Occupations/47-5012.00
Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas
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.
Usually a high school diploma, plus some experience or short training.
AI automation risk
39%
Mixed exposure
Human characteristics
70%
Strong human-characteristic mix
Task orientation
77%
Higher automation risk
A day in this job
- Mostly human
Train crews, and introduce procedures to make drill work more safe and effective.
- Mostly routine
Maintain records of footage drilled, location and nature of strata penetrated, materials and tools used, services rendered, and time required.
- Task
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.
Split from the wording of these tasks, shown next to the occupation’s AI risk. It is not a separate score for each task, and it is not a forecast that the job disappears.
Core tasks
- 01Train crews, and introduce procedures to make drill work more safe and effective.
- 02Observe pressure gauge and move throttles and levers to control the speed of rotary tables, and to regulate pressure of tools at bottoms of boreholes.
- 03Count sections of drill rod to determine depths of boreholes.
- 04Push 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.
- 05Connect sections of drill pipe, using hand tools and powered wrenches and tongs.
- 06Maintain records of footage drilled, location and nature of strata penetrated, materials and tools used, services rendered, and time required.
Model drivers (O*NET 1–5)
- Repeating same tasks4.39
- Degree of automation1.83
- Time sitting1.75
- Originality (ability)2.50
- Conflict situations3.29
- Hands-on objects/tools4.53
- Outdoors / weather4.97
- Disease exposure1.28
- Decision freedom4.21
Top abilities
- Problem Sensitivity4.00
- Control Precision4.00
- Near Vision3.88
- Multilimb Coordination3.75
- Manual Dexterity3.75
- Arm-Hand Steadiness3.75
- Oral Expression3.63
- Oral Comprehension3.63
Essential skills
- Reading Comprehension3.12
- Active Listening3.38
- Writing3.00
- Speaking3.25
- Mathematics2.38
- Science1.25
- Critical Thinking3.62
- Active Learning2.88
- Learning Strategies3.00
- Monitoring3.50
CIP matches
Schools offering related programs
6 shown
Earnings are College Scorecard medians for that program, 1 and 2 years after completion. A dash means the Department suppressed the cell or the campus is not in the field file.
| Institution | Program | Tuition | Admit | Grad 6-yr | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rochester Community and Technical College Rochester, MN · Public | Well Drilling/Driller 46.0504 | $6,200 | 100% | 33% | 1 yr — 2 yr — Not reported |
Hennepin Technical College Brooklyn Park, MN · Public | Well Drilling/Driller 46.0504 | $6,200 | 100% | 38% | 1 yr — 2 yr — Not reported |
Ridgewater College Willmar, MN · Public | Well Drilling/Driller 46.0504 | $6,100 | 100% | 36% | 1 yr — 2 yr — Not reported |
Minnesota West Community and Technical College Granite Falls, MN · Public | Well Drilling/Driller 46.0504 | $6,000 | 100% | 37% | 1 yr — 2 yr — Not reported |
Miami Dade College Miami, FL · Public | Well Drilling/Driller 46.0504 | $2,900 | 100% | 41% | 1 yr — 2 yr — Certificate · CIP 46.05 |
Anoka Technical College Anoka, MN · Public | Well Drilling/Driller 46.0504 | $6,300 | 100% | 48% | 1 yr — 2 yr — Not reported |