Chad’s responsibilities as a Drilling Supervisor include managing multiple facets of drilling operations, from monitoring daily activities to ensuring all safety protocols are met. His duties require him to coordinate logistics, oversee contractor personnel, and facilitate communication between onshore and offshore teams. With ExxonMobil’s commitment to its safety vision, “Nobody Gets Hurt,” Chad works to proactively implement and reinforce safety practices across operations. Working 12-hour shifts in three-week rotations, he engages in complex problem-solving and daily communication to keep operations streamlined and incident-free.

Chad’s journey into drilling supervision began with hands-on experience in Alberta’s oil fields, where he initially worked as a roughneck right out of high school. A neck injury led him to refocus his career on petroleum technology, prompting him to complete a diploma in Petroleum Engineering Technology at the College of the North Atlantic. He has furthered his education with studies toward a Bachelor of Technology at Memorial University. Active in industry-related volunteer work, Chad has helped design course outlines for petroleum engineering and has shared career insights with junior high students through Junior Achievement programs.

Chad’s typical day on the Hibernia platform begins before dawn, with a helicopter commute from Cougar Helicopters in St. John’s to the offshore rig. His workday includes conducting safety briefings, meeting with various operational teams, and supervising drilling tasks in a dynamic environment. Working in such settings involves mitigating risks like harsh weather, operating equipment hazards, and personnel transportation, making his role safety-critical. The extensive safety protocols ExxonMobil mandates, including Basic Survival Training for all offshore workers, reflect the high-stakes nature of offshore drilling.