8412 – Oil and gas well drilling and related workers and services operators
Oil and gas well drilling workers operate drilling and service rig machinery as intermediate members of the rig crew. Oil and gas well services operators drive trucks and operate specialized hydraulic pumping systems to place cement in wells or to treat wells with chemicals, sand mixtures or gases to stimulate production. They are employed by drilling and well service contractors and by petroleum producing companies.
Profile
Index of titles
Example titles
Acid treater – oil field services
Acid truck driver – oil field services
Acidizer – oil field services
Ballast control operator – offshore drilling rig
Blender operator – oil field services
Blending machine operator – oil field services
Carbon dioxide truck operator – oil field services
Cement truck driver – oil field services
Cementer – oil field services
Cementing equipment operator – oil field services
Chemical services operator – oil field services
Chemical truck operator – oil field services
Coiled tubing operator – oil field services
Control room operator – offshore drilling
Derrick worker – oil and gas drilling
Derrickhand – offshore drilling
Derrickhand – oil and gas drilling
Derrickman/woman
Derrickman/woman – oil and gas drilling
Dynamic positioning operator – offshore drilling
Formation fracturing operator
Formation fracturing operator – oil field services
Frac driver – oil field services
Motorhand – offshore drilling
Motorhand – oil and gas drilling
Motorman/woman – oil and gas drilling
Nitrogen operator
Nitrogen operator – oil field services
Nitrogen truck operator – oil field services
Oil well acidizer
Oil well cementer – oil field services
Pipeline locator – oil and gas
Power-tong operator
Production tubing operator – oil field services
Pumper operator – oil field services
Pumpman/woman – oil field services
Reeled tubing operator – oil field services
Rig technician – derrickhand
Rig technician – motorhand
Seismic buried facilities locator
Snubbing-unit operator
Well treatment blender operator – oil field services
Well treatment pump operator – oil field services
Main duties
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
Oil and gas well drilling workers
Use specialized equipment, information and maps to determine and document the location of buried pipelines and other utilities in preparation for seismic exploration and drilling activities
Align and manipulate sections of pipe or drill stem from platform on rig derrick during removal and replacement of strings of pipe, or drill stem and drill bit
Operate and maintain drilling mud systems and pumps during drilling, and mix mud, chemicals and additives
Record mud flows and volumes and take samples
Operate and maintain drilling rig diesel motors, transmissions and other mechanical equipment
Assist in setting up, taking down and transporting drilling and service rigs
Supervise floorhands and labourers.
Oil and gas well services operators
Drive well services truck to well site
Assemble pumping equipment and attach pumps and hoses to wellhead
Operate hydraulic pumping systems to pump chemicals, gases, sand, cement or other material into well
Read gauges to monitor pressure, density, rate and concentration and adjust pumping procedure as required
May mix chemicals and cements.
Employment requirements
Completion of secondary school is required.
Training of up to three months with an experienced operator is required for oil and gas well services operators.
Completion of petroleum industry-approved training courses may be required.
One year of experience as a floorhand, assistant or labourer is usually required.
Certificates in first aid, hydrogen sulphide awareness, blowout prevention, workplace hazardous materials information system (WHMIS), transportation of dangerous goods (TDG), cryogenic safety or in other safety concerns may be required.
Rig technician certification for motorhands and derrickhands may be required by some employers.
Additional information
Progression to oil and gas well driller or service rig operator is possible with experience.
Progression to supervisor of well services is possible for gas and oil well services operators.
Exclusions
Contractors and supervisors, oil and gas drilling and services (8222)
Oil and gas drilling, servicing and related labourers (8615)
Oil and gas well drillers, servicers, testers and related workers (8232)