The Rule of 5

All great things come in fives...the high 5, Basketball teams, need to avoid conviction- plead the 5th. The fact that we have 5 fingers is one of our specie's distinguishing characteristics and is very much responsible for our industrial evolution. Even in the oilfield 5 is a pervasive and critical number by which to work and live. The average worker in the oilfield is, in fact, fittingly dubbed a hand.

Just as there are 5 fingers on a hand there are at least 5 hands on a rig at all times.

The Driller: In charge of managing other rig-hands, responsible for the overall mechanical operations of the rig.
Motor Hand: Responsible for maintaining rig motors and pump systems. Also aides in pipe and drilling functions.
Derrick Hand: When tripping (moving pipe in and out of the hole) responsible for working atop the derrick to make pipe connections. Also maintains mud tanks.
Chain Hand: Usually 2 workers per shift that maintain the main rig floor and float around the rig aiding other hands. These guys are the ones you see on TV throwing chains around pipe and getting soaked with mud.

All of these hands are better known as roughnecks...and many are proud to be called oilfield trash. I must note that not everyone in the oilfield is a hand. Most assume that "hand" is a demeaning term and a less than flattering moniker... as if a worker is just another set of hands. By title and position one may be "a hand" but only when a fellow rig worker says, "That boy is a hand..." does it become actualized. To be called a hand is a compliment and everyone out here wants to be known as good hand.

Aside from rig hands there is the Company Man, Tool Pusher, Directional Driller, MWD, Mud Logger/ Mud Engineer. These workers should act like a team to manage the entire drillinig process. But we're all hands. Like any great team and any great hand (the finger kind) when all members are working together, in unison, the job flies by and we can "make some hole."

This is a Hand Job.

Have a great day...and get your mind out of the mud pits.