Oil and Gas Well Drillers, Servicers, Testers, and Related Workers

Nature of work

Oil and gas well drillers and well servicers control the use of drilling and hoisting equipment on drilling and service rigs and direct the activities of the rig crew under supervision of the rig manager. Oil and gas well loggers, testers and related workers use specialized equipment, tools or instruments to carry out services in well drilling, completion or servicing. They work for drilling and well service contractors, petroleum producing companies and well logging or testing companies.

Job duties

Oil and gas well drillers and well servicers:

• Direct rig crew in setting up rigs and drilling, completing or servicing oil and gas exploration and producing wells.
• Run controls of drill or service rig drilling and hoisting machinery.
• Train or arrange for training of crew.
• Keep records of drilling and servicing operations.
• Make sure safety procedures are followed.

Oil and gas well loggers, testers and related workers:

• Drive well service or wireline truck to well site.
• Build and attach equipment, tools or recorders to drill stem or wireline to conduct required procedures and tests.
• Use or direct the use of wireline or unit controls to lower, position and retrieve equipment and instruments.
• Use recorders and computers in mobile testing or logging unit to collect data.
• May do limited data interpretation.

Sample job titles

• assistant driller - oil and gas well drilling
• directional drilling operator
• downhole tool operator
• drill stem tester
• driller - oil and gas drilling
• electric line operator
• logging and perforating operator
• rig technician - driller
• service rig operator - oil field services
• slickline operator
• well testing operator - oil and gas drilling
• wireline operator

Skills

• You should have good health, physical stamina, and strength. Agility, coordination, and a mechanical skill would also be helpful. You must be able to take direction and carry out instructions given by supervisors.

Job requirements

• High school is usually required.
• Oil and gas well drillers and well servicers need three to six months of formal on-the-job training, college or petroleum industry-approved training courses and four or more years of work experience in subordinate rig crew positions.
• A college diploma in drilling may be required.
• Offshore work requires several years of experience in the same position on land.
• Certificates in first aid, hydrogen sulphide awareness, blowout prevention, well control, workplace hazardous materials information system (WHMIS), transportation of dangerous goods (TDG) and a special oil well operator (boiler) certificate are needed.
• Oil and gas well loggers, testers and related workers need three to six months of formal on-the-job training and several years of experience in entry logging and testing positions or on drilling and servicing rigs.
• Completion of a college program in electronics or engineering technology may be required for open hole well logging.
• A provincial blaster's licence, and seismic blaster and oil well blaster certification are required for well perforation services.
• Trade certification for rig technician is voluntary in Nova Scotia.
• Red Seal endorsement is also available to qualified rig technicians after successful completion of the Red Seal exam.

Other considerations

• Movement between jobs on drilling and service rigs is limited by the differences in the machinery, tools and operations performed, but movement is possible especially from drilling to service rigs. Movement to crew supervisor or manager is possible with experience and additional education and training. The Red Seal endorsement allows for interprovincial mobility.

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