NOC 84101: Oil and gas well drilling and related workers and services operators

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Oil and gas well drilling workers operate drilling and service rig machinery as intermediate members of the rig crew. Oil and gas well services operators drive trucks and operate specialized hydraulic pumping systems to place cement in wells or to treat wells with chemicals, sand mixtures or gases to stimulate production. They are employed by drilling and well service contractors and by petroleum producing companies.

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

Oil and gas well drilling workers

• Use specialized equipment, information and maps to determine and document the location of buried pipelines and other utilities in preparation for seismic exploration and drilling activities
• Align and manipulate sections of pipe or drill stem from platform on rig derrick during removal and replacement of strings of pipe, or drill stem and drill bit
• Operate and maintain drilling mud systems and pumps during drilling, and mix mud, chemicals and additives
• Record mud flows and volumes and take samples
• Operate and maintain drilling rig diesel motors, transmissions and other mechanical equipment
• Assist in setting up, taking down and transporting drilling and service rigs
• Supervise floorhands and labourers.

Oil and gas well services operators

• Drive well services truck to well site
• Assemble pumping equipment and attach pumps and hoses to wellhead
• Operate hydraulic pumping systems to pump chemicals, gases, sand, cement or other material into well
• Read gauges to monitor pressure, density, rate and concentration and adjust pumping procedure as required
• May mix chemicals and cements.

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Employment requirements

• Completion of secondary school is required.
• Training of up to three months with an experienced operator is required for oil and gas well services operators.
• Completion of petroleum industry-approved training courses may be required.
• One year of experience as a floorhand, assistant or labourer is usually required.
• Certificates in first aid, hydrogen sulphide awareness, blowout prevention, workplace hazardous materials information system (WHMIS), transportation of dangerous goods (TDG), cryogenic safety or in other safety concerns may be required.
• Rig technician certification for motorhands and derrickhands may be required by some employers.
• Oil and gas well services operators require a driver's license appropriate to the class of vehicle being driven.

Good to know

• Progression to oil and gas well driller or service rig operator is possible with experience.
• Progression to supervisor of well services is possible for gas and oil well services operators.

Codes in the same group

Official sources

• noc.esdc.gc.caNOC 2021 Version 1.0: 84101 Oil and gas well drilling and related workers and services operators
• statcan.gc.caStatistics Canada: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 Version 1.0
• canada.caIRCC: Find your National Occupational Classification (NOC)
• canada.caIRCC: Express Entry, who can apply