Drilling Rig Leasehand and Floorhand

In Canada, the federal government groups and organizes occupations based on a National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. This alis occupation may not reflect the entire NOC group it is part of. Data for the NOC group can apply across multiple occupations.

The NOC system is updated every 5 years to reflect changes in the labour market. Government forms and labour market data may group and refer to an occupation differently, depending on the system used. Here is how this occupation has been classified over time:

• 2006 NOC: Oil and Gas Drilling, Servicing and Related Labourers (8615) 
• 2006 NOC-S: Oil and Gas Drilling, Servicing and Related Labourers (I215) 
• 2011 NOC: Oil and gas drilling, servicing and related labourers (8615) 
• 2016 NOC: Oil and gas drilling, servicing and related labourers (8615) 

Leasehands are the most junior members of a drilling crew. Once they are trained and certified on load equipment, they may load and unload casing or tubing trucks and loaded mud trucks. Mainly, they:

• Do housekeeping activities, such as:
  • Cleaning ice from walkways
  • Cleaning tools and equipment
  • Putting rig tools and equipment away after use
• Help other crew members do odd jobs
• Help other crew members fulfil rig manager requests
• Watch for and remove hazards, such as debris and objects that are in the way of travel

Floorhands work on the rig floor. They clean and organize tools, tool sheds, and rig equipment work areas. There often are 2 floorhands on a crew of 5 people. While not common, smaller rigs may have only 1 floorhand. In general, floorhands:

• Learn to operate power tongs, which connect and disconnect the lower thread ends of tubing or drill pipe (when it is being lowered into and pulled from the cased or open-hole wellbore)
• Catch samples of circulation returns or drilled cuttings on a drilling rig (to be analyzed by geologists on site)
• Help run tubing or casing into a well after drilling is completed
• Clean and maintain equipment as per the rig manager’s or company’s policies
• Perform housekeeping tasks, such as:
  • Keeping the service rig work floor or drilling floor clean
  • Painting, organizing, or scrubbing around the rig
• Help service or drilling crew members as instructed

Working conditions vary, depending on rig locations and weather conditions. Leasehands and floorhands work outdoors all year-round, rain or shine, warm or cold. They work in remote locations. They are housed and fed in camps for a crew rotation schedule. They may experience extreme weather. They may be exposed to oil, chemicals, dust, high-noise areas, and controlled fumes around the rig work environment.

The work is physically demanding. It is also potentially hazardous. As a result, there are times when service rig and drilling crew members must think for themselves and act quickly. They must also:

• Follow standard and outlined safety practices and procedures
• Attend safety meetings, including JSAs (Job Safety Assessments) and PJHAs (Pre Job Hazard Assessments)
• Participate in man-down drills, blowout drills, and emergency procedure drills

Hazards include:

• Working on wet, oil- and mud-covered substructures or slippery service rig floors
• Working near or with heavy tools and equipment at all times, including their moving parts
• Being exposed to WHMIS-controlled chemicals, diesel, varsol, drilling muds, and mud-mix additives including rig motor oil, glycols, and hydraulic oils
• Being exposed to work that involves steam, high pressures, hydraulic fluids, mud, and electricity

Drilling rig workers are responsible for getting to and from their assigned sites. They move with the rig to new locations, which can be remote. Rigs often move throughout western, northern, and central Canada. Drilling rig workers typically work 12-hour shifts over 2-week periods. This periodically includes schedules with 7 days off, pending rotations assigned by their employer. They stay in camps or nearby towns.

Leasehands and floorhands need:

• A safety-conscious attitude
• Good physical condition, strength, and stamina
• The willingness to remain drug free
• Emotional well-being, including emotional stamina
• An interest in working outdoors, away from home, and in remote areas
• The ability to get along with co-workers and take instruction daily
• The ability to understand the chain of command on rig work sites

They should enjoy working with heavy equipment onsite. They should be comfortable working with clear rules and guidelines. They should enjoy being on a team and working as a team.

Leasehands and floorhands work for oil and gas well-drilling contractors. Some rigs operate year-round. But the work is often seasonal, including spring break up. Winter is the busiest season for service rig and drilling activity. Late fall and early winter are the best times for applicants with no experience to ask about openings.

New employees on a drilling rig start as leasehands or floorhands. With on-the-job training, a positive attitude, and the ability to learn quickly, they can advance to motorhand, derrickhand, and driller positions. For more information about these occupations, see the Rig Technician and Service Rig Personnel occupational profiles. A conscientious, hard-working person with leadership skills can move from leasehand to rig manager in 8 to 10 years.

Leasehands and floorhands are part of the larger 2011 National Occupational Classification 8615: Oil and gas drilling, servicing and related labourers. In Alberta, 80% of people employed in this classification work in the following industries:

• Mining and Oil and Gas Extraction (pdf)
• Construction (pdf)
• Manufacturing (pdf)

The employment outlook (pdf) in this occupation will be influenced by a wide variety of factors including:

• Trends and events affecting overall employment (especially in the industries listed above)
• Location in Alberta
• Employment turnover (work opportunities generated by people leaving existing positions)
• Occupational growth (work opportunities resulting from the creation of new positions that never existed before)
• Size of the occupation

Over 4,500 Albertans are employed in the Oil and gas drilling, servicing and related labourers occupational group. This group is expected to have a below-average annual growth of 0.9% from 2016 to 2020. As a result, 41 new positions are forecast to be created each year, in addition to job openings created by employment turnover. Note: As drilling rig leasehands and floorhands form only a part of this larger occupational group, only some of these newly created positions will be for drilling rig leasehands and floorhands.

Although expected occupational growth is below average, frequent recruitment is needed to deal with employment turnover, especially as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years. Experienced employees are in high demand to deal with vacancies.

In Alberta, the I215: Oil and Gas Drilling, Servicing and Related Labourers occupational group is expected to have a below-average annual growth of 0.9% from 2016 to 2020. In addition to job openings created by employment turnover, 41 new positions are forecasted to be created within this occupational group each year.

Canadian Association of Oilwell Drilling Contractors (CAODC) website: caodc.ca

Energy Safety Canada website: www.energysafetycanada.com

Petroleum Human Resources (PHR) Careers in Oil and Gas (COG) website: www.careersinoilandgas.com

For more information on career planning, education and jobs call the Alberta Supports Contact Centre toll-free at 1-877-644-9992 or 780-644-9992 in Edmonton, or visit an Alberta Supports Centre near you.