Job Description, Daily Responsibilities, and Work Life
Oil and Gas Drill Operators
Oil and Gas Drill Operators 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.
Table of Contents
Job Description
Oil and Gas Drill Operators 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. They also train crews, and introduce procedures to make drill work more safe and effective.
Other tasks include:
- 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.
We asked Oil and Gas Drill Operators how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.
93%
80%
93% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 80% 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 Drill Operators clean and oil pulleys, blocks, and cables. They 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.
A typical day for an Oil and Gas Rotary Drill Operator will also include:
- 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.
- Maintain records of footage drilled, location and nature of strata penetrated, materials and tools used, services rendered, and time required.
- Connect sections of drill pipe, using hand tools and powered wrenches and tongs.
- Maintain and adjust machinery to ensure proper performance.
- Weigh clay, and mix with water and chemicals to make drilling mud.
We asked some Oil and Gas Drill Operators 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? | 27% said yes | |
How important is it to work in a team in this job? | 86% said very important | |
Do you have group discussions everyday in this job? | 94% said yes | |
Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job? | 24% said yes | |
Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job? | 16% said yes | |
Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job? | 65% said yes |
Other responsibilities
Besides their typical day, Oil and Gas Drill Operators also position and prepare truck-mounted derricks at drilling areas specified on field maps. They may also line drilled holes with pipes, and install all necessary hardware, to prepare new wells.
On a weekly to monthly basis, Oil and Gas Drill Operators Repair or replace defective parts of machinery, such as rotary drill rigs, water trucks, air compressors, and pumps, using hand tools. They might also Cap wells with packers, or turn valves, to regulate outflow of oil from wells.
In addition, they Monitor progress of drilling operations, and select and change drill bits according to the nature of strata, using hand tools.
Although specific duties may vary, many of them Direct rig crews in drilling and other activities, such as setting up rigs and completing or servicing wells.
To some Oil and Gas Drill Operators, it is also their responsibility to Bolt together pump and engine parts, and connect tanks and flow lines.
Working life
More than 40 hours per week
Irregular work schedule that changes depending on weather conditions, customer demand or contract duration.
In a typical work week as an Oil and Gas Rotary Drill Operator, you can expect to work more than 40 hours per week.
Is this right for me
The Builders and The Entrepreneurs
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 starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
You can read more about these career personality types here.
Learn more about Oil and Gas Drill Operators
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