DRILL PROJECT SUCCESS:

7 EFFECTIVE
TIPS FOR
COMMUNICATION

1.
ENSURE ALL MEMBERS OF THE DRILL CREW
UNDERSTAND THE CHAIN OF COMMUNICATION.
Onsite team communication starts with all members understanding the chain of
communication. During the drilling process, communication starts and stops at the
driller’s controls.

2.
VERIFY ALL MEMBERS OF THE DRILL CREW
UNDERSTAND THE DRILLING PROCESS.
A thoroughly educated drill team can interpret and react faster to a drill rig’s
communication. These teams anticipate catastrophic rig failures or downhole issues and
implement corrective measures.

3.
ALIGN ALL VERBAL AND
NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION.
Aligning communication starts with all members onsite utilizing common job site
terminology and safety language. That language changes depending on the region, rig
manufacturer, and level of the crew’s professionalism.
4.
DEVELOP A STRATEGIC PLAN FOR
EXTERNAL COMMUNICATION.
A drilling crew should have a defined communication plan that starts with asking who
the visitor is, so they can understand why they are onsite, followed by directing the
visitor to the right representative.

5.
CONFIRM THE DRILL CREW IS AWARE OF ALL
ABNORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS.
On a “right-of-way project,” good communication begins with the team knowing
all abnormal operating conditions for environmental, health, and safety (EHS)
considerations and adherence.

“The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.”
- George Bernard Shaw

6.
UNDERSTAND THE GOALS AND
OBJECTIVES OF ALL PARTIES INVOLVED.
The men and women involved have a common goal of success, however, they have
individual information to gather before the job is complete. When all parties involved
understand their goals, project success increases exponentially.

7.
LISTEN TO UNDERSTAND, AND DON’T LISTEN TO
RESPOND.
Effective communication is fully understanding what is being said before answering. It’s
easy to assume what information the customer wants and have a response ready, but
often crucially relative information is lost while listening to respond.