Application
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to conduct mud rotary drilling. It includes making up drill fluid, installation and monitoring of equipment and maintenance procedures.
It applies to those working in operational roles. They generally perform tasks involving a broad range of skilled applications in a wide variety of contexts, which may involve some discretion and judgement in selecting equipment, services and contingency measures.
No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Plan and prepare for mud rotary drilling | 1.1 Obtain, interpret and confirm work requirements 1.2 Access, interpret and apply mud rotary drilling documentation and confirm work activity is compliant 1.3 Identify and minimise environmental issues and potential hazards, and assess and address risks within scope of own role and according to workplace procedures 1.4 Select and wear personal protective equipment required for work activities 1.5 Communicate with other personnel at site according to work requirements and confirm briefings and handover details are communicated and received |
2. Operate mud rotary drill in line with established requirements | 2.1 Carry out prestart and start-up procedures according to manufacturer specifications and workplace procedures 2.2 Make up drill fluid according to work requirements 2.3 Set up drill string, bits, rods and casings required to complete work activity 2.4 Check, adjust and maintain fluid recirculation systems according to work requirements 2.5 Install collar and seal according to work requirements 2.6 Operate equipment and adjust parameters to suit conditions of the hole 2.7 Install casing, grout and screens to correct zones according to work requirements 2.8 Identify problems or faults and rectify or report within scope of own responsibility and according to workplace procedures |
3. Complete equipment shut down and maintenance activities | 3.1 Shut down and secure equipment in line with workplace procedures 3.2 Follow maintenance schedule according to work requirements 3.3 Complete and file or distribute documentation for drilling operations and equipment according to workplace procedures |
Evidence of Performance
The candidate must demonstrate the ability to complete the tasks outlined in the elements, performance criteria and foundation skills of this unit, including evidence of the ability to:
conduct mud rotary drilling on at least two occasions, including:
planning and preparing for mud rotary drilling, by:
developing a work plan for a hole, outlining:
environmental practice
health and safety considerations
target depth
construction materials to be used
equipment to be used
mud design
grouting if required
conducting pre-start and shutdown checks
making up and checking drill string and down hole assembly for wear, gauge and damaged threads to ensure components are in suitable condition
operating mud rotary drill, including:
designing and adjusting mud system to suit geological conditions and changes to conditions during drilling, including:
lost circulation
water supply
flow rates
fluid cleaning
hole stability
conducting sampling to confirm drilling fluids are suitable for application by testing:
density
viscosity
pH levels
velocity
pressure control
weight control
filtration levels
monitoring and adjusting up hole velocity as required
installing collar casing and seal
adjusting feed and rotation as required
installing production casings, screens and grout if required
disposing of drill fluids no longer required
conducting routine checks and performing maintenance.
During the above, the candidate must:
locate and apply relevant documentation, policies and procedures
identify and control any hazardous conditions and contaminants
apply solutions to identified problems, including if applicable:
significant drilling operational issues including unexpected geology
loss circulation zones
swelling/shales
weight/pressure control
read, interpret and apply safety data sheets (SDS) for handling hazardous materials
communicate with clients, co-workers and management to receive and clarify work instructions and coordinate work activities prior to commencing
comply with written and verbal reporting requirements and procedures associated with mud rotary drilling operations.
Evidence of Knowledge
The candidate must be able to demonstrate knowledge to complete the tasks outlined in the elements, performance criteria and foundation skills of this unit, including knowledge of:
key policies, procedures and established requirements for conducting mud rotary drilling, including those for:
workplace health and safety
emergencies
environmental practice
set up and installation of drilling equipment and materials
processes for mud mixing and conditioning
maintenance and repair
basic geological data
lag time and up hole velocity
key factors affecting work activities described in performance evidence above, including:
types of mud and water delivery pumps and their applications
types of formations and effects on drilling fluids
types of fluids, including properties and functions of fluids
types of bits, rods and casings and their functions.
Assessment Conditions
Mandatory conditions for assessment of this unit are stipulated below. The assessment must:
include access to:
equipment required to conduct mud rotary drilling
personal protective equipment
be conducted in a safe environment
be assessed in context of the sector's work environment
be assessed in compliance with relevant legislation and regulations and using policies, procedures, processes and operational manuals directly related to the industry sector for which it is being assessed
confirm consistent performance can be applied in a range of relevant workplace circumstances.
Where personal safety or environmental damage are limiting factors, assessment may occur in a simulated work environment* provided it is realistic and sufficiently rigorous to cover all aspects of this sector’s workplace performance, including environment, task skills, task management skills, contingency management skills and job role environment skills.
Assessor requirements
Assessors must be able to clearly demonstrate current and relevant industry knowledge and experience to satisfy the mandatory regulatory standards as set out in the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015/AQTF mandatory requirements for assessors current at the time of assessment and any relevant licensing and certification requirements. This includes:
vocational competencies at least to the level being delivered and assessed
current industry skills directly relevant to the training and assessment being provided
current knowledge and skills in vocational training and learning that informs their training and assessment
formal relevant qualifications in training and assessment
having knowledge of and/or experience using the latest techniques and processes
possessing the required level of RII training product knowledge
having an understanding and knowledge of legislation and regulations relevant to the industry and to employment and workplaces
demonstrating the performance evidence, and knowledge evidence outlined in this unit of competency, and
the minimum years of current** work experience after competency has been obtained as specified below in an industry sector relevant to the outcomes of the unit.
It is also acceptable for the appropriately qualified assessor to work with an industry expert to conduct assessment together and for the industry expert to be involved in the assessment judgement. The industry expert must have current industry skills directly relevant to the training and assessment being provided. This means the industry subject matter expert must demonstrate skills and knowledge from the minimum years of current work experience after competency has been obtained as specified below, including time spent in roles related to the unit being assessed:
Industry sector | AQF indicator level*** | Required assessor or industry subject matter expert experience |
Drilling, Metalliferous Mining, Coal Mining, Extractive (Quarrying) and Civil Construction | 1 | 1 year |
2 | 2 years | |
Drilling, Coal Mining, Extractive (Quarrying), Metalliferous Mining and Civil Construction | 3-6 | 3 years |
Other sectors | Where this unit is being assessed outside of the resources and infrastructure sectors assessor and/or industry subject matter expert experience should be in-line with industry standards for the sector in which it is being assessed and where no industry standard is specified should comply with any relevant regulation. |
*Guidance on simulated environments has been stipulated in the RII implementation guide located on VETNet.
**Assessors can demonstrate current work experience through employment within industry in a role relevant to the outcomes of the unit; or, for external assessors this can be demonstrated through exposure to industry by conducting a minimum number of site assessments as determined by the relevant industry sector, across various locations.
*** While a Unit of competency does not have an AQF level, where a unit is being delivered outside of a qualification the first numeric character in the unit code should be considered as the AQF indicator level for assessment purposes.
Foundation Skills
Reading | Identifies and interprets information from workplace procedures, policies and documentation |
Numeracy | Identifies and comprehends relevant mathematical information in relation to operating mud rotary drills and fluid systems |
Writing | Produces and completes workplace reports using appropriate vocabulary, grammatical structures and conventions |
Oral communication | Uses listening and questioning to clarify and confirm understanding |
Sectors
Drilling