Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas

Still, many core duties haven’t been fully automated. Aligning and bolting together huge derrick sections, clamping cable fixtures, and guiding each pipe into elevators all rely on human skill. Supervising and training the crew also remain human jobs.

As one drilling report noted, “there is no longer a need for the derrickman to work the monkey board while tripping, since this activity has been fully automated,” allowing the operator to focus on fluid and pump maintenance ^[1]. In other words, new tools take on repetitive or dangerous work, but people still check their work, handle surprises, and make tough decisions on the rig.

At the same time, rolling out AI in drilling is done carefully. Rigs are expensive, remote, and work in tough conditions, so any new system must be very reliable. Experts warn that when digital tools didn’t perform as hoped, companies “tend to retreat” back to tried-and-true methods ^[4].

Training and trust also take time. Many rigs still use a mix of old and new gear. Over time, though, the trend is toward gradually adding helpful AI.

This means crews will still operate the rig but with better information and safer machines. Human strengths – problem-solving, teamwork, and supervision – remain crucial even on “smart” rigs. In the end, people work with AI tools rather than being fully replaced, keeping jobs safe and rigs running well. ^{[1] [2]}