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Career Exploration

Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas

Also called: Daylight Driller, Drill Operator, 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, you 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.
On the job, you'll need:

Engineering and Technology

  • mechanical

Math and Science

  • arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics

Business

  • management
  • human resources (HR)

Education and Training

  • teaching and course design

Basic Skills

  • thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem
  • keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements

Problem Solving

  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

Hand and Finger Use

  • hold or move items with your hands
  • keep your arm or hand steady

Controlled Movement

  • quickly change the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat
  • use your arms and/or legs together while sitting, standing, or lying down

Verbal

  • communicate by speaking
  • listen and understand what people say

Ideas and Logic

  • notice when problems happen

Realistic

People interested in this work like activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions.

  • Dependability
  • Attention to Detail
  • Leadership
  • Cooperation
  • Initiative
  • Stress Tolerance

Spreadsheet software

  • Microsoft Excel

Data base user interface and query software

  • Pason WellView Field Solution
  • Structure query language SQL

Industrial control software

  • CAPSHER Technology SureTec
  • Drillingsoftware DrillPro

Video courtesy of CareerOneStop.

Job Outlook

The job outlook for this position is Below Average.

New job opportunities are less likely in the future.

Median Annual Salary: $55,260

Education

No high school diploma/GED or high school diploma/GED is usually needed.