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