{{Short description|Pipe connector used in oil rigs}} An '''iron roughneck''' is a piece of hydraulic machinery used to "handle" (connect and disconnect) segments of pipe in a modern drilling rig.<ref name="houston">{{cite web | url=http://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/energy/article/Century-old-water-driller-s-new-rigs-walk-into-5484516.php#/0 | title=Century-old water driller's new rigs walk into oil field service | work=Houston Chronicle | date=16 May 2014 | accessdate=15 January 2015 | author=Dlouhy, Jennifer A.}}</ref> The segments can be manipulated as they are hoisted into and out of a borehole. This type of work was previously performed manually by workers using tongs,<ref name="houston"/> and was one of the most dangerous jobs in a drilling operation. However, with iron roughnecks and modern technology, much of this can be done remotely with minimal manual handling.<ref>{{cite web|title=How do Iron Roughnecks Work|url=https://www.rigzone.com/training/insight.asp?insight_id=293&c_id=24|website=www.rigzone.com|publisher=Rig Zone|accessdate=15 January 2015}}</ref>
Automated roughnecks became common in deep-water drilling and were later adopted by onshore rigs.<ref name="houston"/>
==References== {{reflist}} {{tech-stub}} Category:Oilfield terminology