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Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas

SOC 47-5012.00Job Zone 2 · Some Preparationv.26.05

Context coveredThis framework covers rotary drill operation for oil and gas extraction, spanning equipment control, borehole monitoring, crew coordination, maintenance, recordkeeping, and safety leadership on active and training well sites calibrated to Job Zone 2 vocational preparation.

Sources:O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.SkillsCrosswalkSkillsCrosswalk — O*NET enrichment + adjacency index. Opens in new tab.
Emerging
Entry / Apprentice
  1. Drill pipe sections — count and record under direct supervision to verify borehole depth on an active oil and gas well site.
  2. Hand tools and powered wrenches — assist in connecting sections of drill pipe under the guidance of a senior operator during routine drilling operations.
  3. Pressure gauges and basic instrument panels — identify and read to recognize normal operating ranges while shadowing experienced crew members.
  4. Throttles and levers on the rotary table — operate at reduced speed under close direction to maintain basic drilling tempo on a supervised rig.
  5. Slush pump operation — observe startup procedures and report circulation inconsistencies of drilling fluid to a lead operator during initial well runs.
  6. Draw works controls, including brake pedals and levers — practice lowering and raising drill pipe under direct supervision on a training rig or live site.
  7. Drilling activity logs — complete basic entries for footage drilled and time required using paper or digital templates provided by a supervisor.
  8. Personal protective equipment and rig safety protocols — follow established procedures consistently to support crew safety on a working drill site.
  9. Mechanical components of rotary drill equipment — identify major parts and their functions during pre-shift walkarounds with experienced crew.
  10. Verbal instructions from lead operators — listen actively and confirm understanding before executing assigned tasks on a live drilling operation.
Developing
Mid-level / Established
  1. Rotary table speed and borehole pressure — monitor and adjust throttles and levers with reduced oversight to maintain target drilling parameters on a producing well.
  2. Drill pipe sections — independently count, tally, and cross-reference records to confirm borehole depth accuracy during routine field operations.
  3. Powered tongs and wrenches — connect and disconnect drill pipe sections reliably and safely with minimal supervision on day-to-day drilling shifts.
  4. Draw works brake pedals and levers — control lowering and raising of casings and drill strings consistently across varying load conditions at an oil field site.
  5. Slush pump startup and monitoring — execute circulation checks and adjust mud consistency within standard parameters to support uninterrupted drilling.
  6. Drilling records database — enter footage, strata descriptions, materials, tools, and service data accurately using field software after each shift.
  7. Rig machinery and auxiliary equipment — perform scheduled maintenance tasks and minor adjustments to reduce downtime on an active drilling site.
  8. Crew coordination — communicate task assignments and sequencing clearly to fellow crew members during standard drilling and tripping operations.
  9. Equipment anomalies — apply basic troubleshooting steps to identify and resolve common mechanical issues before escalating to a senior operator.
  10. Drilling fluid properties — read and interpret field measurements and adapt pump settings within established guidelines to sustain borehole integrity.
Proficient
Senior / Expert IC
  1. Full rotary drill operation — control all throttles, levers, and draw works autonomously across routine and non-routine drilling scenarios on oil and gas well sites.
  2. Borehole pressure management — analyze pressure gauge trends and make real-time adjustments to prevent well control incidents during complex drilling intervals.
  3. Strata and formation records — document penetrated materials, borehole conditions, and equipment performance comprehensively in compliance with regulatory requirements.
  4. Slush pump systems — diagnose circulation problems, adjust fluid weight and viscosity, and restore normal mud flow independently during active drilling operations.
  5. Drill string assembly and tripping — supervise and perform efficient connection, disconnection, and handling of drill pipe and casing in varied well configurations.
  6. Machinery maintenance and repair — conduct detailed inspections, calibrate components, and execute corrective repairs to sustain rig performance across extended campaigns.
  7. Non-routine mechanical failures — apply systematic troubleshooting methods to isolate root causes and restore equipment function with minimal operational delay.
  8. Crew performance and safety compliance — evaluate team adherence to drilling procedures and intervene decisively when unsafe conditions are identified on site.
  9. Operational data analysis — review footage, time, and resource consumption records to identify inefficiencies and recommend procedural improvements to supervisors.
  10. Cross-functional communication — coordinate with engineers, geologists, and service company personnel to align drilling parameters with well plan objectives.
Advanced
Lead / Principal / Executive
  1. Crew training programs — design and deliver structured on-site instruction covering safe drilling practices, equipment operation, and emergency response for new and experienced operators.
  2. Rig safety culture — establish and enforce safety standards, introduce improved procedures, and model cautiousness to reduce incident rates across all crew shifts.
  3. Drilling performance strategy — set operational targets for rate of penetration, bit selection, and mud programs, and guide crews to meet those benchmarks on complex well projects.
  4. Multi-well records and compliance reporting — oversee maintenance of all drilling logs, footage reports, and regulatory documentation to organizational and government standards.
  5. Equipment maintenance planning — develop preventive maintenance schedules, manage spare-parts inventories, and lead major overhaul decisions to maximize rig uptime.
  6. Workforce development — mentor developing and proficient operators, assess individual skill gaps, and create growth pathways aligned with organizational staffing needs.
  7. Operational risk assessment — lead pre-job hazard analyses, apply critical thinking to evaluate well control risks, and authorize procedural deviations when conditions warrant.
  8. Technology integration — evaluate and champion adoption of industrial control software, ERP systems, and analytical tools to improve rig monitoring and reporting efficiency.
  9. Cross-departmental leadership — represent field operations in planning meetings with engineering, HSE, and management teams to align drilling execution with project goals.
  10. Organizational knowledge transfer — codify best practices, lessons learned, and procedural improvements into written standards used by crews across multiple rig operations.

AI-at-Work Competency Framework

Sources:Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab.Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab.WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab.

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Sources:Pathsmith™ Durable SkillsPathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
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Show O*NET source anchors55 anchors · skillscrosswalk.com

O*NET enrichment · skillscrosswalk.com

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Source anchors that ground each statement

Related titles
Pipeline Inspector · Petroleum Equipment Installer · Blast Driller · Cable Driller · Cable Tool Driller · Cable Tool Operator · Clean Out Driller · Core Drill Operator · Core Driller · Daylight Driller · Derrickhand · Directional Drill Operator
RAPIDS apprenticeships
0268 · Pipeline Inspector · 0269 · Petroleum Equipment Installer
O*NET skills
Operation and ControlOperations MonitoringCritical ThinkingMonitoringInstructingActive ListeningCoordinationSpeakingReading ComprehensionComplex Problem SolvingJudgment and Decision MakingEquipment MaintenanceTroubleshootingRepairingQuality Control AnalysisWritingLearning Strategies
Knowledge domains
MechanicalMathematicsAdministration and ManagementEducation and TrainingPersonnel and Human Resources
Abilities
Problem SensitivityControl PrecisionNear VisionManual DexterityArm-Hand SteadinessMultilimb CoordinationInformation OrderingOral ComprehensionOral ExpressionFinger Dexterity
Work styles
DependabilityCautiousnessAttention to DetailStress TolerancePerseveranceLeadership Orientation
Technology
Industrial control softwareData base user interface and query softwareSpreadsheet softwareOffice suite softwareWord processing softwareObject or component oriented development softwareCustomer relationship management CRM softwareEnterprise resource planning ERP softwareAnalytical or scientific software
Tasks · seed anchors for statements
  1. Train crews, and introduce procedures to make drill work more safe and effective.
  2. 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.
  3. Count sections of drill rod to determine depths of boreholes.
  4. 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.
  5. Connect sections of drill pipe, using hand tools and powered wrenches and tongs.
  6. Maintain records of footage drilled, location and nature of strata penetrated, materials and tools used, services rendered, and time required.
  7. Maintain and adjust machinery to ensure proper performance.
  8. Start and examine operation of slush pumps to ensure circulation and consistency of drilling fluid or mud in well.
CIP education codes
46.0504

Sources: O*NET v30.2 (CC BY 4.0), SkillsCrosswalk.com, LER.me®, Anthropic Economic Index, SAFI (Jadhav & Danve, 2026), WEF Skills Taxonomy 2021, Pathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework. © 2026 EBSCOed.