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Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas

Set up or operate a variety of drills to remove underground oil and gas, or remove core samples for testing during oil and gas exploration.

Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

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Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

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Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

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Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

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Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.

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Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

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Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed

Derrick, Rotary Drill, and Service Unit Operators, Oil, Gas, and Mining

Construction and Extraction Occupations

Extraction Workers

Train crews, and introduce procedures to make drill work more safe and effective.

Observe pressure gauge and move throttles and levers to control the speed of rotary tables, and to regulate pressure of tools at bottoms of boreholes.

Count sections of drill rod to determine depths of boreholes.

Push levers and brake pedals to control gasoline, diesel, electric, or steam draw works that lower and raise drill pipes and casings in and out of wells.

Connect sections of drill pipe, using hand tools and powered wrenches and tongs.

Maintain records of footage drilled, location and nature of strata penetrated, materials and tools used, services rendered, and time required.

Maintain and adjust machinery to ensure proper performance.

Start and examine operation of slush pumps to ensure circulation and consistency of drilling fluid or mud in well.

Locate and recover lost or broken bits, casings, and drill pipes from wells, using special tools.

Weigh clay, and mix with water and chemicals to make drilling mud.

Direct rig crews in drilling and other activities, such as setting up rigs and completing or servicing wells.

Monitor progress of drilling operations, and select and change drill bits according to the nature of strata, using hand tools.

Repair or replace defective parts of machinery, such as rotary drill rigs, water trucks, air compressors, and pumps, using hand tools.

Clean and oil pulleys, blocks, and cables.

Bolt together pump and engine parts, and connect tanks and flow lines.

Remove core samples during drilling to determine the nature of the strata being drilled.

Cap wells with packers, or turn valves, to regulate outflow of oil from wells.

Line drilled holes with pipes, and install all necessary hardware, to prepare new wells.

Position and prepare truck-mounted derricks at drilling areas specified on field maps.

Plug observation wells, and restore sites.

Lower and explode charges in boreholes to start flow of oil from wells.

Dig holes, set forms, and mix and pour concrete, for foundations of steel or wooden derricks.

Accumulator systems

Adapter spools

Air hoists

Cement pumping equipment

Chain driven draw works

Choke manifolds

Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas

Overview

Career

What Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas Do

Other Job Titles Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas May Have

Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas

Overview

Career

What Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas Do

Other Job Titles Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas May Have

Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

Education

Level of Education Attained by Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas

Majors Related to Career

Related Careers

Related Leaders