Dictionary
of Occupational Titles
PETROLEUM
AND NATURAL GAS PRODUCTION INDUSTRY
B
Back-Up Worker
roughneck Assists ROTARY DRILLER (petrol. &
gas) in operating machinery to drill oil or gas wells, using handtools and power tongs and wrenches: Assembles and
disassembles casings and pipe sections, using hand and power wrenches and
tongs. Sets curved metal wedges around pipe string at wellhead to prevent
string from falling into well during change or addition of pipe sections.
Tightens or loosens threaded joints between sections, using tongs or chain
wrenches. Guides lower end of pipe sections to or from well opening. Loosens or
tightens joints, using cathead (winch). Mixes drilling mud
(clay and sand slush), using power agitators. Reads gauge to ascertain
pressure on drilling tools at bottom of well and reports irregularities to
ROTARY DRILLER (petrol. & gas). Repairs drilling
machinery, slush pumps, and derricks. Digs drainage ditches, racks
tools, and cleans drilling floor around rig. May assist in
erecting and dismantling rigs. Performs other duties
as described under HELPER (any industry) Master Title. May be known according to specific duty performed as Back-Up Worker
(petrol. & gas); Cathead Worker (petrol. & gas); Lead-Tong Worker (petrol. &
gas); Pipe Racker (petrol.
& gas).
Bailer
Operates
truck-mounted hoist equipped with derrick to clean out and restore old and
damaged oil or gas wells: Moves lever to raise derrick over wellhead. Directs CLEAN-OUT-DRILLER HELPER (petrol. &
gas) to jack up truck body and to center hoisting cable over borehole. Assembles and attaches
cleanout tools to cable, using handtools. Moves winch
lever to lower tools into well. Cleans sand, paraffin, or pipe scale from well,
using special scaling and bailing tools. Removes debris from well, using
bailer. Lowers blocks composed of soft lead or covered with wax, tar, or soap
to take impression of broken equipment in well. Lowers
grappling tools into well to probe for and remove obstruction, using hoist.
Lowers and raises swabbing tool that creates vacuum and draws well fluids
through pipe screens and well perforations, using hoist. May
be designated according to specific activity as Bailer (petrol. & gas); Swabber (petrol. & gas).
Bottom-Hole-Pressure-Recording Operator
Charts
pressure, temperature, and other characteristics of oil and gas well boreholes
or producing wells, using special subsurface instruments, and interprets
findings for use in determining further drilling or producing procedures:
Directs workers in assembling wire line hoisting gear and attaching line to
instruments. Gives directions to HOIST OPERATOR (petrol.
& gas) to lower clinograph into well to determine variation of well from vertical (instrument
records variation on chart). Informs ROTARY DRILLER
(petrol. & gas) of variation from vertical.
Lowers weighted wire into well and reads depth of well from recording wheel. Lowers depth bomb into well that records pressure at various depths
to determine rate of natural flow of oil from well. Lowers
thermometers and other instruments with accompanying recording devices through
tubing, casing, drill pipe, or open borehole. Raises instruments from
well and removes chart recordings. Measures, converts, records, and interprets
data for use by engineering personnel and management in determining drilling or
production procedures. May calibrate recording devices.
May repair and maintain instruments. May be designated
according to specialty as Bottom-Hole-Pressure-Recording Operator (petrol.
& gas).
BOTTOM-HOLE-PRESSURE-RECORDING-OPERATOR
HELPER
Unloads recording equipment at well site for use in determining pressure
in oil or gas wells: Attaches conductor cable to instrument and tightens clamps,
fittings, and electrical connections, using wrenches and screwdrivers. Observes coiling of conductor cable on hoist drum to prevent damage
to cable. Dismantles equipment after use. May drive truck to and from well site when working as member of crew.
BULK-STATION OPERATOR
Controls
conveyors and blending equipment to mix materials according to specification
for use in cementing oil and gas wells: Operates electric-powered winch to spot
railroad cars over underground hoppers. Breaks seal and opens bottom-dump doors
on car with prybar to unload cement and other
materials in hopper. Presses button to start conveyor which transfers materials
to storage bins. Pulls levers and presses switches to start and stop conveyors
and blending equipment and to open and close discharge gates on storage bins. Empties sacks of additive chemicals into blender hoppers to prepare
dry cement mixtures, following formulas. Prepares delivery tickets (call
sheets) and weighs trucks and materials as loaded.
Records quantities of materials received and issued on inventory control
records. Estimates materials in bulk storage bins
periodically to verify inventory records. Requisitions
materials to replenish stocks.
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job