Will “Coal Mine Bore Hole Drill Operator” be Replaced By Robots? 🤔

Job Description

Operate a variety of drills such as rotary, churn, and pneumatic to tap sub-surface water and salt deposits, to remove core samples during mineral exploration or soil testing, and to facilitate the use of explosives in mining or construction. May use explosives. Includes horizontal and earth boring machine operators.

Job Details

• The SOC (Standard Occupational Classification) code is 47-5021.00
• The Mean Annual Wage in the U.S. is $ 51,240.00
• The Mean Hourly Wage is $ 24.00
• Currently, there are 18,500 people on this job

☝️ Information based on the reference occupation “Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas”.

Also Known As…

• Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas
• Well Driller
• Rock Drill Operator
• Overburden Drill Operator
• Highwall Drill Operator
• Hard Rock Drill Operator
• Driller
• Drill Operator
• Blasting Production Technician
• Blaster
• Blast Hole Driller
• Well Testing Operator
• Well Driller Helper
• Well Drill Operator
• Well Digger
• Water Well Driller
• Wash Driller
• Wagoner
• Wagon Driller
• Wagon Drill Operator
• Tunneling Machine Operator
• Test Driller
• Test Borer
• Stoper
• Soil Sampler
• Shot Core Drill Operator
• Raise Driller
• Post Hole Digging Machine Operator
• Post Hole Digger
• Operating Engineer
• Mine Equipment Operator
• Machine Driller
• Jumper
• Hydraulic Rock Drill Operator
• Horizontal Earth Boring Machine Operator
• Horizontal Drill Operator
• Hole Digger Operator
• Heavy Equipment Operator
• Ground Water Contractor
• Geothermal Operating Engineer
• Geotechnical Operating Engineer
• Foundation Drill Operator
• Explosive Bore Hole Driller
• Environmental Sampler
• Electric Drill Operator
• Earth Boring Machine Operator
• Earth Auger Operator
• Drilling Machine Runner
• Drilling Machine Operator
• Drill Runner
• Drill Hand
• Directional Driller
• Diamond Driller
• Deep Well Contractor
• Core Sampler
• Core Driller
• Core Drill Operator
• Construction Driller
• Churn Driller
• Churn Drill Operator
• Boring Machine Operator
• Auger Operator

Tasks for “Coal Mine Bore Hole Drill Operator”

• Signal crane operators to move equipment.
• Withdraw drill rods from holes, and extract core samples.
• Monitor drilling operations, checking gauges and listening to equipment to assess drilling conditions and to determine the need to adjust drilling or alter equipment.
• Document geological formations encountered during work.
• Inspect core samples to determine nature of strata, or take samples to laboratories for analysis.
• Record drilling progress and geological data.
• Assemble and position machines, augers, casing pipes, and other equipment, using hand and power tools.
• Perform pumping tests to assess well performance.
• Start, stop, and control drilling speed of machines and insertion of casings into holes.
• Operate machines to flush earth cuttings or to blow dust from holes.
• Review client requirements and proposed locations for drilling operations to determine feasibility, and to determine cost estimates.
• Pour water into wells, or pump water or slush into wells to cool drill bits and to remove drillings.
• Retract augers to force discharge dirt from holes.
• Select the appropriate drill for the job, using knowledge of rock or soil conditions.
• Place and install screens, casings, pumps, and other well fixtures to develop wells.
• Design well pumping systems.
• Perform routine maintenance and upgrade work on machines and equipment, such as replacing parts, building up drill bits, and lubricating machinery.
• Drive trucks, tractors, or truck-mounted drills to and from work sites.
• Operate water-well drilling rigs and other equipment to drill, bore, and dig for water wells or for environmental assessment purposes.
• Operate hoists to lift power line poles into position.
• Select and attach drill bits and drill rods, adding more rods as hole depths increase, and changing drill bits as needed.
• Retrieve lost equipment from bore holes, using retrieval tools and equipment.
• Drill or bore holes in rock for blasting, grouting, anchoring, or building foundations.
• Operate controls to stabilize machines and to position and align drills.
• Disinfect, reconstruct, and redevelop contaminated wells and water pumping systems, and clean and disinfect new wells in preparation for use.
• Regulate air pressure, rotary speed, and downward pressure, according to the type of rock or concrete being drilled.
• Fabricate well casings.
• Drive or guide truck-mounted equipment into position, level and stabilize rigs, and extend telescoping derricks.
• Verify depths and alignments of boring positions.
• Observe electronic graph recorders and flow meters that monitor the water used to flush debris from holes.

Related Technology & Tools

• Submerged arc welding tools
• Downhole hammers
• Portable air compressors
• Adjustable combination wrenches
• Chain slings
• Field forklifts
• Truck-mounted water pumps
• Water logging tools
• Water level meters
• Handheld remote thermometers
• Water sampling bailers
• Truck mounted cranes
• Bobcats
• Work trucks
• Personal computers
• Water monitoring samplers
• Mud guns
• Shale shakers
• Earth drilling machines
• Power augers
• Trenchers
• Tablet computers
• Laptop computers
• Global positioning system GPS receivers
• Grout pumps
• Mud rotary drills
• Drilling collars
• Backhoe-equipped tractors
• Desanders
• Precision levels
• Marsh funnels
• Downhole well testing equipment
• Mud balances
• Cable tool drills
• Alternating current AC generators
• Mud pumping equipment
• Mud mixers
• Rotary drilling tools
• Air rotary drills
• Core drill rigs
• Water test kits
• Lube guns
• Pipe retrieval fishing tools
• Drill pipe tongs
• Digital video cameras

• Microsoft Excel
• Global positioning system GPS software
• Data entry software
• Microsoft Office
• Microsoft Word