Will “Swabber” be Replaced By Robots? 🤔
93% Chance of Automation
“Swabber” will almost certainly be replaced by robots.
This job is ranked #576 out of #702. A higher ranking (i.e., a lower number) means the job is less likely to be replaced.
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Job Description
Operate equipment to increase oil flow from producing wells or to remove stuck pipe, casing, tools, or other obstructions from drilling wells. May also perform similar services in mining exploration operations. Includes fishing-tool technicians.
Job Details
- The SOC (Standard Occupational Classification) code is 47-5013.00
- The Mean Annual Wage in the U.S. is $ 53,520.00
- The Mean Hourly Wage is $ 25.00
- Currently, there are 42,890 people on this job
☝️ Information based on the reference occupation “Service Unit Operators, Oil, Gas, and Mining”.
Also Known As…
- Service Unit Operators, Oil, Gas, and Mining
- Wireline Operator
- Well Servicing Rig Operator
- Tool Pusher
- Service Rig Operator
- Service Operator
- Rig Operator
- Reverse Unit Operator-Fisherman
- Pulling Unit Operator
- Operator
- Fisherman
- Work Over Rig Operator
- Wireline Supervisor
- Well Services Operator
- Well Service Pump Equipment Operator
- Well Cleaner
- Tar Processing Technician
- Spray Rig Operator
- Shale Processing Technician
- Service Unit Operator
- Reverse Unit Operator
- Oil Well Service Unit Operator
- Oil Well Service Operator
- Oil Well Fishing-Tool Technician
- Oil Well Fishing Tool Technician
- Oil Processing Technician
- Oil and Shale and Tar Processing Technician
- Oil and Gas Field Technician
- Fishing Tool Supervisor
- Fishing Tool Operator
- Coiled Tubing Supervisor
- Coiled Tubing Operator
Tasks for “Swabber”
- Insert detection instruments into wells with obstructions.
- Listen to engines, rotary chains, or other equipment to detect faulty operations or unusual well conditions.
- Interpret instrument readings to ascertain the depth of obstruction.
- Operate pumps that circulate water, oil, or other fluids through wells to remove sand or other materials obstructing the free flow of oil.
- Close and seal wells no longer in use.
- Perforate well casings or sidewalls of boreholes with explosive charges.
- Direct drilling crews performing activities such as assembling and connecting pipe, applying weights to drill pipes, or drilling around lodged obstacles.
- Confer with others to gather information regarding pipe or tool sizes or borehole conditions in wells.
- Prepare reports of services rendered, tools used, or time required, for billing purposes.
- Maintain and perform safety inspections on equipment and tools.
- Install pressure-control devices onto wellheads.
- Select fishing methods or tools for removing obstacles such as liners, broken casing, screens, or drill pipe.
- Monitor sound wave generating or detecting mechanisms to determine well fluid levels.
- Drive truck-mounted units to well sites.
- Operate controls that raise derricks or level rigs.
- Operate specialized equipment to remove obstructions by backing-off or severing pipes by chemical or explosive action.
- Apply green technologies or techniques such as the use of coiled tubing, slim-hole drilling, horizontal drilling, hydraulic fracturing, or gas lift systems.
- Thread cables through derrick pulleys, using hand tools.
- Examine unserviceable wells to determine actions to be taken to improve well conditions.
Related Technology & Tools
- Chemical pipe cutters
- Hydraulic hoisting equipment
- Downhole object retrieval equipment
- Electric downhole pumps
- Safety goggles
- Pressure indicators
- Mallets
- Truck-mounted derricks
- Cement mixers
- Wellhead drives
- Adjustable hand wrenches
- Pipe slips
- Pipe tongs
- Personal computers
- Hoisting equipment
- Well tubing perforation guns
- Straight screwdrivers
- Pipe elevators
- Utility knives
- Handheld data loggers
- Pressure control devices
- Steel measuring tapes
- Slickline severance tools
- Hex wrenches
- Power drills
- Torpedo levels
- Pipe wrenches
- Free point tools
- Stuck pipe tools
- Continuous sucker rods
- Programmable logic controllers PLC
- Desktop computers
- Channel lock pliers
- Diesel motors
- Depth gauges
- Cement pumps
- Claw hammers
- Laptop computers
- Safety gloves
- Jet pipe cutters
- Hydraulic pumping systems
- Sonar equipment
- Mud pumps
- Chemical casing cutters
- Jet casing cutters
- Ratchet sets
- Wire cutters
- Strain gauges
- Phillips head screwdrivers
- Protective ear muffs
- Data logger software
- Time and attendance software
- Computerized maintenance management system CMMS
- Microsoft Excel
- Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software
- Inventory tracking software
- Microsoft Office