Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas

Also called : Daylight Driller, Drill Operator, Driller, Drilling Rig Operator, Motor Man, Oil Rig Driller, Oil Well Driller, Relief Driller, Tool Pusher

What they do

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.

On the job, one would

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.

KNOWLEDGE

Mechanical
Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

Mathematics
Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Administration and Management
Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Education and Training
Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

SKILLS

Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

Operation and Control
Controlling operations of equipment or systems.

Operations Monitoring
Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

ABILITIES

Control Precision
The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.

Problem Sensitivity
The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.

Near Vision
The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

Arm-Hand Steadiness
The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.

Manual Dexterity
The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.

PERSONALITY

People interested in this work, will do well at jobs that need;

Dependability
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.

Attention to Detail
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.

Leadership
Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.

Cooperation
Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.

Initiative
Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.

Stress Tolerance
Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.

Integrity
Job requires being honest and ethical.

Analytical Thinking
Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.

Self-Control
Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.

Adaptability/Flexibility
Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.

Related Occupations

Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas

Structural Iron and Steel Workers

Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas

Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters

TECHNOLOGY

Analytical or scientific software

Customer relationship management CRM software

Data base user interface and query software

Enterprise resource planning ERP software

Industrial control software

Object or component oriented development software

Office suite software

Spreadsheet software

Word processing software

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Preparation
Some Preparation Needed
Education
High school diploma.
Experience
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed.
Jobtraining
Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.