What Do Oil and Gas Roustabouts Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Oil and Gas Roustabouts assemble or repair oil field equipment using hand and power tools. Perform other tasks as needed. They also keep pipe deck and main deck areas clean and tidy.

Other tasks include:

• Guide cranes to move loads about decks.
• Unscrew or tighten pipes, casing, tubing, and pump rods, using hand and power wrenches and tongs.
• Walk flow lines to locate leaks, using electronic detectors and by making visual inspections, and repair the leaks.
• Supply equipment to rig floors as requested and provide assistance to roughnecks.
• Move pipes to and from trucks, using truck winches and motorized lifts, or by hand.
• Dismantle and repair oil field machinery, boilers, and steam engine parts, using hand tools and power tools.

We asked Oil and Gas Roustabouts how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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63% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 56% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Oil and Gas Roustabouts keep pipe deck and main deck areas clean and tidy. They supply equipment to rig floors as requested and provide assistance to roughnecks.

A typical day for an Oil and Gas Roustabout will also include:

• Guide cranes to move loads about decks.
• Unscrew or tighten pipes, casing, tubing, and pump rods, using hand and power wrenches and tongs.
• Move pipes to and from trucks, using truck winches and motorized lifts, or by hand.
• Walk flow lines to locate leaks, using electronic detectors and by making visual inspections, and repair the leaks.
• Cut down and remove trees and brush to clear drill sites, to reduce fire hazards, and to make way for roads to sites.

We asked some Oil and Gas Roustabouts a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	60% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	68% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	98% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	41% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	19% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	68% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Oil and Gas Roustabouts also dismantle and repair oil field machinery, boilers, and steam engine parts, using hand tools and power tools. They may also bolt or nail together wood or steel framework to erect derricks.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Oil and Gas Roustabouts Unscrew or tighten pipes, casing, tubing, and pump rods, using hand and power wrenches and tongs. They might also Clean up spilled oil by bailing it into barrels.

In addition, they Bolt together pump and engine parts.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Dig drainage ditches around wells and storage tanks.

To some Oil and Gas Roustabouts, it is also their responsibility to Guide cranes to move loads about decks.

Working life

More than 40 hours per week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as an Oil and Gas Roustabout, you can expect to work more than 40 hours per week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery..

They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2013/spring/art02.pdf