I used to be on a forum that had a few roughnecks. Those guys have a heck of a tough job, but they sure get paid well.
I wasn't a roughneck, but yes, those guys work hard as hell!
I was a measurements-while-drilling field engineer for a oilfield services company. Basically, I just told people if the well was being drilled in the right direction. It was an on-site job, hence the mess.