Will “Geothermal Operating Engineer” 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
• 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
• Coal Mine Bore Hole Drill Operator
• Churn Driller
• Churn Drill Operator
• Boring Machine Operator
• Auger Operator

Tasks for “Geothermal Operating Engineer”

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

Related Technology & Tools

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

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