I-rig yokubhoboza iyisistimu ehlanganisiwe ebhoboza imithombo, njengemithombo kawoyela noma yegesi, ngaphansi komhlaba.
Ama-rig okubhoboza angaba izakhiwo ezinkulu ezihlala imishini esetshenziselwa ukubhoboza imithombo kawoyela, noma imithombo yokukhipha igesi yemvelo, Ama-rig okubhoboza angasampula ama-deposit amaminerali angaphansi komhlaba, ahlole izakhiwo zomzimba zamatshe, inhlabathi kanye namanzi angaphansi komhlaba, futhi angasetshenziswa ukufaka izinto ezenziwe ngaphansi komhlaba, njengezinsiza ezingaphansi komhlaba, izinsimbi, imigudu noma imithombo. Ama-rig okubhoboza angaba imishini ehambayo efakwe emalolini, ezitimeleni noma ezinqoleni, noma izakhiwo ezihlala njalo zomhlaba noma ezisekelwe olwandle (njengezinkundla zikawoyela, ezivame ukubizwa ngokuthi 'ama-rig kawoyela angaphandle' ngisho noma zingenayo i-rig yokubhoboza).
Imishini yokubhoboza emincane kuya kwephakathi iyahamba, njengaleyo esetshenziswa ekubhobozeni amaminerali, ekubhobozeni imigodi, emithonjeni yamanzi kanye nasekuphenyweni kwemvelo. Imishini emikhulu iyakwazi ukubhoboza izinkulungwane zamamitha oqweqwe loMhlaba, isebenzisa "amaphampu odaka" amakhulu ukujikeleza udaka lokubhoboza (i-slurry) nge-drill bit kanye ne-casing annulus, ukuze ipholise futhi isuse "izicucu" ngenkathi kubhobozwa umthombo.
Izikhumulo eziku-rig zingaphakamisa amakhulu amatani amapayipi. Eminye imishini ingaphoqa i-asidi noma isihlabathi ukuba zingene emathangini ukuze kube lula ukukhipha uwoyela noma igesi yemvelo; futhi ezindaweni ezikude kungaba nendawo yokuhlala unomphela kanye nokunakekela abasebenzi (abangaba ngaphezu kwekhulu).
Ama-rig asogwini angasebenza izinkulungwane zamakhilomitha kude nesisekelo sokulethwa kwezimpahla ngokujikeleza noma ukujikeleza kwabasebenzi okungajwayelekile.
Singahlinzeka ngemishini yokubhoboza kusukela ekujuleni kwamamitha angu-500-9000, kokubili kuqhutshwa yitafula elijikelezayo kanye nohlelo lokushayela oluphezulu, Kubandakanya i-rig efakwe kuma-skid, i-rig efakwe kuma-track, i-workover rig kanye ne-rig yolwandle.
