Will “Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas” be Replaced By Robots? 🤔
85% Chance of Automation
“Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas” will probably be replaced by robots.
This job is ranked #488 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 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
Also Known As…
- 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
- Coal Mine Bore Hole Drill Operator
- Churn Driller
- Churn Drill Operator
- Boring Machine Operator
- Auger Operator
Tasks for “Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas”
- Perform pumping tests to assess well performance.
- Drive or guide truck-mounted equipment into position, level and stabilize rigs, and extend telescoping derricks.
- Select and attach drill bits and drill rods, adding more rods as hole depths increase, and changing drill bits as needed.
- Start, stop, and control drilling speed of machines and insertion of casings into holes.
- Inspect core samples to determine nature of strata, or take samples to laboratories for analysis.
- Operate water-well drilling rigs and other equipment to drill, bore, and dig for water wells or for environmental assessment purposes.
- Pour water into wells, or pump water or slush into wells to cool drill bits and to remove drillings.
- Assemble and position machines, augers, casing pipes, and other equipment, using hand and power tools.
- Monitor drilling operations, checking gauges and listening to equipment to assess drilling conditions and to determine the need to adjust drilling or alter equipment.
- Operate controls to stabilize machines and to position and align drills.
- Place and install screens, casings, pumps, and other well fixtures to develop wells.
- Disinfect, reconstruct, and redevelop contaminated wells and water pumping systems, and clean and disinfect new wells in preparation for use.
- Signal crane operators to move equipment.
- Fabricate well casings.
- Select the appropriate drill for the job, using knowledge of rock or soil conditions.
- Perform routine maintenance and upgrade work on machines and equipment, such as replacing parts, building up drill bits, and lubricating machinery.
- Drill or bore holes in rock for blasting, grouting, anchoring, or building foundations.
- Retrieve lost equipment from bore holes, using retrieval tools and equipment.
- Review client requirements and proposed locations for drilling operations to determine feasibility, and to determine cost estimates.
- Verify depths and alignments of boring positions.
- Observe electronic graph recorders and flow meters that monitor the water used to flush debris from holes.
- Drive trucks, tractors, or truck-mounted drills to and from work sites.
- Regulate air pressure, rotary speed, and downward pressure, according to the type of rock or concrete being drilled.
- Document geological formations encountered during work.
- Record drilling progress and geological data.
- Operate machines to flush earth cuttings or to blow dust from holes.
- Withdraw drill rods from holes, and extract core samples.
- Retract augers to force discharge dirt from holes.
- Design well pumping systems.
- Operate hoists to lift power line poles into position.
Related Technology & Tools
- Water sampling bailers
- Work trucks
- Bobcats
- Water test kits
- Adjustable combination wrenches
- Shale shakers
- Laptop computers
- Downhole hammers
- Tablet computers
- Mud pumping equipment
- Submerged arc welding tools
- Portable air compressors
- Water level meters
- Mud rotary drills
- Truck-mounted water pumps
- Marsh funnels
- Downhole well testing equipment
- Personal computers
- Pipe retrieval fishing tools
- Handheld remote thermometers
- Mud mixers
- Digital video cameras
- Drilling collars
- Earth drilling machines
- Core drill rigs
- Drill pipe tongs
- Desanders
- Chain slings
- Rotary drilling tools
- Trenchers
- Truck mounted cranes
- Power augers
- Lube guns
- Cable tool drills
- Global positioning system GPS receivers
- Alternating current AC generators
- Grout pumps
- Water logging tools
- Backhoe-equipped tractors
- Mud guns
- Mud balances
- Water monitoring samplers
- Precision levels
- Air rotary drills
- Field forklifts
- Data entry software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office
- Global positioning system GPS software
- Microsoft Word