Occupation

Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas

Human Advantage 68%

Significant human skills needed

AI Automation Risk Moderate Risk
3.9 / 10

Some tasks in this role may be augmented by AI, but human oversight and interpersonal skills remain important.

Rig derrick equipment and operate pumps to circulate mud or fluid through drill hole.

Also Known As: Derrick Hand, Derrick Man, Derrick Operator, Derrick Worker, Driller, Drilling Motorman, Floor Hand, Fracturing Derrick Operator +4 more

Video

Core Tasks

  1. Inspect derricks, or order their inspection, prior to being raised or lowered.
  2. Inspect derricks for flaws, and clean and oil derricks to maintain proper working conditions.
  3. Control the viscosity and weight of the drilling fluid.
  4. Repair pumps, mud tanks, and related equipment.
  5. Set and bolt crown blocks to posts at tops of derricks.
  6. Listen to mud pumps and check regularly for vibration and other problems to ensure that rig pumps and drilling mud systems are working properly.
  7. Start pumps that circulate mud through drill pipes and boreholes to cool drill bits and flush out drill cuttings.
  8. Position and align derrick elements, using harnesses and platform climbing devices.
  9. Supervise crew members, and provide assistance in training them.
  10. Guide lengths of pipe into and out of elevators.
  11. Prepare mud reports, and instruct crews about the handling of any chemical additives.
  12. Clamp holding fixtures on ends of hoisting cables.
  13. Weigh clay, and mix with water and chemicals to make drilling mud, using portable mixers.
  14. String cables through pulleys and blocks.
  15. Steady pipes during connection to or disconnection from drill or casing strings.

Education & Training

Job Zone 1 Job Zone One: Little or No Preparation Needed
Education: Some of these occupations may require a high school diploma or GED certificate.
Experience: Little or no previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, a person can become a waiter or waitress even if he/she has never worked before.
On-the-Job Training: Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few days to a few months of training. Usually, an experienced worker could show you how to do the job.

Education Level Distribution

Percentage of workers in this occupation with each education level.

Less than a High School Diploma
69%
High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
23%
Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)
5%
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
4%

Technology & Tools

Hot Technologies

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Microsoft Word

Tools & Equipment (68)

  • Adjustable wrenches
  • Air hoists
  • Balance beam scales
  • Ball peen hammers
  • Blowout prevention equipment
  • Borehole casings
  • Breakout tongs
  • Casing elevators
  • Casing slips
  • Chain blocks
  • Derrick crown blocks
  • Derrick hoists
  • Derrick hooks
  • Derrick ladders
  • Derrick scaffolds
  • Derrick taglines
  • Derrick winches
  • Desander manifolds
  • Desilter manifolds
  • Dewatering screens
  • Double ring wrenches
  • Drill pipe thread protectors
  • Drilling draw works
  • Drilling fluid centrifuges
  • Drilling mud shale shakers
  • Drilling mud tanks
  • Face shields
  • Fall arrest harnesses
  • Forklifts
  • Geronimo lines
  • Hammer wrenches
  • Hydraulic jacks
  • Hydraulic power tongs
  • Hydrogen sulfide detectors
  • Inertia reels
  • Marsh funnels
  • Mobile radios
  • Mud agitating equipment
  • Mud cleaners
  • Mud degassing equipment
  • Mud guns
  • Mud hoppers
  • Mud hoses
  • Mud mixing pumps
  • Mud pumping equipment
  • Oil spill kits
  • Personal computers
  • Phillips head screwdrivers
  • Pipe wrenches
  • Pit volume totalizers
  • Portable fire extinguishers
  • Protective ear muffs
  • Protective ear plugs
  • Protective hard hats
  • Protective respirators
  • Protective safety glasses
  • Ratchet sets
  • Safety clamps
  • Safety goggles
  • Self-contained breathing apparatus
  • Self-retracting lifelines
  • Side cutting pliers
  • Sledgehammers
  • Spinning wrenches
  • Straight screwdrivers
  • Stuck pipe tools
  • Sucker rod wrenches
  • Tablet computers

Where This Career Leads

Career progression organized by specialty track and experience level.

Resource Extraction Advanced Manufacturing

Zone 1
Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas You are here
Zone 2
Helpers--Extraction Workers 95% match
Zone 3
Industrial Machinery Mechanics 76% match
Zone 4
Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians 75% match
Zone 5
Hydrologists 73% match

Resume Builder

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Related Occupations

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Real Talk

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