Assistant Driller

Primary qualification

• Internal promotion from Roughneck/Floorman or Derrickman per the drilling contractor's competence matrix (industry practice).
• Valid IADC WellSharp or IWCF well-control certification at Driller/supervisory level (two-yearly renewal — as a guide).
• No STCW officer licence required: this is industrial personnel of the unit under the IMO MODU Code; maritime safety training depends on flag and operator.

Basic STCW

• STCW A-VI/1 Basic Training per flag/role in the unit's muster arrangements.
• Valid OPITO BOSIET/FOET with CA-EBS for helicopter transits.
• Offshore medical certificate (OEUK/OGUK scheme or equivalent — as a guide).

Specific courses

• IWCF/IADC WellSharp well control, Driller level — indispensable, renewed every 2 years (as a guide).
• H2S safety (ANSI/ASSP Z390.1 reference or OPITO scheme — as a guide).
• Working at height and rescue, lifting and banksman/slinger duties.
• Permit to work and energy isolation (LOTO) under the contractor's management system.
• Installed maker's equipment: top drive, iron roughneck and mechanised pipe handling (NOV, Cameron or others per unit).

Indicative experience

As a guide: 4-8 years on the drilling crew (roustabout → roughneck → derrickman) before the post; promotion requires passing supervisory-level well control and the Toolpusher's appraisal. Each contractor sets its own matrix.

Observations

Drilling ladder: Roustabout → Roughneck → Derrickman → Assistant Driller → Driller → Toolpusher. This is the second man at the console: in a well kick, the first BOP shut-in actions may fall on him, which is why supervisory well control is non-negotiable. Requirements come from the contractor (Transocean, Valaris, Noble…), not from an international certification convention: the OPITO/IADC matrix is the sector's de facto standard.

Typical watches

• 12-hour shifts on rotation (typically 14/14 or 28/28 depending on the contractor)

Key responsibilities

• Assist the Driller at the drilling console and relieve him in his absence.
• Supervise the drill-floor crew during tripping and pipe-handling operations.
• Monitor well parameters and take part in early kick detection and shut-in.
• Check the hydraulic systems, top drive and the floor's pipe-handling equipment.

Operational scope

• Drilling console
• drill floor