs drilling deep holes, the job may require three rotary helpers, but not always. In any case, rotary helpers handle the lower end of the drill pipe when they are tripping it in or out (спускоподъемная операция) of the hole. They also use large wrenches called tongs to screw or unscrew (make up or break out ) the individual stands of pipe. Besides handling pipe, rotary helpers also maintain the rig, help repair it, and keep it clean and painted.

Besides the drilling crew, many other persons work at the rig site. They may, be there during the entire time the well is being drilled, or they may come out only when their expertise or equipment is needed.

The operating company customarily has its own person on the drill site to supervise its interests. The company representative, like the toolpusher, usually lives on the rig site in a traileror, portable building, and is in charge of all the operator's activities on the location. This person helps plan the strategy for drilling the well, orders all the needed supplies and services, and makes on-site decisions that affect the well's progress. The company representative and the toolpusher usually work closely together.

(Baker R. “A Primer of Oil Well Drilling”, 2001, Austin, Texas)

Position	Position description	Responsibilities	Additional information

Match the words in the right column with the definitions in the left one.

1. company man	A. company which carries out an exploration / development
2. derrick man	B. employee of a mud service company whose main responsibility on the rig is to test and maintain the mud properties
3. operator	C. an employee of an operating company whose job is to represent the operator’s interests on the drilling rig
4. roustabout	D. a member of the drilling crew whose work station is on the monkey board high up in the derrick. He is responsible for maintaining circulation equipment and direct rig floor activities
5. driller	E. an individual / company that owns the drilling rig and employs the crew required to operate it
6. roughneck	F. the men required to operate the drilling rig on the shift / tour/ This normally comprises a driller, derrick man and 2/3 roughnecks
7. drilling crew	G. an employee of a drilling contractor who is responsible for the drilling rig and the crew
8. drilling contractor	H. The company which carries out an exploration / development programme on a particular area for which they hold a license.
9. tool pusher	I. company which provides specialized skills or equipment; may develop and maintain specialist tools and staff and hire them out to the operator
10. service company	J. general labourer (worker)
11. mud engineer	K. the employee of the drilling contractor who is in charge of the drilling rig and crew. His main duties are to operate the drilling equipment and direct rig floor activities
12. operating company	L. an employee of a drilling contractor who works on a drill floor under te direction of a driller

10.9 Listen to the description of a reservoir engineer’s job and fill in the missing word or words (no more than FOUR words). The first word is given as an example.

The world’s demand for oil and (0) natural gas is unceasing. To find new supplies of these (1) __________ we depend on petroleum engineers. They search the world for reservoirs containing (2) __________ and work with geologists and other specialists to extract it. First the team (3) __________ of the underground and devices drilling methods, designing equipment and processes for that particular target. To get the most from each reservoir, petroleum engineers also develop (4) __________ such as injecting water, steam, chemicals or gases into the reservoir to force out the oil and natural gas. Computer modeling is often used to explore drilling and (5) __________ and techniques. This work requires a combination of complex knowledge with a (6) __________. The work takes you where oil and gas is found from America’s west and south west, overseas to (7) __________ and up to the frozen North. You might work for a major oil company, (8) __________ or a small consulting firm. To begin with you’ll need creative and practical (9) __________ and the patience to work with a team on highly detailed plans. A bachelor’s degree in Engineering is generally required, two- or four-year technology programs mainly to similar jobs. But the individual can’t register as (10) __________ under the same terms as graduates with a degree in Engineering.

11.Match the questions about companies, people and their duties on the left with the answers on the right.

1. How much time does it take to fill out the drilling bid proposal?	A. You should know this pretty well! Computers in the field generate special graphs, called well logs.
2. How are certain formation characteristics measured?	B. Sorry, but we’re waiting when the operating company accepts the bid.
3. Should we pay the mineral holder?	C. You know, we must do it according to the safety requirements.
4. Has you drawn up the contract yet?	D. The only thing I know is that it is usually mounted at a height ranging from about 15 to 34 meters.
5. How is formation data analyzed?	E. Well, mainly by analyzing the returning drilling fluid.
6. What is a monkeyboard?	F. I don’t know, I can help you to repair, clean, and even paint it if it is required.
7. Is it so necessary to hire additional two rotary helpers?	G. Quite an interesting question! I guess they are trying to tighten a drill pipe.
8. What are they doing?	H. Uh-huh, all these sums remained due.
9. Who is responsible for drilling equipment?	I. If I were a contractor I would complete it without any delays.

12. Role game: “Who is guilty? Who should be fired?”

An incident took place in a drilling site which led to well shutdown. A company man should find the guilty one who will be fined and fired.

WORDLIST

ENGLISH	RUSSIAN
case	обшивка, корпус, крепить ствол скважины обсадными трубами
casing crew	бригада, занимающая обсадкой
cement bond	сцепление цемента
cementing company	компания, занимающая цементированием
consumer	потребитель
cost-effective	экономически выгодный
derrickhand	верховой рабочий
driller	бурильщик
drilling contractor	буровой подрядчик
drilling crew	буровая бригада
expendable equipment and material	расходные материалы и детали
fire extinguishers	огнетушитель
floorhand	третий помощник бурильщика
formation of interest	продуктивный пласт
graphic log	описание литографического разреза скважины
independent	независимая компания
logging company	компания, занимающая каротажом
logs	буровой журнал, каротажная диаграмма
maintenance	техническое обслуживание
major	монополия, крупная компания
maintain(v)	поддерживать, осуществлять техническое обслуживание
monkeyboard	полати/люлька верхового
motorman	дизелист
mud	буровой раствор
mud engineer	инженер по буровым растворам
mud logger	человек, ведущий учет данных о буровом растворе
operating company, operator	нефтедобывающая компания
people	персонал
pipe	труба
plan the strategy	планировать стратегию бурения скважины
process	перерабатывать нефть
refine	очищать нефть
rig floor	буровой блок
rig manager	буровой менеджер
rotary helper	помощник бурильщика
roughneck	рабочий на буровой вышке
roustabout	подсобный рабочий
service	эксплуатация
service company	специализированная обслуживающая фирма
spare part	запасная деталь
stand	свеча
subterranean	подземный
superintendent	руководитель
supply company	компания по снабжению
tongs	машинные ключи, щипцы
trip in	опускать буровую колонну
trip out	поднимать буровую колонну
tripping	спуско-подъемная операция
well log	диаграмма геофизических исследований скважины, каротажная диаграмма
well-logging activity	каротаж
work shift	вахта

UNIT 4

DRILLING

Part I Drilling Rig Components. Rigging Up

If you are interested in oilwell drilling, a good way to learn about it is to visit a drilling rig.

Lead in

Looking at the diagram, describe your variant of the oil well drilling preparation procedure.

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