They come with several types of rams, giving rig workers flexibility if a situation escalates.

Mr. Garcia and the other rig workers still employed are the exceptions.

Since oil prices collapsed in early 1986, several hundred thousand rig workers, petroleum engineers and geologists have lost their jobs.

"Experienced rig workers have been in short supply for the last six to eight months."

The rig workers were buzzing for another reason.

Buzbee represented 19 rig workers, the last of whom settled her injury claims 22 months after the accident.

The same skilled rig workers who had to plead for work back then now have their pick of jobs.

We stepped back aboard and found 11 rig workers waiting for a ride.

The increasing severity of the weather forced the rig workers to hang the drill pipe in the hole on the lower rams.

The rig workers, however, did not have time to lay down the 90 foot lengths of drill pipe that remained in the derrick.