DETAILED OCCUPATION DATA
47-5013 Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas
Occupational Description:
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.| Percentiles | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geography | Employment | Emp SE* | Mean | Mean SE* | 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
| Southwest Minnesota | N/A | 6 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Minnesota | N/A | N/A | N/A | $0.71/hr | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| U S | 51,760 | 1,863 | $25.07/hr | $0.33/hr | $15.58/hr | $18.14/hr | $22.80/hr | $29.51/hr | $37.98/hr |
| *SE = Standard error, a measure of the statistical reliability of the estimate. | |||||||||
| Occupation (click title for details) | OES | Projections | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employment | Median Wage | % Change 2022 - 2032 | |
| Crane and Tower Operators | 40 | $29.02/hr | 3.1% |
| Power Distributors and Dispatchers | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Tasks for Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas
- Operates equipment to increase oil flow from producing wells.
- Assembles and lowers detection instruments into wells having drill pipe, drilling tools, or other obstructions wedged in well.
- Assembles and operates sound wave generating and detecting mechanisms for determining fluid level in wells.
- Interprets instrument readings to ascertain depth of obstruction.
- Prepares reports of services rendered, tools used, and time required.
- Directs activities of preparing for and drilling around lodged obstacles or specified earth formations with specialized tools and whipstocks.
- Directs other worker to assemble and connect pipe and hydraulic lines of flushing equipment to wellhead.
- Directs drilling crew in installation of well-bottom equipment.
- Directs lowering of specialized equipment to point of obstruction.
- Observes variations on gauges, mud pumps, and pressure indicators, and listens to equipment to detect faulty operations or unusual conditions.
- Perforates well casing or sidewall of borehole with explosive charge.
- Confers with other personnel to gather information regarding size of pipes and tools and borehole conditions in wells.
- Plans fishing methods and selects tools for removing obstacles, such as liners, broken casing, screens, and drill pipe from wells.
- Starts pumps which circulate water, oil, or other fluid through well, removing sand and other materials obstructing free flow of oil.
- Moves controls to back off pipe or to sever pipe at point of obstruction.
- Analyzes conditions of unserviceable oil or gas wells and directs recovery of lost equipment and other obstacles from boreholes.
- Operates hoist to lower and raise tools.
- Operates equipment to remove stuck pipe, casing, tools, or other obstructions from drilling wells, using specialized subsurface tools and instruments.
