truTV: Not Reality. Actuality.

The BIT is the bottom part of the drill; it smashes rock deep under the ground so pipe can be dropped down to reach the oil. It is made of diamond tungsten and eight bits are not a dollar; each one costs around $60,000. Drilling down two miles can wear out five bits at a cost of $300,000 per hole.

BLEED means to manually release pressure slowly from a well in order to prevent a possible explosion.

A BLOWOUT is an uncontrolled flow of gas, oil or other fluid from the well. Blowouts used to be called gushers and they can be quite dangerous. The most costly blowout occurred in 1979 in Bahia de Campeche in the Gulf of Mexico when 3.5 million barrels were lost over 9 months.

CADILLAC is slang for “pleasant” or “not too difficult.” Wonder what “Pinto” would mean?

A CATWALK is an elevated walkway. No supermodels here. Just roughnecks all around.

The CHRISTMAS TREE is the brightly-colored set of control valves, pressure gauges and chokes assembled at the top of a well to control the flow of oil and gas. And what’s a Christmas tree without presents underneath it? Once the valves on this tree are opened, the crude flows out smoothly, to be stored and transported to a refinery.

The DOGHOUSE is a small enclosure on the rig floor used as an office, storehouse or place to grab a quick nap.

The DRILLER is the captain of the crew. He controls the rig’s machinery during set up, drilling and all other operations. Because he can fire anyone on the crew, he is a man to be feared and respected.

DRILLING MUD is a specially mixed liquid, often made up of water, barite, chalk and starch, that is pumped through the well bore or hole during drilling to lift debris to the surface. It also cools the superheated bit.

The DERRICKMAN makes sure the drilling mud gets to the bit. He also takes the position in the mast, sometimes 100 feet over the rig, while “tripping” pipe in or out of the well bore. He’s second in command to the driller.

FISH is an object that is accidentally left in the well bore during drilling or other operations and that must be recovered before work can proceed. It can be a piece of scrap metal or part of the drill stem. If you’re really unlucky, it’s the keys to your truck.

To GET RUN OFF is to be fired from a rig, usually after a lot of cursing and yelling, although if cursing and yelling alone got you fired, no one would be left to work the rigs in all of Texas.

The KELLY is the heavy square or hexagonal steel pipe that is connected to the top of the drill pipe. As the rotary table turns, the Kelly pushes the drill pipe farther into the ground. The Kelly always rotates in a clockwise direction so, “turning to the right" is a common euphemism for drilling.