47-5012.00 · Task explorer
Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas: reported tasks and exploration worksheet
Set up or operate a variety of drills to remove underground oil and gas, or remove core samples for testing during oil and gas exploration.
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Read the task inventory
This source lists 21 tasks, including 18 marked Core and 3 marked Supplemental. Labels and dates are retained below. Employers can combine or divide these responsibilities differently; explore the task itself before assuming it belongs in every version of the role.
Task source dates: 08/2026.
21 tasks shown
Core · Task 8296 · 08/2026 · Incumbent
Train crews, and introduce procedures to make drill work more safe and effective.
Core · Task 8297 · 08/2026 · Incumbent
Observe pressure gauge and move throttles and levers to control the speed of rotary tables, and to regulate pressure of tools at bottoms of boreholes.
Core · Task 8301 · 08/2026 · Incumbent
Maintain records of footage drilled, location and nature of strata penetrated, materials and tools used, services rendered, and time required.
Core · Task 8299 · 08/2026 · Incumbent
Push levers and brake pedals to control gasoline, diesel, electric, or steam draw works that lower and raise drill pipes and casings in and out of wells.
Core · Task 8300 · 08/2026 · Incumbent
Connect sections of drill pipe, using hand tools and powered wrenches and tongs.
Core · Task 8298 · 08/2026 · Incumbent
Count sections of drill rod to determine depths of boreholes.
Core · Task 8302 · 08/2026 · Incumbent
Maintain and adjust machinery to ensure proper performance.
Core · Task 8306 · 08/2026 · Incumbent
Direct rig crews in drilling and other activities, such as setting up rigs and completing or servicing wells.
Core · Task 8305 · 08/2026 · Incumbent
Weigh clay, and mix with water and chemicals to make drilling mud.
Core · Task 8303 · 08/2026 · Incumbent
Start and examine operation of slush pumps to ensure circulation and consistency of drilling fluid or mud in well.
Core · Task 8309 · 08/2026 · Incumbent
Clean and oil pulleys, blocks, and cables.
Core · Task 8307 · 08/2026 · Incumbent
Monitor progress of drilling operations, and select and change drill bits according to the nature of strata, using hand tools.
Core · Task 8308 · 08/2026 · Incumbent
Repair or replace defective parts of machinery, such as rotary drill rigs, water trucks, air compressors, and pumps, using hand tools.
Core · Task 8304 · 08/2026 · Incumbent
Locate and recover lost or broken bits, casings, and drill pipes from wells, using special tools.
Core · Task 8313 · 08/2026 · Incumbent
Line drilled holes with pipes, and install all necessary hardware, to prepare new wells.
Core · Task 8312 · 08/2026 · Incumbent
Cap wells with packers, or turn valves, to regulate outflow of oil from wells.
Core · Task 8311 · 08/2026 · Incumbent
Remove core samples during drilling to determine the nature of the strata being drilled.
Core · Task 8310 · 08/2026 · Incumbent
Bolt together pump and engine parts, and connect tanks and flow lines.
Supplemental · Task 8315 · 08/2026 · Incumbent
Plug observation wells, and restore sites.
Supplemental · Task 8314 · 08/2026 · Incumbent
Position and prepare truck-mounted derricks at drilling areas specified on field maps.
Supplemental · Task 8316 · 08/2026 · Incumbent
Lower and explode charges in boreholes to start flow of oil from wells.
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Source and practice material
Occupational context uses the O*NET® 31.0 Database from the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, under CC BY 4.0. View the occupation.
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