Earth Drillers, and Gas

Occupation 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.

• Disinfect, reconstruct, and redevelop contaminated wells and water pumping systems, and clean and disinfect new wells in preparation for use.
• Review client requirements and proposed locations for drilling operations to determine feasibility, and to determine cost estimates.
• Drill or bore holes in rock for blasting, grouting, anchoring, or building foundations.
• Select the appropriate drill for the job, using knowledge of rock or soil conditions.
• Assemble and position machines, augers, casing pipes, and other equipment, using hand and power tools.
• Operate water-well drilling rigs and other equipment to drill, bore, and dig for water wells or for environmental assessment purposes.

These are the skills Earth Drillers say are the most useful in their careers:

Operation Monitoring
:
Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

Operation and Control
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Controlling operations of equipment or systems.

Critical Thinking
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Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Equipment Maintenance
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Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.

Monitoring
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Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Active Listening
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Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

• Horizontal Earth Boring Machine Operator
• Shot Core Drill Operator
• Earth Boring Machine Operator
• Drill Technician