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Career Details :: Well and Core Drill Operators
Description
Operate machine to drill wells and take samples or cores for analysis of strata.
Experience
Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Education
Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree. Some may require a bachelor's degree.
Training
Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers.
Tasks
- Drives or guides truck-mounted equipment into position, levels and stabilizes rig, and extends telescoping derrick.
- Withdraws drill rod from hole and extracts core sample.
- Fabricates well casings.
- Lubricates machine, splices worn or broken cables, replaces parts, and builds up and repairs drill bits.
- Records drilling progress and geological data.
- Changes drill bits as needed.
- Couples additional lengths of drill rod as bit advances.
- Assembles non-truck-mounted drilling equipment, using hand tools and power tools.
- Starts and controls drilling action and lowering of well casing into well bore.
- Pours water into well or pumps water or slush into well to cool drill bit and remove drillings.
- Retrieves lost equipment from bore holes, using retrieval tools and equipment.
- Monitors operation of drilling equipment to determine changes in strata or variations in drilling.
- Inspects core samples to determine nature of strata, or takes samples to laboratory for analysis.
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Important Abilities
General Work Activities
- Controlling Machines and Processes
- Handling and Moving Objects
- Performing General Physical Activities
- Monitor Processes, Material, Surroundings
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
Important Skills
Frequent Work Context
- Consequence of Error
- Degree of Automation
- Importance of Being Sure All Is Done
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Frustrating Circumstances
Institutions Offering Related Majors
No institutions found.