This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to commence and maintain drilling operations, drill intermediate and/or main holes, prepare for hole abandonment and conduct housekeeping activities.

This unit applies to those working in supervisory roles. They generally perform tasks involving a broad range of varied activities most of which are complex and non-routine and are responsible for the quantity and quality of the output of others.

Licensing, legislative and certification requirements that apply to this unit can vary between states, territories, and industry sectors. Users must check requirements with relevant body before applying the unit.

The candidate must demonstrate the ability to complete the tasks outlined in the elements, performance criteria and foundation skills of this unit, including evidence of the ability to:

conduct drilling operations on at least two occasions, including:

undertaking surface and main hole drilling

carrying out cementing procedures

maintaining drill hole

preparing the hole for abandonment

troubleshooting and problem solving, including rise in rotary torque and mud pressure

performing calculations, including:

quantities up-hole calculations

velocity specific calculations

gravity volumes calculations

capacities pressure calculations.

During the above, the candidate must:

locate and apply required documentation, policies and procedures

implement the requirements, procedures and techniques for conducting drilling operations, including:

identifying, addressing and reporting potential hazards and risks

carrying out emergency response

identifying, addressing and reporting environmental issues

preparing written records and reports

rectifying any identified faults and malfunctions within scope of own role and escalating where required

work with others to conduct drilling operations to meet required outcomes, including:

preparing for and organising work activities to meet task requirements

communicating with others to receive and clarify work instructions

using a range of communication techniques and aids to advise others of work activity and exclusion zones.

The candidate must be able to demonstrate knowledge to complete the tasks outlined in the elements, performance criteria and foundation skills of this unit, including knowledge of:

key legislation required for conducting drilling operations

key policies, procedures and established requirements for conducting drilling operations, including those for:

setting up work activity

site isolation, signage and erecting barriers

work health and safety

environmental issues

selecting all plant, tools and equipment to carry out tasks and checking for faults

carrying out work to specifications

communication techniques relevant to work activities

maintaining tubular tallies

calculations, including:

quantities up-hole calculations

velocity specific calculations

gravity volumes calculations

capacities pressure calculations.

Mandatory conditions for assessment of this unit are stipulated below. The assessment must:

include access to:

personal protective equipment

equipment required to conduct drilling operations

be conducted in a safe environment; and,

be assessed in the context of this sector's work environment; and,

be assessed in compliance with relevant legislation/regulation and using policies, procedures and processes directly related to the industry sector for which it is being assessed; and,

confirm consistent performance can be applied in a range of relevant workplace circumstances.

Where personal safety or environmental damage are limiting factors, assessment may occur in a simulated work 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.

Assessor requirements

Assessors must be able to clearly demonstrate current and relevant industry knowledge and experience to satisfy the mandatory regulatory standards as set out in the Standards for Registered Training Organisations 2015/Australian Quality Training Framework mandatory requirements for assessors current at the time of assessment and any relevant licensing and certification requirements. This includes:

vocational competencies at least to the level being delivered and assessed

current industry skills directly relevant to the training and assessment being provided

current knowledge and skills in vocational training and learning that informs their training and assessment

formal relevant qualifications in training and assessment

having knowledge of and/or experience using the latest techniques and processes

possessing the required level of RII training product knowledge

having an understanding and knowledge of legislation and regulations relevant to the industry and to employment and workplaces

demonstrating the performance evidence, and knowledge evidence outlined in this unit of competency, and

the minimum years of current** work experience after competency has been obtained as specified below in an industry sector relevant to the outcomes of the unit.

It is also acceptable for the appropriately qualified assessor to work with an industry expert to conduct assessment together and for the industry expert to be involved in the assessment judgement. The industry expert must have current industry skills directly relevant to the training and assessment being provided. This means the industry subject matter expert must demonstrate skills and knowledge from the minimum years of current work experience after competency has been obtained as specified below, including time spent in roles related to the unit being assessed:

*Guidance on simulated environments has been stipulated in the RII Companion Volume Implementation Guide located on VETNet.

**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 a minimum number of site assessments as determined by the relevant industry sector, across various locations.

*** While a unit of competency does not have an AQF level, where a unit is being delivered outside of a qualification the first numeric character in the unit code should be considered as the AQF indicator level for assessment purposes.

This section describes those language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills that are essential to performance but not explicit in the performance criteria.

Drilling