This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to implement drill management strategies, manage work health and safety obligations and oversee drilling and housekeeping operations in drilling.

This unit is appropriate for those working in management roles. They generally perform tasks involving a high level of autonomy which require the application of significant judgement in planning and determining the selection of equipment, roles and techniques for themselves and others. They are required to demonstrate the application of a broad range of technical, managerial, coordination and planning skills

Licensing, legislative and certification requirements that apply to this unit can vary between states, territories, and industry sectors. Users must check requirements with relevant body before applying the unit.

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:

manage drilling operations on at least two occasions, including:

undertaking routine inspections

identifying, rectifying and reporting non-conformances

inducting new employees into site operations

assessing safe work practices and adherence to drilling instructions

monitoring and reporting all drilling operations activity

carrying out numerical calculations, including:

addition, subtraction, multiplication, division

relating normal pressure to temperature

using calculator if required

using estimating skills (including mental arithmetic, visualisation of size and quantity)

basic geometry (including interpreting depth, direction)

using metric and imperials and converting between the two

interpreting gauges and graphs relevant to managing drilling operations

calculations relating to pressure (hydrostatic, surface, downhole, circulating), density, volume (fluid, air, gas), height, velocity, length and weight

measurements including penetration rate, rotary torque, rpm and pump pressure

budgeting and monitoring operating costs.

During the above, the candidate must:

locate and apply required documentation, policies and procedures

implement the requirements, procedures and techniques for the management of drilling operations, including:

identifying, addressing and reporting potential hazards and risks

carrying out emergency response

identifying, addressing and reporting environmental issues

preparing written records and reports

rectifying any identified faults and malfunctions within scope of own role and escalating where required

work with others to manage drilling operations that meets required outcomes, including:

communicating with others to receive, give and clarify work instructions

preparing for and organising work activities to meet all task requirements

establishing and maintaining coordination with others relating to the work activity.

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 managing drilling operations, including those for:

identifying and managing risks

identifying, addressing and reporting environmental issues

setting up work activity

site isolation, signage and erecting barriers

work health and safety

selecting all plant, tools and equipment to carry out tasks and checking for faults

carrying out work to specifications

controlling identified hazards

applying technical solutions to drilling operations

well control

budgeting and monitoring operating costs

downhole problems and solutions

numerical calculations, including:

addition, subtraction, multiplication, division

relating normal pressure to temperature

estimating skills (including mental arithmetic, visualisation of size and quantity)

basic geometry (including interpreting depth, direction)

metric and imperial conversion

interpreting gauges and graphs relevant to managing drilling operations

calculations relating to pressure (hydrostatic, surface, downhole, circulating), density, volume (fluid, air, gas), height, velocity, length and weight

measurements including penetration rate, rotary torque, rpm and pump pressure.

Mandatory conditions for assessment of this unit are stipulated below. The assessment must:

include access to:

personal protective equipment

equipment required to manage drilling operations

be conducted in a safe environment; and,

be assessed in the context of this sector's work environment; and,

be assessed in compliance with relevant legislation/regulation and using policies, procedures and processes directly related to the industry sector for which it is being assessed; and,

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 2015/Australian Quality Training Framework 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:

*Guidance on simulated environments has been stipulated in the RII Companion Volume 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.

This section describes those language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills that are essential to performance but not explicit in the performance criteria.

Drilling