Most embarrassing story on drilling rig... i broke out on a joystick puffneck rig, we got stacked out (no more drilling) went to an old school rig cuz they needed a hand.. they were coming out laying down all the 5" drill pipe and drill collars.. it was 12 hours of non stop laying down pipe. The derrickhand botch the pill so the pipe was full of invert (oil based mud) and by the end of it i was head to toe covered in invert. The driller was like hey dude thanks for coming out here you busted ass, go get cleaned up you deserve it, he called the toolpusher and he got a thing of dawn dishsoap that was sitting at his shack door. So i take my nasty clothes off and am walking across location to go take a shower in the fresh water holding tank, there was a water spigot in the shack. I was walking across location in my boxers, boots, and hard hat and the pusher was on the rig floor yelling at me and i was like naw F him im cleaning up if he has a problem ill quit. So i hurry up take a shower in some nasty "fresh water" throw some clean clothes on run up to the floor to help casing crew rig up and the driller was like hey man toolpusher was yelling at you to go shower in his shack... i was like ohh i thought he was mad i was walking across location in my boxers... No he felt bad for you you came out here on the worst possible day and didnt complain or stop working for 10-11hrs straight, you were nasty when you got done, you earned a decent shower.... Trust me and the guy explaining what it all is... you dont want to be covered in invert or salt water... itll give you rashes your skin will break out its nasty stuff. And from what ive been told worm came from floor hands being covered in straight up nastiness and wandering around cleaning under the drilling floor (the sub) and looking like little worms wiggling around cleaning stuff up
Canadian Guy here, I was a roughneck in 1979. Old conventional triple. Montgomery Drilling Rig #44. Taught me how to work! I was terrified of heights but after 2 weeks on the rig the driller tasked me with greasing the crown. It took me an hour to ascend the ladder, 10 minutes to grease and 2 hours to come down the ladder. After that it became my job exclusively. it wasn't long before I overcame my fear of heights and I owe a debt of gratitude to that man to this day! Much respect to Ron Esveld, RIP>
The only requirement when I was hired was be big enough to handle the tongs and show up everyday for work, get along with the rest of the crew, willing to listen and learn the job.
I was a roughneck for several years now I'm an electrical tech for an ATV and golf cart business I miss the money but I don't miss the hours or the pain
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Most embarrassing story on drilling rig... i broke out on a joystick puffneck rig, we got stacked out (no more drilling) went to an old school rig cuz they needed a hand.. they were coming out laying down all the 5" drill pipe and drill collars.. it was 12 hours of non stop laying down pipe. The derrickhand botch the pill so the pipe was full of invert (oil based mud) and by the end of it i was head to toe covered in invert. The driller was like hey dude thanks for coming out here you busted ass, go get cleaned up you deserve it, he called the toolpusher and he got a thing of dawn dishsoap that was sitting at his shack door. So i take my nasty clothes off and am walking across location to go take a shower in the fresh water holding tank, there was a water spigot in the shack. I was walking across location in my boxers, boots, and hard hat and the pusher was on the rig floor yelling at me and i was like naw F him im cleaning up if he has a problem ill quit.
So i hurry up take a shower in some nasty "fresh water" throw some clean clothes on run up to the floor to help casing crew rig up and the driller was like hey man toolpusher was yelling at you to go shower in his shack... i was like ohh i thought he was mad i was walking across location in my boxers... No he felt bad for you you came out here on the worst possible day and didnt complain or stop working for 10-11hrs straight, you were nasty when you got done, you earned a decent shower....
Trust me and the guy explaining what it all is... you dont want to be covered in invert or salt water... itll give you rashes your skin will break out its nasty stuff.
And from what ive been told worm came from floor hands being covered in straight up nastiness and wandering around cleaning under the drilling floor (the sub) and looking like little worms wiggling around cleaning stuff up
Canadian Guy here, I was a roughneck in 1979. Old conventional triple. Montgomery Drilling Rig #44. Taught me how to work! I was terrified of heights but after 2 weeks on the rig the driller tasked me with greasing the crown. It took me an hour to ascend the ladder, 10 minutes to grease and 2 hours to come down the ladder. After that it became my job exclusively. it wasn't long before I overcame my fear of heights and I owe a debt of gratitude to that man to this day! Much respect to Ron Esveld, RIP>
Eye worked drilling rigs for 40 years
Summer of 1979 to 2018
My first job on the rig was
Keeping wood pickers off the kelly
I also worked on Montgomery drilling rig #44. In Idaho small world!!
Yeah, ahuh, something like that. 14 years on an old school rig myself.
This was awesome, thank you! Thanks to Fracslap for his first-hand experiences!
The only requirement when I was hired was be big enough to handle the tongs and show up everyday for work, get along with the rest of the crew, willing to listen and learn the job.
Rendition of Willy Nelson "Momma don't let your babies, grow up to be rig pigs."
This is what you will never see on the show "Landman"
Big dog, Paterson,sledge, West tex, basic,sharp, heartland, and even was on a pulling unit for a short time
I was a roughneck for several years now I'm an electrical tech for an ATV and golf cart business I miss the money but I don't miss the hours or the pain