Service rigs vs. Drilling rigs [Archive]

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gonefishin

For those of you on here that works the rigs; is it better to be on a Service rig or Drilling rig? Do you get promoted faster on one over the other?

Any info would be greatly appreciated, and thanks in advance!

Glockster

Drilling Rigs - 12 hour shifts days/nights
Service Rigs - USUALLY 10 hour shifts daylights only
Drilling Rigs - Couple dollars an hour higher
Promotions - That's up to you.
Drilling Rigs - (Large Doubles/Triples/horizontal drilling) Lots of down time, read that washing, cleaning, mindless grunt work, especially when slow drilling.
Service Rig- Come ready to bust your ass for the shift.
Service Rigs-Probably more job security and year round work.

That's my take after working with (not on or for) both types of rigs over the past 12 years.

wolf308

most service rigs are drivable too,so theres that whole aspect to them,chaining up,checking and maintenance of tire /drive shafts etc, getting stuck,scary hills ,mud, cleaning window s, break downs on side of road.its an adventure.roughnecks falling asleep and smashing trucks into other companies equipment along side the road. service rigs have more variety of operations too ,so their not as boring,and generally see more wierd operations.

Swolf

Most service rigs have 1 crew, so forget about getting any days off.

Most service rigs in my experience work at least 10 hours a day and often work more.

Most drilling rigs have 3 crews that work a 14 and 7 shift.


I thought the work on drilling rigs was more interesting and exciting.

Nothing like taking a kick at 3 am and having mud blow past the crown on a triple!

yoteblaster

Glockster pretty much summed it up. It makes a huge difference what size rig you work on though. I worked on a small jacknife double for 12 years. Lots and lots of 4 and 5 day holes. Not much time for scrubbing when the derrick hits the crown stand every 4 to 5 days. Never boring though. I worked on a large triple during breakup one spring and HATED it. Too slow. Its probably whatever you get used to. Never worked on a service rig , but had lots working around us and looked like they worked really hard all the time. Probably move up faster on a smaller rig.

lake side

Whats the differance between the two as far as what they do?

hal53

Whats the differance between the two as far as what they do?
A drilling drills the original well to total depth, keeping the fluid in the hole heavy enough to hold back any potential pressure in the producing zones ( contrary to a previous post "kicks" are very rare these days....and if it goes over the crown on a triple...u don't have a kick...you have a blow out). They then run steel casing in the well...and they are done
A service rig then moves on to "complete" the well for production, shoot holes thru the casing into the potential zone to bring in hydro carbons ( think of saying "c'mon show me what you got). If satisfying results are encountered, production tubing, equipment is installed and you have a producer. Service rigs also regularly come back for maintenance, work over issue (failed downhole equipment) Lots more...but that's the Reader's Digest version...LOL
H.

bb356

Whats the differance between the two as far as what they do?

http://www.rigtech.ca/

1899b

Service rig is a glorified plumber for the well. Was a purchasing agent for a service rig company in a past life.

lake side

Thanks Hal, thats the best explanation that I have recieved to date. Much appercaited.


lake side.....

hal53

Service rig is a glorified plumber for the well. Was a purchasing agent for a service rig company in a past life.
well that's a nice analogy.......the previous life explains a lot.......

Dark Horn

What is better is an individual thing. I also have worked with them not for them for the last 12years and would say I would prefer a good sized drilling rig. My preference though. Things that can affect your decision could be the shift - service ~10hrs a day during the day. Drilling rigs are 2 and 1. 1 week days and 1 of nights. Service rigs you could be home every night and a drilling rig most likely hotel or camp. Drilling rig activity is always up and down whereas service rigs are more consistent. Service rigs are go go go and moving regularly and drilling rigs could be moving everyday or once every 6 months or more. Of course the company, size and condition of the rig can change everything. As was said they both do completely different things. Probably many more things to consider but as can be seen enough differences that it will be a personal preference as to which is better. Depends what you like.

1899b

well that's a nice analogy.......the previous life explains a lot.......

Just laymans terms. Didn't mean anything by it. You lookin to pick something once again their buddy??

hal53

Just laymans terms. Didn't mean anything by it. You lookin to pick something once again their buddy??
nope just stated "nice analogy".......and it's there, not their....:scared0018:

Alberta Bigbore

my bad two windows open

gonefishin

Thanks for the help!

Kolt30

Go drilling, i've never worked drilling but everyone i worked with on the service rigs that has said it is way better. If your smart you move up pretty fast in the service rigs (was derricking fulltime after 5 months) but the pay is not as good and you a have a **** poor schedule (21&3) and if you get a random day of in the middle you pretty much start over. impossible to plan things with you fam.
I LOVED and miss the work but the lifestyle was ****

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