As Billy Bob Thornton continues to leadLandmanto success on Paramount+, viewers are learning about the unique oil industry vernacular in West Texas. Created by Taylor Sheridan, the series follows Thornton’s Tommy Norris, a crisis management employee for the billion-dollar oil and gas sector. As Tommy tries to make his oil company as rich as possible, he must deal with several external factors and industry competitors.
With four episodes aired thus far, those tuning in toLandmanwill surely have questions about the specific professional jargon used by the roughnecksin the oil and gas industry. A handy vocabulary guide can be used as a cheat sheet to help make sense of the diction used in the TV series. From Worm and Ginsel to Chainhand and Toolpusher, these are the most important industry terms featured inLandman.
InLandman’s parlance,a “Blowout” refers to something that causes an oil well to erupt wildly without control. The phenomenon was depicted in the pilot episode, in which a large oil well is struck by an external force that causes it to explode and pour flames and black smoke high into the sky. However, blowouts can occur without incendiary flames. But since oil and gas are flammable, blowouts risk becoming extremely dangerous.
Also known as a Floorhand, a Chainhand is a special vocation among oil riggers. Chainhands often stand on the floor of an oil well or rig in a process called Racking Stands.Chainhand responsibilities include throwing chains to spin connections and controlling the oil pipe during drilling. InLandman, Manuel (J.R. Villarreal) serves as a Chainhand forCooper’s (Jacob Lofland)crew. Since many of the Chanhand’s duties are automated nowadays, they tend to assist Worms.
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Derrick & Derrickhand
An Oil Derrick is a large metal apparatus that holds pipes, drills, pumps, filters, and other crucial machineryused to pull crude from the ground, refine it, and prepare it for mass consumption. While they used to be pyramidal structures in years past, modern-day oil derricks operate with cranes and cables tending to the ground to extract natural gas from the Earth. Inthe Paramount+ original series, nearly all the work is done in and around oil derricks and fracking machines.
As their title suggests,“drillers” operate large drills to break ground and siphon oil and gas from the Earthto be refined for everyday consumption. Unlike their title,drillers also serve as the boss of the oil drilling operation, often supervising others when they aren’t operating heavy machinery. InLandman, Boss (Mustafa Speaks) fits the bill as an authoritative driller who runs the show in West Texas.
Also known as Hydraulic Fracking,fracking is a method used in the oil and gas industry that utilizes highly pressurized water to break ground. Fracking has drawn controversy for being dirty, inefficient, and pollutive. Despite its potential environmental harms, fracking continues to be used to preserve an oil well and extract the remaining gas trapped beneath a dysfunctional well.
InLandmanSeason 1, Episode 4, “The Sting of Second Chances,” a veteran oil industry worker sits in a bar and reminisces about his past. He tells a bar patron that he has only worked alongside “worms, ginsels, and skinheads.” While yet to be seen performing their duties on the quasi-Yellowstonespin-off show,Ginsels are low-level oil crew members, relegated to performing thankless grunt work. They do menial tasks most are not willing to perform.
Kill the Well
It doesn’t take much imagination to understand the directive “Kill the Well.” InLandmanSeason 1, Episode 3, “Hell Has a Front Yard,” Monty Miller (Jon Hamm) debates the efficacy of"Killing the Well," shutting it down to make proper repairs. Stopping the oil flow prevents the cash flow, putting Monty in a moral bind to keep the area safe or allowing the well to operate to make as much money as possible.
Roughneck is a blanket term encompassing every type of oil and gas industry employee working in and around an oil well. Chainhands, Derrickhands, Toolpushers, Drillers, and the rest all fall under the Roughneck umbrella. However, the lower-level Ginsels and Worms must earn their keep and develop the trust of the higher-ups before being included as Roughneck. The show’s premise mentions “roughnecks” and “fat cat billionaires” as key components of the oil-drilling drama in West Texas.
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Toolpusher
Ranking directly above drillers, Toolpushers supervise crew members who oversee the entire operation without getting their hands dirty. InLandmanSeason 1, Episode 4 “The Sting of Second Chances,” Tommy travels to an oil patch and is told by the local Toolpusher that an employee named Antonio has been injured in the line of duty. Afterward, the Toolpusher informs Tommy that Cooper will keep the operation going as the new Derrickhand.
InLandman’s terminology,a “Worm” is the most novice worker on an oil patch, well, or rig. Worms have the least experience, begin at the bottom, and work their way up the chain of command. When the series starts, Cooper is a Worm on two oil crews, eventually proving his worth and becoming promoted to Derrickhand. Worms and Ginsels must earn respect from higher-ranking crew members before graduating to more difficult responsibilities.
