10 Essential Skills You'll Master in the Certificate III in Drilling Operations Course

Earning your Certificate III in Drilling Operations opens up a career in the dynamic mining, gas, oil and geothermal industries. This nationally recognized qualification equips you with the core competencies needed to work effectively and safely on drill sites.

Let’s look at the 10 essential skills you’ll develop by completing Certificate III drilling training:

#1 Workplace Health and Safety Procedures

Protecting yourself and others is a top priority for drillers. The course covers vital health and safety knowledge like:

Following policies, procedures and legislated requirements to maintain safe drilling operations. This ensures you work in line with regulations and site standards.
Identifying common hazards and risks found on drill sites so you can report and control them. This keeps the environment safe for all personnel.
Correctly selecting, fitting and utilizing personal protective equipment (PPE) for drilling tasks. PPE reduces exposure when handling machinery, fluids and materials.
Applying safe practices for storing, handling and disposing of hazardous drilling substances. This prevents chemical injuries or environmental contamination.

Mastering WHS procedures is critical for your own safety and the wellbeing of those around you.

#2 Communication and Teamwork

Drilling operations involve close collaboration between drillers, geologists, engineers and tradespeople. You’ll develop strong communication and teamwork skills:

Conveying technical information clearly to colleagues by speaking, writing reports, radio operation etc. This allows accurate exchange of drilling data.
Coordinating drilling activities within your crew to maximize efficiency and results. This creates a cooperative work environment.
Collaborating and sharing knowledge with others to achieve safe, high-quality outcomes. This builds positive relationships with crew.

Working cooperatively is essential for productivity and safety in drilling.

#3 Operating Drilling Equipment

You’ll gain competency in starting up, running and shutting down drill rigs and associated equipment:

Performing pre-start checks to identify any issues with machinery before commencing drilling. This prevents malfunctions or hazards.
Operating drill rigs and adjusting controls to perform tasks like borehole drilling, casing installation or well completion. This optimizes drilling outcomes.
Handling drilling tools and ancillary equipment like blowout preventers safely and efficiently. This reduces risk of injury or damage.

With ample hands-on practice, you’ll become highly skilled at controlling rigs in drilling operations.

#4 Conducting Environmental Monitoring

Drillers must minimize the environmental impact of drilling activities. You will learn skills like:

Taking samples and readings to monitor conditions like well pressure, noise and air/water quality. This checks drilling is within environmental limits.
Recording monitoring data accurately and reporting any issues promptly. This creates transparency and allows quick responses.
Applying sustainability principles to reduce waste, emissions and land disturbance. This protects the surrounding environment.

Vigilant monitoring ensures drilling doesn’t compromise ecological health and safety standards.

#5 Well Monitoring and Testing

You’ll be trained to monitor active wells and analyze results:

Using gauges to check well pressure, temperature and other parameters. This provides vital data on well integrity and performance.
Collecting wellstream samples for lab testing of properties like oil viscosity and gas composition. This reveals subsurface conditions.
Interpreting test results and maintaining accurate monitoring records. This assists drilling operations and decision-making.

Continuous well monitoring maximizes production potential and prevents hazardous well control issues.

#6 Installing Production Equipment

Later in the drilling process, you will fit wellheads, casing and completion assemblies:

Assembling wellhead structures, Christmas trees and surface production equipment as per specifications. This allows extraction to commence.
Running casing pipes down holes then cementing them in place to line walls and enable oil/gas flow. This stabilizes wells.
Installing production tubing inside casing to convey wellstream products to the surface for processing and export. This facilitates extraction.

With care and precision, you’ll cap off drilling by fitting the equipment needed for pumping out resources.

#7 Controlling Fluids, Pressures and Flows

It’s crucial drillers know how to manage pressurized fluids, avoiding blowouts:

Mixing, injecting and pumping appropriate drilling muds and fluids to lubricate, stabilize and control pressure in wells. This prevents ruptures or gushers.
Monitoring wells and activating BOP stack equipment like valves, chokes and rams to shut flows if pressure risks breaching safety thresholds. This averts catastrophic failures.
Regulating production flows from completed wells using chokes and flow lines. This protects wells and optimizes extraction rates.

You’ll become adept at maintaining ideal wellbore conditions for stable, optimized drilling.

#8 Responding to Drilling Emergencies

In this dangerous industry, drillers must know how to respond in incidents:

Activating emergency systems like rig ESD to instantly shut equipment and contain threats. This isolates and minimizes hazards.
Making situations safe by following response procedures, shutting off fuels, releasing trapped pressure etc. This prevents escalation.
Evacuating yourself and others from hazardous areas and administering first aid if needed. This protects lives in serious situations.

With emergency response training, you’ll be prepared to react quickly in drilling crisis scenarios.

#9 Organizing Tools, Supplies and Materials

Drilling requires reliable access to properly maintained equipment and consumables:

Accurately calculating quantities of supplies needed for drilling tasks. This ensures continuity of operations.
Safely transporting and storing chemicals, drilling fluids and materials. This prevents wastage or environmental incidents.
Conducting stocktakes and monitoring inventory levels. This identifies shortages promptly so reorders can be placed.

You’ll learn key logistics skills to keep drilling sites fully resourced.

#10 Servicing and Basic Maintenance

Performing routine upkeep maximizes the reliability and longevity of drilling equipment:

Cleaning machinery, tools and site facilities to maintain cleanliness and remove hazards. This prevents malfunctions.
Lubricating equipment and conducting inspections or basic repairs to minimize wear and defects. This reduces breakdowns.
Arranging technical servicing or replacement of damaged parts. This restores functionality.

Through regular maintenance duties, you support the smooth running of drill rigs and systems.

Why Complete Certificate III Drilling Training?

If you’re attracted to a hands-on, practical career that keeps you outdoors, drilling could be the perfect fit.

This Certificate III provides your entry into the industry, with many benefits:

Nationally recognized – Your qualification is valued across Australia.
Mandatory requirements – Many drilling jobs require Certificate III.
Diverse opportunities – Work across mining, oil/gas, geothermal sectors.
Earn as you learn – Gain experience through work placements.
Be job ready – Develop all the core drilling competencies.
Room for advancement – Pathways lead on to higher qualifications.
Flexible delivery – Choose classroom, online or blended learning.
Practical focus – Signficant time spent mastering equipment.
Accessible entry point – Open to those without previous experience.
Get licensed – Meet minimum requirements for rig operator licenses.

With strong demand forecast for drilling services, your career prospects look bright. Let Certificate III give you the specialist skills employers are looking for in this vital industry.

What’s Involved in Certificate III Drilling Training?

The Certificate III in Drilling Operations course covers a wide range of essential skills under the nationally accredited RII31820 training package.

To attain the qualification, you must demonstrate competence in:

12 core units – Mandatory knowledge for all drilling rig workers like health and safety, communication, rig equipment operation, environmental protection, emergency response, maintenance etc.
7 elective units – Specialist skills in areas like casing installation, well control, working in production crews, well testing etc. Course providers will determine suitable electives.
Work placement – At least 60 hours of supervised, hands-on practice to hone your abilities.

While superseded RII31820 Certificate III programs may still be available, opting for the updated RII31820 version means your qualification stays relevant into the future.

How is the Certificate III Assessed?

Certificate III in Drilling Operations adopts a competency-based training and assessment model. Evidence of your skills is gathered through:

Knowledge assessments – Written or oral theory tests to check your understanding of drilling principles and procedures.
Practical assessments – Demonstrating drilling tasks firsthand or in simulated scenarios to prove capability. Assessors observe and grade performance.
Work records – Logbooks detailing on-the-job training activities and supervisor verification of skills.
Projects – Written/verbal presentations on drilling operations research or case studies.

Assessment methods are tailored towards confirming you can safely and effectively perform required drilling duties in real work environments.

Where Can the Certificate III Take Your Career?

Completing your Certificate III is just the starting point on an exciting drilling career journey.

With this qualification under your belt, you’ll be qualified for entry-level positions like:

Driller’s assistant
Rig crew hand
Drilling laborer
Well services assistant

Initially you’ll gain experience under supervision handling basic tasks and operating smaller rigs. With time, you can progress within drilling crews to become a qualified driller controlling major rigs on large projects.

The Certificate III also opens doors to related occupations like mining, production testing, well servicing and more. Additional licenses or certificates may be required moving into certain roles.

The natural career pathway is to continue developing your expertise through higher drilling qualifications like:

Certificate IV – Take-on more responsibility in mineral drilling and well servicing.
Diploma – Manage crews and complex drilling operations.

You could also move into drilling engineering or geoscience degrees at university. Your strong field experience provides a great head start.

Commit to drilling and there’s no limit to where your career can take off!

Finding the Right Certificate III Course

When selecting a Certificate III in Drilling Operations provider, look for the following:

National accreditation – Ensure your RTO is approved to issue qualifications under the RII31820 Training Package.
Industry connections – Look for providers partnering with drilling companies for work placements.
Real training facilities – Access to workshops with drilling equipment for hands-on practice is ideal.
Qualified trainers – Check instructors have current drilling competencies and experience.
Funding options – Government subsidies may be available to help cover course fees.
Flexible delivery – Distance learning provides accessibility for remote students.
Career guidance – Good providers offer job preparation and work placement help.

Doing your homework gives you the best shot at securing a worthwhile training program.

Let Your Drilling Career Take Off!

The Certificate III in Drilling Operations delivers a passport into the dynamic world of mineral exploration and resource recovery. With strong demand across industries like mining, oil and gas, drillers with the right skills and training are highly valued.

Through the certificate course, you’ll gain competence across all the fundamental areas from safely operating rig machinery to controlling well pressures and responding in emergencies. This equips you for an exciting hands-on career that keeps you outdoors working with cutting-edge technology.

So if you’re eager to be part of the future of energy, resources and infrastructure, let Certificate III drilling training blast your career potential into overdrive!

Conclusion

The Certificate III in Drilling Operations is your entry into this rapidly evolving, hands-on field. With this nationally accredited qualification, you’ll gain the core competencies and confidence to thrive as a driller, succeeding in roles that combine technical skill with environmental awareness and emergency response capabilities.

As demand grows for skilled drillers across resources, infrastructure, energy and more, new Australian opportunities are opening up all the time. Get qualified with essential, specialized abilities that employers will value. Then elevate your career by continuing to develop expertise through further learning.

Begin your drilling career the right way by gaining your Certificate III qualification with Vertical Horizonz. As an experienced RTO based in Brendale, Vertical Horizonz delivers comprehensive accredited training for just $3,500. Their 20+ years in drilling instruction will equip you with the essential competencies and confidence to succeed. Contact Vertical Horizonz today to kickstart your qualification journey with trusted Certificate III experts.