Drill operator

Supervising the drilling is the central task. The operator reads what the well is doing — the rate of penetration, the pressures, the returns — and decides what to change. The operator monitors the well activity throughout the operation and takes measures when an emergency arises.

The operator also assembles the drilling platforms, works from mechanics, and keeps the equipment serviceable. When the drilling is finished, the rig is disassembled.

The crew is the operator's responsibility in both senses. The operator plans the workers' shift pattern, looks after the safety of the workers, keeps the record of the tasks carried out, presents reports and prepares reports on the work done. Working ergonomically is also part of the role, both in the operator's own work and in how the crew's tasks are organised.