Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas

Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas

Operate equipment to increase oil flow from producing wells or to remove stuck pipe, casing, tools, or other obstructions from drilling wells. Includes fishing-tool technicians.

• Maintain and perform safety inspections on equipment and tools.
• Operate pumps that circulate water, oil, or other fluids through wells to remove sand or other materials obstructing the free flow of oil.
• Perforate well casings or sidewalls of boreholes with explosive charges.
• Direct drilling crews performing activities such as assembling and connecting pipe, applying weights to drill pipes, or drilling around lodged obstacles.
• Monitor sound wave‑generating or detecting mechanisms to determine well fluid levels.
• Operate controls that raise derricks or level rigs.
• Close and seal wells no longer in use.
• Listen to engines, rotary chains, or other equipment to detect faulty operations or unusual well conditions.
• Install pressure‑control devices onto wellheads.
• Prepare reports of services rendered, tools used, or time required, for billing purposes.
• Apply green technologies or techniques, such as the use of coiled tubing, slim‑hole drilling, horizontal drilling, hydraulic fracturing, or gas lift systems.
• Operate specialized equipment to remove obstructions by backing off or severing pipes by chemical or explosive action.
• Insert detection instruments into wells with obstructions.
• Examine unserviceable wells to determine actions to be taken to improve well conditions.
• Thread cables through derrick pulleys, using hand tools.
• Interpret instrument readings to ascertain the depth of obstruction.
• Confer with others to gather information regarding pipe or tool sizes or borehole conditions in wells.
• Drive truck‑mounted units to well sites.
• Select fishing methods or tools for removing obstacles such as liners, broken casing, screens, or drill pipe.