Checklist and procedure statements

Checklists are used in two ways:
1. Checklists provide comprehensive statements, of items required for a particular task. Such lists are prepared by the driller in consultation with other drilling people and are used by the driller to ensure that he has, on site, the correct equipment and materials for each task that he is required to perform. For example, a geotechnical driller could have a check list for the equipment required to conduct an S.P.T.
2. Checklisis provide a statement of the order of performance of tasks, often incorporating a lime schedule. For example, a task list for the duty. "setting up the rig" might read:

Checklists like these provide the means to identify tasks which are critical to the time it lakes to do a Job (the "rate-limiting steps", in scientific parlance). The driller/manager can then identify ways to streamline inefficient steps to reduce the time required (See Critical Pasth Planning next)
Other informal "to do" lists can be drawn up for day-today or week-to-week tasks, with items such as "set up at Peabody Coal lease 53 Monday AM" or "call about bid decisions." Drawing up these lists helps lo focus the driller on the tasks al hand and to provide a ready reference later as areminder.
Procedure statements set out how each task is performed. Procedure statements may be at two levels. The first provides a list of the "steps" or "stages" involved in performing a task. For example, the task of "making a marsh funnel measurement" requires these " stages": "
1. Fill the funnel with mud.
2. Allow the mud from the funnel to flow into a measuring cup.
3. Record the time taken for 946 cc (1 quart) of mud to flow from the funnel.
Ai the second level, a "procedure statement" becomes a useful training aid because it provides detailed information on the "key points" of each "stage". For example, Stage I (above) would be further described by explaining that:
1. the funnel should be clean and dry.
2. the mud should be taken from near the pump suction.
3. the funnel should be filled through the screen, until the mud level reaches the bottom of the screen.
Procedure statements can be compiled in a company-specific "handbook" or "manual" that is readily available to each crew and office. This is especially useful for seldom-performed tasks such as fishing. The procedures manual can be organised in a number of ways, for example in a ring binder with tabbed dividers, all of which can be easily changed and updated.