Drilling rigs and service rigs each have a distinct place in the exploration and production of oil and

gas. Oil and gas

companies contract drilling rigs to explore new areas. They contract service rigs to turn an exploratory well into a
producing well.
When you see a rig on the horizon, you might have a hard time distinguishing between the two, but the crews
who run rig equipment will tell you: the two work environments are very distinct.

Service Rigs

Drilling Rigs

- are smaller than drilling rigs and are mobile.

Service rigs will move often (sometimes daily) to new
jobs on different wellsites. Each day is a different type
of job, working with different oilfield service providers.

- are larger than service rigs. (Drilling rigs known as

triples have masts that can hold 3000 feet of pipe
above ground.) When working on very deep wells, a
drilling rig can be on the same location for months.

- look after wells in a set area. Service rigs will return

to a wellsite many times: when it needs repairs, when
the oil company wants to take it offstream (temporarily
halt well production) or bring it back onstream

- move across western Canada as needed by oil and

gas companies. Drilling rigs are not bound to a specific
area and will often go from one province to another.

- operate during the day. Crews work between 8- and

12-hour shifts, depending on the assigned operation.

- run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Crews work in

12-hour shifts: a day shift and a night shift.

Crews travel together to the worksite and travel home

together each night. Employers provide transportation
and crewmembers are paid an hourly travel wage.

Crews can live anywhere. They are responsible to

arrive at the lease site for their 'hitch' (2 weeks of 12hours shifts) which is followed by 7 days off. Drilling rig
employees don't always live in areas where there's oil
and gas production. For example, Kelowna BC has a
surprising number of residents who work on drilling
rigs.

Employers cover many expenses. Crewmembers

don't need their own vehicles and transportation to
the wellsite is provided. If a crew is required to travel
far enough from their home base that they can't return
home at night, employers fully cover the crew's
expenses.

Crews are paid a significant hourly wage and a

subsistence allowance to help cover expenses while
they are away from home.

Learn more about drilling rigs at RigTech.ca

How The Career Paths Are Alike:

1. Both drilling and service rig contractors invest in their employees. As crewmembers move to more senior
crew positions, they often need industry courses to upgrade their knowledge and skill set. Drilling and service rig
employers often pay for this training and may reimburse the employee while they are in class.

2. Both drilling and service rig contractors have structured on-the-job training. (On service rigs, this is
the Service Rig Compentency Program)
3. Both drililng and service rig contractors invest in making these job sites safer. Companies are always
striving to provide their crews with the right resources and policies to ensure the work environment is a safe one.
Many of these safety initiatives are industry-wide minimum benchmarks and are implemented either through CAODC
or through Enform.