Introduction

Drilling supervisor (abbreviation: DSV) is a position for those engineers who not only posses extensive experience and knowledge in drilling and workover operations but at the same time have proven managerial experience. Drilling supervisors are sought for both onshore and offshore positions, although the latter ones usually require more experience and offer higher salaries. A Drilling Supervisor position on an offshore rig bears with it considerable responsibility for achieving the objectives of the well program while at the same time ensuring safety in potentially hazardous and extreme conditions.

Employers

To the pool of companies looking to employ Drilling Engineers belong various well known international companies from the oil and gas industry around the globe. These include crude oil production and export companies, natural gas manufacturers (e.g. Saudi Aramco), companies dealing with refinement of crude oil and marketing of petroleum products (e.g. CEPSA) as well as oilfield service companies (e.g. Baker Hughes).

Tasks and responsibilities

Drilling supervisor's main responsibility is the implementation of drilling, workover and completion operations activities on a drilling rig. The major tasks include planning, organization, coordination and management of all parties involved in these activities, i.e. drilling and petroleum engineers, geologists, contractors and auxiliary personnel. At the same time Drilling supervisor is responsible for monitoring progress of the operations and the timely achievement of the objectives set; reports on that and other vital issues need to be filed, usually on a daily basis, to a Drilling Superintendent. In his supervisory capacity, a Drilling Supervisor is also responsible for ensuring cost optimization and safety of the personnel and property on the rig, as well as for controlling the environmental impact of the operations and providing reports and maintaining documentation on all of the above. It is also a Drilling supervisors' responsibility to decide whether to abandon the rig or suspend all the operations in case of adverse weather conditions.

Requirements

This position requires a university degree in engineering and considerable experience with drilling, workover and completion operations; employers often ask for 8-10 years of such experience. Since it is a managerial function, experience in a supervisory function is also vital. Next to the extensive knowledge in drilling techniques, systems, procedures and standards (i.e. International Association of Drilling Contractors (IADC)'s guide-line, American Petroleum Institute (API)'s state-of-the-art broad references), employers also look for basic knowledge in geology, customs and health regulations, as well as experience in working in adverse weather conditions.