Driller's Assistant

821912 · Very Heavy Next-day ready

Performs routine tasks in setting up, operating and dismantling drilling sites for extracting oil, gas, mineral ore or water.

Working with an experienced driller sets up rig and drilling equipment; directs assembly and disassembly of pipes, casings and drill headings and controls speed and force of drilling; examines cores and cuttings to ascertain nature of strata; caps well or regulates valves which control outflow of gas or oil; attaches and detaches lifting equipment to lower or raise sections of drill pipe into or out of bore hole; controls pumps which circulate mud through drilling equipment; services pumps.

Works outdoors with a truck-mounted or stand-alone drilling rig.
Works in all weather conditions and may be on land or at a large offshore oil or gas rig.
Frequent jarring and jolting of the vehicle and rig is common when operating. The environment is also noisy and dirty. Protective equipment including hard hats, gloves and boots, as well as ear and eye protection will be worn.

Heavy to very heavy physical demand. Constant standing to operate rig, often on platform mounted on rear of truck or on drilling platform beside drill shaft.
Employees use upper limbs and body to stretch up and across to operate controls.
May occasionally squat, crouch or kneel to examine drilling progress and core samples.
Likely to twist the body or neck when operating the rig in order to position casings and other associated equipment.
Significant contact with water and mud is likely, but most will be pumped away.
Heavy lifting and carrying is required to move and install drill extension pieces, casings and piping for hole.
Frequent repetitive hand and arm movements including pushing and pulling is required for operation of controls and equipment.
Driving of rig/truck to site is likely for small on-shore operations such as water bores. Off-shore drilling requires no driving.
Employees use hand tools or equipment, frequently to fasten bolts and equipment and to maintain vehicle and rig. May also operate air compressor and crane-mounted rig to erect drilling derrick.
Frequent bending is likely.
Mental skills include machine operation, practical and technical skills.

Entry signal Reviewed

No formal entry barrier — can start without prior training. Flagged next-day ready.

Entry barrier No formal entry barrier

Licence / registration No licence required

ANZSCO skill level 5

Next-day ready Yes

How this was determined (model-generated): Nil entry requirements; driller's assistant is unskilled labouring, learned on the job.