Gas and Oil Drillers

Career summary

#no matching wois occ, no state wages, uses 3 soc for proj. there is proj data, checked 2/19/15 lh

Gas and oil drillers have different tasks depending on the work they do.

Derrick operators install derricks, tower-like steel structures that support drilling equipment. They build foundations for the derricks. They stabilize the drill rig with jackscrews and other means of support. They make sure the drilling fluid is processed correctly and flows through the drill pipes. Derrick operators regularly inspect the derrick and keep it clean.

Rotary drill operators help to prepare drill holes. Sometimes they use explosive charges. Rotary drill operators also control machines that drill holes in the ground by chipping and cutting rock with a rotating bit. They connect sections of drilling pipe and attach the proper drill bit. Drillers watch pressure gauges and control the power-driven derrick that raises and lowers the drilling bit into the well bore.

Drill operators collect and inspect samples of the rock being drilled. In addition, drillers use pumps to circulate water or drilling mud through the drill pipe into the well hole. This cools the drill bit and removes drilling particles. They regularly inspect and clean the drills, pulleys, blocks, and cables.

Service unit operators operate and maintain wells. They inspect all equipment by observing gauges and listening for defective parts. They operate the pumps that control the water and other fluids that flow through the well. Some operators drive truck-mounted units to well sites.

Sometimes gas and oil drillers remove obstructions in gas or oil wells that are not working properly. They use other instruments to locate and remove obstacles that are blocking the flow.

Gas and oil drillers keep records of drilling progress. They record data about the footage drilled and the nature of the rock layers. Some gas and oil drillers direct the work of helpers or other drillers.

Related careers

This career is part of the Architecture and Construction cluster of careers.

Related careers include:

• Chemical Equipment Operators
• Construction and Well Drillers
• Construction Helpers
• Engineering Technicians
• Hazardous Material Workers
• Material Moving Machine Operators
• Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators
• Pump Operators
• Riggers
• Roustabouts
• Structural Metal Workers

Job duties

Task list

The following list of tasks is specific to gas and oil drillers.

• Set up drilling equipment at areas specified on field maps. Stabilize drill rigs.
• Inspect derricks for flaws. Clean and oil them to maintain good working conditions.
• Control power-driven derricks that raise and lower the drilling bits into the well bore.
• Pump water or drilling "mud" through the drill pipe and drill bits to cool the bit and remove drilling particles.
• Listen to pumps and motors and observe pressure gauges. Check their activity regularly to make sure there aren't problems.
• Assemble and lower detection instruments into wells. Determine fluid levels or points of obstruction.
• Select tools. Connect sections of drill pipe and attach drill bits. Add sections of pipe as needed.
• Analyze problems with oil or gas wells. Recover lost equipment or clear obstacles.
• Collect and inspect samples to determine the nature of the rock layers. Select and change drill bits as needed.
• Drill holes in the ground by chipping and cutting rock with rotating bits.
• Maintain, adjust, and repair equipment.
• Direct the work of helpers and other drillers.
• Keep records of drilling progress.

Common work activities

Gas and oil drillers perform the following tasks. These tasks are common to many careers.

• Control machines and processes
• Inspect equipment, structures, or materials
• Repair and maintain mechanical equipment
• Handle and move objects
• Perform activities that use the whole body
• Communicate with supervisors, peers, or subordinates
• Identify objects, actions, and events
• Monitor events, materials, and surroundings
• Get information needed to do the job
• Make decisions and solve problems
• Operate vehicles or mechanized equipment
• Coordinate the work and activities of others
• Teach others
• Coach others
• Judge the value of objects, services, or people
• Establish and maintain relationships
• Develop and build teams
• Document and record information
• Estimate sizes, quantities, time, cost, or materials needed
• Guide, direct, and motivate others
• Evaluate information against standards
• Organize, plan, and prioritize work
• Process information
• Communicate with people outside the organization
• Update and use job-related knowledge
• Explain the meaning of information to others
• Assist and care for others
• Perform administrative tasks

Work requirements

Working conditions

In a typical work setting, gas and oil drillers:

Interpersonal relationships

• Have a high level of job-required social contact. They work in teams of workers.
• Communicate daily by face-to-face discussions. They also communicate on the phone, but less frequently.
• Almost always work as part of a team.
• Are substantially responsible for the work done by other drillers.
• Are responsible for the health and safety of coworkers.

Physical work conditions

• Nearly always work outdoors. Indoor sites are not likely to have heating or air conditioning.
• Always wear safety attire, including specialized protective equipment.
• Are exposed to contaminants, such as gas or oil, on a daily basis.
• Are regularly exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting and uncomfortable.
• Are often exposed to hazardous drilling equipment.
• Are regularly exposed to very hot or very cold temperatures while working outdoors.
• Are sometimes exposed to hazardous conditions and situations that produce cuts.
• Must often reach high places to perform tasks.
• Are sometimes exposed to extremely bright or dim lighting conditions.
• Are sometimes exposed to whole body vibration from drills.
• May get into awkward positions to reach cramped work spaces.
• Often work in open and enclosed equipment.
• Work physically near others, such as within a few feet.

Work performance

• Must be sure that all details of the job are done and their work is exact. Errors could have serious safety or environmental consequences.
• Repeat the same physical and mental activities.
• Must allow the work pace to be set by the speed of the equipment.
• Regularly make decisions that greatly impact coworkers and their employers.
• Often act without consulting another person first.
• Set some, but not all, of their daily tasks and goals without consulting a supervisor first.
• Work in a competitive and stressful atmosphere where weekly and monthly deadlines must be met.

Hours/travel

• Usually work more than 40 hours a week. More workers work overtime in this industry than in all other industries.
• Usually work eight hours a day for seven days, and then have a few days off. In offshore drilling, drillers may work 12 hours a day for 14 days, and then have 14 days off.
• Are often away from home for weeks or months at a time.

Physical demands

Gas and oil drillers frequently:

• Use their hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.
• Stand for long periods of time.
• Repeat the same movements.
• Bend or twist their body.
• Walk or run for long periods of time.
• Climb ladders, scaffolds, or poles.

It is important for gas and oil drillers to be able to:

• Make quick, precise adjustments to machine controls.
• Move two or more limbs together (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while remaining in place.
• Hold the arm and hand in one position or hold the hand steady while moving the arm.
• Use one or two hands to grasp, move, or assemble objects.
• See details of objects that are less than a few feet away.
• React quickly using hands, fingers, or feet.
• Focus on one source of sound and ignore others.
• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Hear sounds and recognize the difference between them.
• Use fingers to grasp, move, or assemble very small objects.
• Use muscles to lift, push, pull, or carry heavy objects.
• Understand the speech of another person.
• Adjust body movements or equipment controls to keep pace with speed changes of moving objects.
• Determine the distance between objects.
• See details of objects that are more than a few feet away.
• Bend, stretch, twist, or reach out.
• Use stomach and lower back muscles to support the body for long periods without getting tired.
• See differences between colors, shades, and brightness.
• Keep or regain the body's balance or stay upright when in an unstable position.

It is not as important, but still necessary, for gas and oil drillers to be able to:

• Choose quickly and correctly among various movements when responding to different signals.
• Be physically active for long periods without getting tired or out of breath.
• Coordinate movement of several parts of the body, such as arms and legs, while the body is moving.
• Move arms and legs quickly.
• Use muscles for extended periods without getting tired.
• Make fast, repeated movements of fingers, hands, and wrists.
• See objects in very bright or glaring light.
• Determine from which direction a sound came.
• While looking forward, see objects or movements that are off to the side.
• See objects in very low light.

Skills and abilities

Gas and oil drillers need to:

Communicate

• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Understand spoken information.
• Listen to others and ask questions.
• Read and understand work-related materials.
• Write clearly so other people can understand.

Reason and problem solve

• Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
• Analyze ideas and use logic to determine their strengths and weaknesses.
• Concentrate and not be distracted while performing a task.
• Combine several pieces of information and draw conclusions.
• Use reasoning to discover answers to problems.
• Follow guidelines to arrange objects or actions in a certain order.
• Judge the costs and benefits of a possible action.
• Recognize the nature of a problem.
• Develop rules that group items in various ways.

Manage oneself, people, time, and things

• Check how well one is learning or doing something.

Work with people

• Teach others how to do something.
• Change behavior in relation to others' actions.

Work with things

• Watch gauges, dials, and output to make sure a machine is working properly.
• Operate and control equipment.
• Determine the causes of technical problems and find solutions for them.
• Repair machines or systems.
• Inspect and evaluate the quality of products.
• Maintain equipment on a routine basis. Determine when and what kind of maintenance is needed.

Perceive and visualize

• Quickly and accurately compare letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns.
• Identify a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in distracting material.
• Imagine how something will look if it is moved around or its parts are rearranged.

Education and training

Educational programs

The programs of study listed below will help you prepare for the occupation or career cluster you are exploring.

Programs of study to consider

• Construction Trades
• Engineering Technology, General
• Heavy Equipment Operations
• Mining Technology
• Petroleum Technology

Training

To work as a gas and oil driller, you typically need to:

• complete on-the-job training.

Education after high school

No formal education is required for this job. However, many employers prefer that you have a high school diploma or its equivalent.

On-the-job training

Gas and oil drillers learn their skills informally on the job. During training, you start as a roustabout (helper) and learn skills from an experienced worker. You need one month to one year of training to gain the experience needed to work as a driller.

Helpful high school courses

You should take a general high school curriculum that meets the state's graduation requirements. You will be required to take both math and science classes to graduate.

Helpful electives to take in high school that prepare you for this career include:

• Carpentry
• Construction
• Physical Education
• Safety and First Aid

The courses listed above are meant to help you create your high school plan. If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking.

You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.

Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization that interests you. By participating in activities you can have fun, make new friends, and learn about yourself. Maybe one of them will help direct you to a future career. Here are examples of activities and groups that may be available in your high school or community.

Things to know

Employers often hire entry-level helpers who do not have previous experience. They look for applicants who are physically fit and can pass a physical exam. Some companies give aptitude tests, or screen applicants for drug use. Most employers prefer applicants with previous work experience or formal training in petroleum technology. Employers often promote experienced drilling helpers, or roughnecks. They may be hired as derrick operators, and after several years, as drillers.

Unlike many other industries, the gas and oil extraction industry hires very few people under the age of 25. More than 80 percent of the workers in this field are between the ages of 25 and 54.

Job listings

Listed below are links to job categories from the National Labor Exchange that relate to this career. Once you get a list of jobs, you can view information about individual jobs and find out how to apply. If your job search finds too many openings, or if you wish to search for jobs outside of Washington, you will need to refine your search.

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

To get a listing of current jobs from the WorkSource system, go to the WorkSource website .

Wages

Wages vary by employer, area of specialization, and area of the country. The worker's level of experience and responsibility also affect wages. Rotary drill operators usually have the most responsibility for the drilling operation. Thus, they earn the highest wages.

Gas and oil drillers who work full time usually receive benefits. Typical benefits include sick leave, paid vacation, and health insurance. Some employers also provide a retirement plan.

Employment and outlook

Washington outlook

The table below provides information about the number of workers in this career in various regions. It also provides information about the expected growth rate and future job openings.

National employment

More than half of all gas and oil drillers work in California, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas.

Major employers:

• Mining support services
• Oil and gas extraction services

National outlook

The demand for gas and oil in the US is expected to remain very strong. As the US continues to look for ways to decrease dependence on foreign oil, drilling for shale gas has increased in the US. This has produced many jobs.

There is a fairly high turnover rate among gas and oil drillers. Many job openings will result from the need to replace those who leave the occupation. Those with strong technical skills and experience will have the best chances.

Other resources

International Association of Drilling Contractors 
3657 Briarpark Dr, Suite 200
Houston, TX 77042
713.292.1945

National Drilling Association 
3053 Nationwide Parkway
Brunswick, OH 44212
877.632.4748

References

Career cluster

• Architecture and Construction

Career path

• Realistic (Technical)

O*Net  occupations

• Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas (47-5011.00) 
• Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas (47-5012.00) 
• Service Unit Operators, Oil, Gas, and Mining (47-5013.00) 

O*Net job zones 

• Job Zone 1 - Little or no preparation needed. No previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations.

• Job Zone 2 - Some preparation needed. Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful in these occupations, but usually is not needed.

DOT occupations

• Fishing-tool Technician, Oil Well (930.261-010) 
• Prospecting Driller (930.382-018) 
• Rotary Derrick Operator (930.382-022) 
• Rotary Driller (930.382-026) 
• Rotary-rig Engine Operator (950.382-022) 
• Service-unit Operator, Oil Well (930.361-010) 

Holland occupational clusters

• Realistic/Conventional/Investigative
• Realistic/Enterprising/Conventional

COPSystem

• Technology Skilled