Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas
Set up or operate a variety of drills to remove underground oil and gas, or remove core samples for testing during oil and gas exploration.
AI Impact Summary
Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas faces moderate AI displacement risk with a score of 28/100. This occupation has higher AI displacement risk than 31% of all analyzed occupations. Of 22 analyzed tasks, 2 are highly automatable, particularly routine cognitive tasks. Strong protective factors — including social intelligence, creativity, or regulatory barriers — significantly reduce effective risk.
Skill Impact Analysis
AI-Vulnerable Skills (6)
High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Programming is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
AI-Resistant Skills (11)
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Manual Dexterity is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Instructing is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Equipment Maintenance is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
AI-Augmented Skills (7)
Recommended Courses
Courses matched to Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas skill gaps, ranked by relevance to your displacement risk profile.
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Upskill to Reduce Risk
Courses addressing your most AI-vulnerable skills
SQL Fundamentals Skill Track
by DataCamp
Estimated Impact
AI-Augmentation Tools
Learn to work alongside AI and boost your productivity
Google UX Design Professional Certificate
by Google
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Strengthen Your Edge
Double down on skills AI can't replicate
Leading People and Teams Specialization
by University of Michigan
Estimated Impact
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Risk reduction and salary impact are estimates based on skill gap analysis, course relevance, and labor market data. Actual results vary by individual circumstance.
Education & Training
Percentage of workers at each education and training level
Education Level
Prior Experience Needed
Work experience required to enter this job
Training Provided After Hiring
How long it typically takes to learn on the job
How AI Impacts Each Task
22 tasks analyzed
Train crews, and introduce procedures to make drill work more safe and effective.
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.
Count sections of drill rod to determine depths of boreholes.
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.
Connect sections of drill pipe, using hand tools and powered wrenches and tongs.
Maintain records of footage drilled, location and nature of strata penetrated, materials and tools used, services rendered, and time required.
Maintain and adjust machinery to ensure proper performance.
Start and examine operation of slush pumps to ensure circulation and consistency of drilling fluid or mud in well.
Locate and recover lost or broken bits, casings, and drill pipes from wells, using special tools.
Direct rig crews in drilling and other activities, such as setting up rigs and completing or servicing wells.
Weigh clay, and mix with water and chemicals to make drilling mud.
Monitor progress of drilling operations, and select and change drill bits according to the nature of strata, using hand tools.
Repair or replace defective parts of machinery, such as rotary drill rigs, water trucks, air compressors, and pumps, using hand tools.
Cap wells with packers, or turn valves, to regulate outflow of oil from wells.
Clean and oil pulleys, blocks, and cables.
Line drilled holes with pipes, and install all necessary hardware, to prepare new wells.
Bolt together pump and engine parts, and connect tanks and flow lines.
Position and prepare truck-mounted derricks at drilling areas specified on field maps.
Remove core samples during drilling to determine the nature of the strata being drilled.
Plug observation wells, and restore sites.
Lower and explode charges in boreholes to start flow of oil from wells.
Dig holes, set forms, and mix and pour concrete, for foundations of steel or wooden derricks.
| Task | AI Capability | Risk | Time % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Train crews, and introduce procedures to make drill work more safe and effective. | 10Estimated | 19.0% | 5% | |
| 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. | 55Estimated | 55.0% | 14% | |
| Count sections of drill rod to determine depths of boreholes. | 92Estimated | 86.0% | 2% | |
| 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. | 45Estimated | 51.0% | 9% | |
| Connect sections of drill pipe, using hand tools and powered wrenches and tongs. | 40Estimated | 49.0% | 9% | |
| Maintain records of footage drilled, location and nature of strata penetrated, materials and tools used, services rendered, and time required. | 97Estimated | 88.0% | 5% | |
| Maintain and adjust machinery to ensure proper performance. | 5Estimated | 11.0% | 5% | |
| Start and examine operation of slush pumps to ensure circulation and consistency of drilling fluid or mud in well. | 40Estimated | 49.0% | 4% | |
| Locate and recover lost or broken bits, casings, and drill pipes from wells, using special tools. | 5Estimated | 11.0% | 4% | |
| Direct rig crews in drilling and other activities, such as setting up rigs and completing or servicing wells. | 10Estimated | 19.0% | 8% | |
| Weigh clay, and mix with water and chemicals to make drilling mud. | 35Estimated | 47.0% | 3% | |
| Monitor progress of drilling operations, and select and change drill bits according to the nature of strata, using hand tools. | 45Estimated | 45.0% | 5% | |
| Repair or replace defective parts of machinery, such as rotary drill rigs, water trucks, air compressors, and pumps, using hand tools. | 5Estimated | 11.0% | 5% | |
| Cap wells with packers, or turn valves, to regulate outflow of oil from wells. | 35Estimated | 47.0% | 3% | |
| Clean and oil pulleys, blocks, and cables. | 35Estimated | 47.0% | 3% | |
| Line drilled holes with pipes, and install all necessary hardware, to prepare new wells. | 35Estimated | 47.0% | 3% | |
| Bolt together pump and engine parts, and connect tanks and flow lines. | 35Estimated | 47.0% | 3% | |
| Position and prepare truck-mounted derricks at drilling areas specified on field maps. | 5Estimated | 11.0% | 2% | |
| Remove core samples during drilling to determine the nature of the strata being drilled. | 35Estimated | 47.0% | 2% | |
| Plug observation wells, and restore sites. | 35Estimated | 47.0% | 2% | |
| Lower and explode charges in boreholes to start flow of oil from wells. | 5Estimated | 11.0% | 2% | |
| Dig holes, set forms, and mix and pour concrete, for foundations of steel or wooden derricks. | 35Estimated | 47.0% | 2% |
Protective Factors
Total protective discount: 31.4%
Essential Soft Skills
Traits that are hard for AI to replicate
Wage & Employment (2024)
Median Wage
$65,010
per year
Mean Wage
$70,080
per year
Employment
13K
workers
Wage Range
$42,750 - $98,510
10th - 90th pct
Wage Distribution
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Recommendations
Skills to Develop
These skills are at risk from AI automation. Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas professionals should diversify beyond them.
- Mathematics
High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Information Ordering
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Reading Comprehension
High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Mathematics
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
- Memorization
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Skills to Leverage
These human-centric skills remain difficult for AI to replicate. Double down here.
- Leadership
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Adaptability/Flexibility
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Manual Dexterity
Manual Dexterity is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Instructing
Instructing is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Coordination
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Tools to Adopt
AI can amplify these skills. Learn the tools that augment rather than replace your work.
- Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Monitoring
Monitoring will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Judgment and Decision Making
Judgment and Decision Making will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Writing
Writing will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Active Learning
Active Learning will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
Score History
Risk score over 2 scoring runs
overall change