Industry & Careers
Behind every well is an industry of operators, contractors, service companies and the people who do the work.
These articles explain how the business fits together, where it came from, and what it's like to work in it, from the jobs on a rig crew to pay, training and life on a hitch.
Start Here
What Is the Oil and Gas Industry? – Upstream, Midstream and Downstream
What is the oil and gas industry? Learn how upstream, midstream and downstream fit together, who does what, and how a barrel travels from rock to gas pump.
Oilfield Equipment List – Names Every Newcomer Should Know
An oilfield equipment list for newcomers: rig, drill string, mud system, BOP, wellhead and production gear, grouped by job with plain-English meanings.
All Industry & Careers Articles
How Much Do Oil Rig Workers Make? – Pay by Position
What Is the Rig Count? – Why the Industry Watches It
Who Invented Oil Rigs? – A Short History of Drilling
Life on an Oil Rig – What a Hitch Is Really Like
Best Oil Rig Movies – Ranked for Accuracy
How Are Oil and Gas Formed?
Oil and Gas in Oklahoma – A Short History and Where It Stands
Oil and Gas in Texas – From Spindletop to the Permian
Drilling Rig Crew Positions – Roughneck to Toolpusher
How Do Companies Decide Where to Drill? – Oil and Gas Exploration
How Does 3D Animation Help Explain Drilling Equipment?
What Does a Roughneck Do? – The Floorhand's Job
Types of Oilfield Services – Who Does What on a Well
