Oilfield veteran, Gerald Williams attempts to show rookie Cheston the ropes. Plus, on the night shift, driller Ron is forced to deal with the flaring tempers of his crew. And, when Travis the new guy on the rig shows up late on his first day, hothead Brandon challenges him to a good ol' fashion throwdown.

Veteran Gerald makes a rookie error that could cost everyone their jobs. Meanwhile, Pee Wee is pulling out all the stops to get Cheston to quit. And, things on the night crew get testy when Brandon makes a huge mistake that brings drilling to a screeching halt.

The crews of Big Dog 28 are on edge as they race to finish the second of four wells in 50 days. When Tool Pusher Freddy may have pushed the crews too far, as driller Oscar threatens to quit on him. Meanwhile, Worm Cheston makes a mistake that threatens the lives of everyone on the rig, and Gerald uses the opportunity to put himself in the running for driller Pee Wee's job.

Cheston pushes Pee Wee to his breaking point, and even Gerald's had enough of the rig's worm. Meanwhile, Ron's evening crew loses a roughneck to another company and is forced to break in a new hand who calls himself "Tank." Plus, the roughnecks are faced with "The Hole from Hell."

When the rig isn't drilling Big Dog owner Autry Stephens is on the verge of firing the crew. Worm Cheston finally gets in the good graces of his hotheaded driller Pee Wee, but learns it's sometimes dangerous to get what you wish for. And, night driller Ron finds Tank's attitude harder to manage as the ex prizefighter struggles with keeping his tank-sized ego from exploding.

Disaster strikes Big Dog 28 when a snapped chain leaves tool pusher Jerry blind in one eye. Plus, after being fired, Gerald finds an unlikely source of income. Then, Pee wee kicks Cheston off the day crew for mouthing off to the other hands, while Tank's reckless attitude puts the night crew in danger. When the fighting becomes too much, Supervisor David Kiser must decide who stays and who goes.

The roughnecks have only three days left to finish the final hole when all hell breaks loose. Two of the most troubled roughnecks swap shifts; one of the most experienced hands takes a pipe spinner to the head and is rushed to the hospital; and an unscheduled drug test sends panic through one roughneck's veins. As if that isn't enough, rig owners lose confidence and contemplate handing out pink slips.