Here’s What All the ‘Landman’ Oil Worker Slang Means

As Billy Bob Thornton continues to lead Landman to 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 to Landman will surely have questions about the specific professional jargon used by the roughnecks in 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 in Landman.

Release Date November 17, 2024

Seasons 1

Cast Billy Bob Thornton , Ali Larter , Jacob Lofland , Kayla Wallace , Mark Collie , James Jordan , Demi Moore , Jon Hamm , Colm Feore , Robyn Lively , Drake Rodger , Brook Sill , K.C. Clyde , Rosemary Dominguez , Mustafa Speaks , J.R. Villarreal , Octavio Rodriguez , Michael Pena , Emilio Rivera , Alex Meraz , Alejandro Akara

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Blowout

Paramount+

In Landman’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.

Chainhand

Paramount+

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. In Landman, Manuel (J.R. Villarreal) serves as a Chainhand for Cooper’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

Paramount+

An Oil Derrick is a large metal apparatus that holds pipes, drills, pumps, filters, and other crucial machinery used 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. In the Paramount+ original series, nearly all the work is done in and around oil derricks and fracking machines.

Driller

Paramount+

As their title suggests, “drillers” operate large drills to break ground and siphon oil and gas from the Earth to 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. In Landman, Boss (Mustafa Speaks) fits the bill as an authoritative driller who runs the show in West Texas.

Fracking

Paramount+

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.

Ginsel

Paramount+

In Landman Season 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-Yellowstone spin-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

Paramount+

It doesn’t take much imagination to understand the directive “Kill the Well.” In Landman Season 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

Paramount+

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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Paramount+

Ranking directly above drillers, Toolpushers supervise crew members who oversee the entire operation without getting their hands dirty. In Landman Season 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.

Worm

Paramount+

In Landman’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.

Landman is available to stream on Paramount+.

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