WHAT EXACTLY IS A ROUGHNECK? (REGARDING WEST cOLUMBIA)

[Bull19]

ID LIKE TO KNOW WHAT ONE IS. PLEASE INFROM ME

[mac77]

It's a name given to one of the positions on an oil drilling rig. One of the earliest large oilfields in Texas was just outside West Columbia for years before it played out, hence the nickname for the mascot.

[RMAC]

If you work the oil fields, actually on the rigs I mean, you're a roughneck.

[3afan]

rough neck 
–noun 1. a rough, coarse person; a tough.
2. any laborer working on an oil-drilling rig. Compare roustabout (def. 4).
–verb (used without object) 3. to work as a roughneck.

[luvhoops34]

Roughneck (or ruffneck) is a slang term for an unskilled or slightly skilled labourer in a number of industries. In particular, is the official name of a semi-skilled role on a North American oil rig. In Australia, a roughneck is known as a Driller's Offsider.

Originally the term was used in the travelling carnivals of 19th century America, almost interchangeably with roustabout. By the 1930s the terms had transferred to the oil drilling industry.

In the United Kingdom oil industry (1970s onwards) the term roughneck was specifically for the moderately skilled people who worked on the drill floor of a drilling rig, actually handling the specialised equipment for drilling, pressure control, etc. By contrast, a roustabout would perform more general labour, such as loading and unloading cargo from crane baskets, and being assistants to the welder, mechanic, electrician or other skilled workers. Usage in America appears to have been similar, and the terms had spread to the rest of the world at least by the mid-1990s.


Oilpatch roughnecks
In the North American oilfields, roughneck is one of several roles in the hierarchy on an oil rig. A roughneck's duties could include anything involved with the connecting and "tripping" of pipe down the well bore.

The roughneck crew of a land-based oil rig can be furthered divided into several positions:

Driller: The head or boss of the crew. Responsible for the control of the rig's machinery during drilling operation.

Derrickhand: Responsible for the "mud," the water + barite + bentonite + chemical mixture used in drilling oil wells, and for catching samples. Also assumes the position in the derrick, usually 60 to 90 feet off the ground, while "tripping pipe."

Motorhand: Responsible for the maintenance of the various engines, water pumps, waterlines, steamlines, boilers, and various other machinery incorporated into the rig.

Chainhand: Works the "make-up" or "lead" tongs on the right side of the drilling floor. "Throws chain" (illegal but only recently being eliminated) while tripping in the hole.

Worm: Usually the lowest member of the drilling crew. Works the "break-out" or "back-up" tongs on the left side of the drilling floor.

[BTEXDAD]

So let me get this straight.
Bellville is a bunch of rednecks, and Columbia is nothing but oil field trash.
Does that about sum it up? Should be a real blue collar game!

[Old Tiger]

Interesting

[lepfan]

Originally posted by 3afan
rough neck 
–noun 1. a rough, coarse person; a tough.
2. any laborer working on an oil-drilling rig. Compare roustabout Roustabout is more used for those in the gas field....AKA ~~the bottom of the totem pole!!!!

[necks]

3 schools in the state of texas have this mascot

West Columbia
White Oak
Sundown

[g$$]

Columbia Roughnecks (high school)
Columbia Roustabouts (junior high)
**used to be known as West Columbia**

& a few miles away...

Sweeny Bulldogs (high school)
Sweeny Friskies (junior high)


I know, never liked the jr. high nickname either growing up in Sweeny. Nothing intimidating about "Friskies". Pups, or something else would have been much better.

Area known for oil & gas industries, like Dow Chemical, Chevron Phillips, Conoco Phillips, BASF, Shintech, Amoco (no longer), etc. Major source of employment in area, + the schools, etc. Very similar to Beaumont/surrounding areas & local sports are big.

60 miles south of Houston in Brazoria County.

[scrub c]

West Columbia school mascots

Roughnecks (high school)
Roustabouts (junior high)
Wildcatters (elementary)

[g$$]

Originally posted by scrub c
West Columbia school mascots

Roughnecks (high school)
Roustabouts (junior high)
Wildcatters (elementary)

Did not know the elementary school mascot...learn something everyday. Very fitting too as you move up the chain. Good stuff.

[LogieJoeBean001]

I know several real-life roughnecks. It's a very tough and demanding job and you sure can't be a cissy and do the job of a roughneck. Very tough group. Some of the stoutest, hardest-working and tough to the bone bunch I've ever seen. You have to be to make it in the oilfield.

[Aesculus gilmus]

A friend of mine's stepdad was decapitated when we were in fourth grade. He was working on a gas rig just east of Gilmer.