Application
This unit describes a participant’s skills and knowledge required to conduct and maintain well servicing derrick operations in drilling.
This unit is appropriate for those working in an operational role.
Licensing, legislative, regulatory and certification requirements that may apply to this unit can vary between states, territories, and industry sectors. Relevant information must be sourced prior to application of the unit.
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Plan and prepare derrick operations | 1.1 Access, interpret and apply compliance documentation and ensure the work activity is compliant 1.2 Identify, obtain and wear personal protective equipment 1.3 Obtain, read, confirm and apply work instructions 1.4 Clarify difficulties in carrying out the instructions with the relevant personnel 1.5 Identify, manage and report all potential hazards 1.6 Resolve coordination requirements with others at the site prior to commencing and during work activities and ensure briefings/handover details are read/passed on 1.7 Confirm availability and status of necessary permits to work 1.8 Confirm availability of necessary third party utilities in accordance with operational requirements 1.9 Confirm availability of required quantities and type of consumables against operational requirements 1.10 Select and use/wear personal protective equipment and protective clothing 1.11 Identify errors, omissions and shortages and take appropriate remedial action within functional responsibility 1.12 Inform driller of status of derrick operating equipment |
2. Handle tubulars and equipment | 2.1 Position tubulars and equipment according to operational requirements 2.2 Assist in making and breaking connections where appropriate 2.3 Identify faults and defects accurately and take appropriate remedial action within functional responsibility 2.4 Handle equipment using safe lifting and handling techniques |
3. Prepare hole for circulation with air/fluid | 3.1 Complete pre-raise and pre-circulation checks and establish correct circulation 3.2 Perform pre-spud safety checks 3.3 Check all connections and valves to manifold/well head are in proper position 3.4 Maintain drilling fluid volume and properties 3.5 Inform driller of current operating conditions 3.6 Maintain written inventory of circulation system/parts 3.7 Check and record mud/fluid additives 3.8 Follow all operators’ instructions |
4. Participate in head-up and pressure test | 4.1 Prepare for necessary equipment changes 4.2 Prepare drilling fluid 4.3 Assist in nippling-up 4.4 Assist driller in blow out prevention testing |
5. Clean out well bore/drill plugs | 5.1 Consult driller, and follow instructions 5.2 Maintain housekeeping and safe practices during drilling 5.3 Assist in completion or abandonment of well 5.4 Convert between metric and imperial |
6. Prepare to commence drilling / circulating operations | 6.1 Align equipment on active systems for drilling/circulating 6.2 Turn on and check all appropriate machinery 6.3 Watch for return sand report changes 6.4 Measure and log pit/tank/fluid levels regularly |
7. Assist driller on drill floor | 7.1 Assist in handling and nippling-up of blow out prevention stack 7.2 Carry out role of assistant to driller when on drill floor |
8. Shutdown rig and rig out | 8.1 Wash and drain circulation system 8.2 Repair equipment 8.3 Store equipment safely |
Evidence of Performance
Evidence is required to be collected that demonstrates a candidate’s competency in this unit. Evidence must be relevant to the roles within this sector’s work operations and satisfy all of the requirements of the performance criteria of this unit and include evidence that the candidate:
locates and applies relevant documentation, policies and procedures
works effectively with others to undertake and complete well servicing derrick operations that meet all of the required outcomes including:
complying with written and verbal reporting requirements and procedures
communicating clearly and concisely with others to receive and clarify work instructions
communicating clearly and concisely with others to resolve coordination requirements throughout work activities
demonstrates completion of well servicing derrick operations that safely, effectively and efficiently meets all of the required outcomes on more than one (1) occasion including:
loading pipe racks, strap and number tubulars
cleaning out well bore/drill plugs
converting metric and imperial measurements
applying numeracy skills to calculate:
fractions, decimals, percentages
volume
quantities
weight
length
density/specific gravity
temperature
ph (power of hydrogen)
basic geometry, e.g. interpreting depth, direction and azimuth and dip of hole
maintaining housekeeping process during drilling
performing shutdown and rig out procedures
Evidence of Knowledge
The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of the following when conducting and maintaining well servicing derrick operations:
organisation and site requirements and procedures
procedures for equipment malfunction or failure
supervision and training of others to provided standards
routine maintenance of derrick
preparation for drilling operations
preparation for the tripping of tubulars
identification of blow out prevention equipment and their operation
assistance required by driller in handling and nipple up of blow out prevention stack
circulation system cleaning and operating well
equipment maintenance and disposal of waste properly
conversion between metric and imperial
rig maintenance
milling operations
man management/rig management
Assessment Conditions
Assessors must satisfy the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015/AQTF mandatory competency requirements for assessors; and industry regulations for certification and licensing; and,
this unit is best assessed in the context of this sector’s work environment;
where personal safety or environmental damage are limiting factors, assessment may occur in a simulated 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; and,
this unit must be assessed in compliance with relevant legislation/regulation and using policies, procedures, processes and operational manuals directly related to the industry sector for which it is being assessed; and,
assessment may be conducted in conjunction with the assessment of other units of competency; and,
assessment must confirm consistent performance can be applied in a range of relevant workplace circumstances; and,
assessors must demonstrate the performance evidence, and knowledge evidence as outlined in this unit of competency, and through the minimum years of current* work experience specified below in an industry sector relevant to the outcomes of the unit; or,
where the assessor does not meet experience requirements a co-assessment or partnership arrangement must exist between the qualified assessor and an industry subject matter expert. The industry subject matter expert should hold the unit being assessed (or an equivalent unit) and/or demonstrate equivalence of skills and knowledge at the unit level. An industry technical expert must also demonstrate skills and knowledge from the minimum years of current work experience specified below in the industry sector, including time spent in roles related to the unit being assessed; and,
assessor and industry subject matter expert requirements differ depending on the Australian Qualifications Framework Level (AQF) of the qualification being assessed and/or industry sector as follows:
Industry sector | AQF** 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 and Extractive (Quarrying) | 3-6 | 3 Years |
Metalliferous Mining and Civil Construction | 3-6 | 5 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. | |
*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 frequent site assessments across various locations.
**Where a unit is being delivered outside of a qualification the first numeric character in the unit code should be considered to indicate the AQF level.
Foundation Skills
Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit. Further information is available in the Resources and Infrastructure Industry Training Package Companion Volume.