Machine operator, drilling equipment

Well drillers and borers and related workers set up, assemble and operate drills and similar equipment to drill wells and extract ores, liquids or gases.

• dismantling, transporting and assembling drilling and auxiliary equipment;
• assembling and disassembling pipes, casings and drill bits, and replacing malfunctioning equipment;
• controlling the lowering and raising of drill pipes and casing into and out of wells, and regulating well pressure and tool speed;
• preparing drilling fluid and checking pump operation to ensure the necessary circulation of fluid in drill pipes and the well;
• monitoring gauges and other indicators, and listening to detect faults and unusual conditions of downhole equipment, and determining the need to change bits or equipment;
• maintaining, adjusting, repairing and cleaning drilling equipment, hoists and other machinery;
• keeping logs of drilling and service operations;
• operating machines and tools to remove dust, fragments, lost and broken parts of drilling equipment from holes and wells;
• closing and sealing wells that are no longer in use;
• supervising and training new crew members.
• Examples of occupations in this unit group:
• Operator, hole-drilling rig
• Operator, crane (oil and gas wells)
• Operator, pulling equipment (oil and gas wells)
• Operator, well drill running equipment
• Machine operator, drilling equipment
• Machine operator, dredge/digger/excavator