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Occupation AtlasDerrick Operators, Oil and Gas

O*NET · 47-5011.00

Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas

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

Also called Derrick Hand · Derrick Man · Derrick Operator · Derrick Worker · Derrickhand · Derrickman · Floor Hand · Fracturing Derrick Operator
6 more

Gas Derrick Operator · Oil Derrick Operator · Rig Hand · Rotary Derrick Operator · Roughneck · Well Service Derrick Worker

Job Zone 2 — Some Preparation NeededHolland code RCI35 skills on file

Compare with another occupationCompare with Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders

Job Zone

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5

Zone 2: Some Preparation Needed

Some preparation. Usually a high school diploma, some previous work-related skill or experience, and a few months to a year of training with experienced workers.

Job Zone is O*NET's rating of how much education, experience and training an occupation typically needs — a property of the work, not of anyone doing it.

Occupational interest profile

RCIRealistic · Conventional · Investigative — the three strongest interests, in order

  • R Realistic7.00
  • C Conventional3.64
  • I Investigative2.54
  • E Enterprising1.64
  • S Social1.01
  • A Artistic1.00

RIASEC (Holland) interests on O*NET's 0–7 scale: what the work draws on, not what any individual prefers. Hover a row for what each dimension means.

Education and experience

The education level respondents say the job requires, and the most common answer for experience and training.

  • Less than a High School Diploma69%
  • High School Diploma or the equivalent23%
  • Post-Secondary Certificate5%
  • Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree4%
Related work experience
Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years (39%)
On-site or in-plant training
Up to and including 1 month (34%)
On-the-job training
Anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month (49%)

Typically associated skills

All 35 O*NET skills, most important first. Importance (1–5) says how much a skill matters here; level (0–7) says how much of it the work calls for, with O*NET's example of a nearby level. Neither is a proficiency rating of a person.

  • Operations Monitoring4.03.9Level 4 looks like: Monitor machine functions on an automated production line
  • Operation and Control3.93.6Level 4 looks like: Adjust the speed of assembly line equipment based on the product being assembled
  • Critical Thinkingbasic3.53.1Level 4 looks like: Evaluate customer complaints and determine appropriate responses
  • Repairing3.43.6Level 4 looks like: Replace a faulty hydraulic valve
  • Monitoringbasic3.43.5Level 4 looks like: Monitor a meeting and revise the agenda to ensure important topics are discussed
  • Speakingbasic3.43.0Level 2 looks like: Greet tourists and explain tourist attractions
  • Quality Control Analysis3.33.6Level 4 looks like: Assess new parts for precision and accuracy to specifications
  • Troubleshooting3.33.3Level 4 looks like: Identify the circuit causing an electrical system to fail
  • Active Listeningbasic3.33.0Level 2 looks like: Take a customer's order
  • Complex Problem Solving3.32.9Level 2 looks like: Lay out tools to complete a job
  • Equipment Maintenance3.13.4Level 4 looks like: Clean moving parts in production machinery
  • Judgment and Decision Making3.12.6Level 2 looks like: Decide how scheduling a break will affect work flow
Show the other 23
  • Coordination3.03.4Level 4 looks like: Work with others to put a new roof on a house
  • Management of Personnel Resources3.03.4Level 4 looks like: Direct the activities of a road repair crew with minimal disruption of traffic flow
  • Instructing2.92.9Level 2 looks like: Instruct a new employee in the use of a timekeeping system
  • Reading Comprehensionbasic2.92.9Level 2 looks like: Read step-by-step instructions for completing a form
  • Social Perceptiveness2.92.8Level 2 looks like: Notice that customers are angry because they have been waiting too long
  • Time Management2.92.8Level 2 looks like: Keep a monthly calendar of appointments
  • Learning Strategiesbasic2.82.9Level 2 looks like: Learn a different method of completing a task from a coworker
  • Active Learningbasic2.82.6Level 2 looks like: Think about the implications of a news article for job opportunities
  • Writingbasic2.82.6Level 2 looks like: Write down a guest's order at a restaurant
  • Equipment Selection2.82.4Level 2 looks like: Select a tool to adjust a loose part on a bicycle
  • Systems Evaluation2.52.3Level 2 looks like: Determine why estimates for the time to complete a task are overly optimistic
  • Negotiation2.52.1Level 2 looks like: Present justification to a manager for altering a work schedule
  • Persuasion2.52.0Level 2 looks like: Solicit donations for a charity
  • Mathematicsbasic2.42.5Level 2 looks like: Count the amount of change to be given to a customer
  • Service Orientation2.41.9Level 2 looks like: Ask customers if they would like a cup of coffee
  • Systems Analysis2.32.0Level 2 looks like: Determine how loss of a team member will affect the completion of a job
  • Management of Material Resources2.31.6Level 2 looks like: Reserve a room for a management meeting
  • Management of Financial Resources1.91.1Level 2 looks like: Use available funds to buy office supplies and record the amount of the purchase
  • Operations Analysis1.40.4
  • Sciencebasic1.3—
  • Installation1.1—
  • Technology Design1.1—
  • Programming1.0—

Tasks

14 core · 1 supplemental

What people in this occupation do, as O*NET records it, core tasks first by importance (1–5).

  1. Start pumps that circulate mud through drill pipes and boreholes to cool drill bits and flush out drill cuttings.4.7
  2. Inspect derricks, or order their inspection, prior to being raised or lowered.4.6
  3. Control the viscosity and weight of the drilling fluid.4.6
  4. Listen to mud pumps and check regularly for vibration and other problems to ensure that rig pumps and drilling mud systems are working properly.4.6
  5. Inspect derricks for flaws, and clean and oil derricks to maintain proper working conditions.4.4
  6. Position and align derrick elements, using harnesses and platform climbing devices.4.4
  7. Supervise crew members, and provide assistance in training them.4.4
  8. Prepare mud reports, and instruct crews about the handling of any chemical additives.4.4
  9. Repair pumps, mud tanks, and related equipment.4.3
  10. Guide lengths of pipe into and out of elevators.4.2
  11. Weigh clay, and mix with water and chemicals to make drilling mud, using portable mixers.4.2
  12. Steady pipes during connection to or disconnection from drill or casing strings.4.2
Show the other 3
  1. Clamp holding fixtures on ends of hoisting cables.4.1
  2. String cables through pulleys and blocks.4.1
  3. Set and bolt crown blocks to posts at tops of derricks.4.4

Knowledge

Bodies of knowledge the work draws on.

  • Mechanical3.64.6Level 4 looks like: Replace a valve on a steam pipe
  • Mathematics3.33.3Level 4 looks like: Analyze data to determine areas with the highest sales
  • English Language3.22.9
  • Education and Training3.03.2Level 4 looks like: Lead a quality improvement seminar
  • Public Safety and Security2.82.8
  • Transportation2.82.9
  • Administration and Management2.72.8
  • Building and Construction2.52.8
Show all 33
  • Chemistry2.42.8
  • Customer and Personal Service2.42.2Level 1 looks like: Process a customer's dry-cleaning drop off
  • Law and Government2.42.2Level 1 looks like: Describe the length of a U.S. presidential term
  • Personnel and Human Resources2.41.8Level 1 looks like: Fill out a medical claim form
  • Physics2.42.9
  • Engineering and Technology2.22.2Level 1 looks like: Install a door lock
  • Geography2.22.3Level 1 looks like: Know the capital of the United States
  • Production and Processing2.21.6Level 1 looks like: Put a computer back into its packing materials
  • Psychology2.22.4Level 1 looks like: Monitor several children on a playground
  • Computers and Electronics2.01.7Level 1 looks like: Operate a media player to watch a training video
  • Administrative1.91.6Level 1 looks like: Direct phone calls to the appropriate staff member
  • Design1.91.9Level 1 looks like: Draw a straight line 4 3/16 inches long
  • Medicine and Dentistry1.91.2Level 1 looks like: Use a band-aid
  • Economics and Accounting1.81.3Level 1 looks like: Answer billing questions from credit card customers
  • Sociology and Anthropology1.81.2Level 1 looks like: Identify two cultures in a story as being different
  • Therapy and Counseling1.81.7Level 1 looks like: Put ice on a sprained ankle
  • Communications and Media1.61.1Level 1 looks like: Write a thank you note
  • Biology1.51.0Level 1 looks like: Feed domestic animals
  • Foreign Language1.51.0Level 1 looks like: Say "please" and "thank you" in a foreign language
  • Sales and Marketing1.4—
  • History and Archeology1.3—
  • Telecommunications1.3—
  • Fine Arts1.1—
  • Food Production1.1—
  • Philosophy and Theology1.1—

Abilities

Enduring capacities the work calls for.

  • Multilimb Coordination4.03.9Level 4 looks like: Operate a forklift truck in a warehouse
  • Control Precision3.94.0Level 4 looks like: Adjust farm tractor controls
  • Arm-Hand Steadiness3.83.1Level 4 looks like: Thread a needle
  • Manual Dexterity3.83.6Level 4 looks like: Pack oranges in crates as quickly as possible
  • Reaction Time3.84.0Level 4 looks like: Press a button to stop operation when a warning light goes off
  • Extent Flexibility3.64.1Level 4 looks like: Reach for a box on a high warehouse shelf
  • Problem Sensitivity3.63.4Level 4 looks like: Notice from a subtle difference in a client's mood that something is bothering them
  • Static Strength3.64.0Level 4 looks like: Pull a 40-pound sack of fertilizer across the lawn
Show all 52
  • Auditory Attention3.54.0Level 4 looks like: Listen for your flight announcement at a busy airport
  • Depth Perception3.54.0Level 4 looks like: Operate a crane to move materials from a truck bed to the ground
  • Hearing Sensitivity3.53.4Level 4 looks like: Diagnose what's wrong with a car engine from its sound
  • Stamina3.53.3Level 4 looks like: Climb 6 flights of stairs
  • Trunk Strength3.53.8Level 4 looks like: Shovel snow for half an hour
  • Deductive Reasoning3.42.9Level 2 looks like: Know that a stalled car can coast downhill
  • Far Vision3.43.1Level 4 looks like: Read the slides on a presentation from across a room
  • Flexibility of Closure3.43.5Level 4 looks like: Look for a golf ball in tall grass
  • Gross Body Equilibrium3.43.4Level 4 looks like: Walk on ice across a pond
  • Oral Expression3.43.8Level 4 looks like: Give instructions to a lost motorist
  • Selective Attention3.43.5Level 4 looks like: Watch security monitors for intruders throughout the night shift
  • Speech Clarity3.43.1Level 4 looks like: Make stadium-wide announcements during a sporting event
  • Finger Dexterity3.33.4Level 4 looks like: Attach small dials to audio equipment on an assembly line
  • Gross Body Coordination3.33.1Level 4 looks like: Swim the length of a pool
  • Inductive Reasoning3.32.9Level 2 looks like: Decide what to wear based on the weather report
  • Near Vision3.33.3Level 2 looks like: Read indicators on the dashboard of a car
  • Oral Comprehension3.33.8Level 4 looks like: Understand a coach's oral instructions for a sport
  • Perceptual Speed3.33.4Level 4 looks like: Read five pressure indicators in 10 seconds to make sure each is within safe limits
  • Response Orientation3.33.4Level 4 looks like: Use either the brake or gas pedal when your vehicle is skidding
  • Speech Recognition3.32.5Level 2 looks like: Recognize the voice of a coworker
  • Visualization3.33.4Level 4 looks like: Follow a diagram to assemble a metal storage cabinet
  • Information Ordering3.13.1Level 2 looks like: Follow the correct steps to make change
  • Rate Control3.13.4Level 4 looks like: Keep up with a car that changes speed
  • Speed of Limb Movement3.13.3Level 4 looks like: Swat a fly with a fly swatter
  • Visual Color Discrimination3.12.8
  • Category Flexibility3.02.5Level 2 looks like: Sort paintbrushes based on length
  • Speed of Closure3.02.8Level 3 looks like: Recognize a song after hearing only the first few notes
  • Glare Sensitivity2.92.6Level 2 looks like: Drive on a familiar road on a cloudy day
  • Time Sharing2.93.1Level 3 looks like: Watch street signs while driving at 30 miles an hour
  • Dynamic Strength2.82.9Level 2 looks like: Use pruning shears to trim a bush
  • Wrist-Finger Speed2.82.6Level 3 looks like: Carve roast beef in a cafeteria
  • Written Comprehension2.82.6Level 2 looks like: Understand signs on the highway
  • Written Expression2.82.6
  • Number Facility2.62.0Level 1 looks like: Add 2 and 7
  • Spatial Orientation2.62.3Level 2 looks like: Use the floor plan to locate a store in a mall
  • Fluency of Ideas2.42.1Level 2 looks like: Name four different uses for a screwdriver
  • Mathematical Reasoning2.42.0Level 1 looks like: Determine how much 20 oranges will cost when they are priced at 5 for 4 dollars
  • Memorization2.42.4Level 1 looks like: Remember the number on your bus to be sure you get back on the right one
  • Peripheral Vision2.42.0Level 2 looks like: Keep in step while marching in a band
  • Sound Localization2.42.1Level 2 looks like: Listen to a sound system to determine which speaker is working
  • Originality2.32.0Level 2 looks like: Use a credit card to open a locked door
  • Night Vision2.01.8Level 2 looks like: Read street signs at dusk (just after sunset)
  • Dynamic Flexibility1.3—
  • Explosive Strength1.3—

Work activities

Kinds of activity the work is made of.

  • Controlling Machines and Processes4.54.8Level 4 looks like: Operate a drilling rig
  • Handling and Moving Objects4.46.0Level 7 looks like: Load boxes on an assembly line
  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials4.44.9Level 4 looks like: Inspect equipment in a chemical processing plant
  • Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment4.44.4Level 4 looks like: Drive an 18-wheel tractor-trailer
  • Performing General Physical Activities4.46.1Level 7 looks like: Climb up and down poles to install electricity
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates4.35.1Level 4 looks like: Report the results of a sales meeting to a supervisor
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems4.35.2Level 4 looks like: Select the location for a major retail store
  • Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment4.34.9Level 4 looks like: Change the oil on a tractor
Show all 41
  • Training and Teaching Others4.34.5Level 4 looks like: Teach a social sciences course to high school students
  • Developing and Building Teams4.14.0Level 4 looks like: Lead an assembly team in an automobile plant
  • Getting Information4.13.6Level 4 looks like: Review a budget
  • Developing Objectives and Strategies4.04.5Level 4 looks like: Develop the plan to complete the merger of two organizations over a 3-year period
  • Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates4.04.3Level 4 looks like: Manage a small team of employees in a dynamic workplace
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events4.04.0Level 4 looks like: Judge the suitability of food products for an event
  • Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings4.04.8Level 4 looks like: Test electrical circuits
  • Thinking Creatively4.04.5Level 4 looks like: Adapt popular music for a high school marching band
  • Assisting and Caring for Others3.93.9Level 4 looks like: Help a medical patient find in-home assistance or healthcare
  • Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others3.94.1Level 4 looks like: Organize the cleanup crew after a major sporting event
  • Coaching and Developing Others3.83.5Level 4 looks like: Provide on-the-job training for administrative workers
  • Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work3.84.6Level 4 looks like: Plan and adjust a personal to-do list according to changing demands
  • Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge3.84.6Level 4 looks like: Keep current on changes in maintenance procedures for repairing sports cars
  • Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others3.74.0Level 4 looks like: Interpret how foreign tax laws apply to U.S. exports
  • Communicating with People Outside the Organization3.53.9Level 4 looks like: Present information to potential clients about available services
  • Providing Consultation and Advice to Others3.54.0Level 4 looks like: Recommend a new software package to increase operational efficiency
  • Analyzing Data or Information3.44.3Level 4 looks like: Determine the interest cost to finance a new building
  • Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others3.44.0Level 4 looks like: Get two subordinates to agree about vacation schedules
  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships3.34.0Level 4 looks like: Maintain good working relationships with almost all coworkers and clients
  • Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards3.34.0Level 4 looks like: Evaluate a complicated insurance claim for compliance with policy terms
  • Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment3.33.5Level 4 looks like: Make repairs by removing and replacing circuit boards
  • Scheduling Work and Activities3.33.7Level 4 looks like: Prepare the work schedule for salesclerks in a large retail store
  • Documenting/Recording Information3.23.8Level 4 looks like: Document the results of a crime scene investigation
  • Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information3.13.6Level 4 looks like: Estimate the time required to evacuate a city in the event of a major disaster
  • Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People3.13.8Level 4 looks like: Determine the value of property lost in a fire
  • Monitoring and Controlling Resources3.13.2Level 4 looks like: Work as a chef responsible for ordering food for the menu
  • Processing Information3.13.8Level 4 looks like: Calculate the adjustments for insurance claims
  • Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment2.83.0Level 4 looks like: Specify the furniture and equipment for a new school
  • Staffing Organizational Units2.62.5Level 1 looks like: Work in a position that has minimal staffing requirements
  • Performing for or Working Directly with the Public2.42.5Level 1 looks like: Check tickets at a concert
  • Selling or Influencing Others2.42.6
  • Performing Administrative Activities2.22.1Level 1 looks like: Complete routine paperwork
  • Working with Computers2.22.1Level 1 looks like: Enter employee information into a database

Work context

The conditions most characteristic of the work, on O*NET's 1–5 context scale.

  • Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable4.9
  • Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets4.9
  • Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions4.8
  • Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams4.7
  • Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures4.6
  • In an Open Vehicle or Operating Equipment4.6
  • Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment4.4
  • Contact With Others4.3
  • Coordinate or Lead Others in Accomplishing Work Activities4.3
  • Exposed to Contaminants4.3

Technology

3 tools

Software used in this work. In demand: among the tools job postings for this occupation name most. Hot: often named in job postings across the economy.

Hot (3)

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Microsoft Word

Related occupations

O*NET's own list of the occupations most related to this one, closest first.

  1. Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas
  2. Roustabouts, Oil and Gas
  3. Helpers--Extraction Workers
  4. Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas
  5. Wellhead Pumpers
  6. Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas
  7. Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
  8. Hoist and Winch Operators
  9. Pile Driver Operators
  10. Dredge Operators

ESCO equivalents

From the official ESCO–O*NET crosswalk, strongest match first. A broader occupation takes in this one; a narrower one is a part of it.

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This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. ESCO occupations and skills are from the European Commission's ESCO classification, and the occupation crosswalk is the official ESCO–O*NET mapping by the ESCO Secretariat with USDOL/ETA. This service uses the ESCO classification of the European Commission. BlissPoint Analytics has modified all or some of this information: skill, task and descriptor ratings are rounded to one decimal, and ESCO occupations show Job Zone and interests copied from a crosswalked O*NET occupation. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.