What You Need to Know About Oil, Gas, and Mining Service Unit Operator
Career Description Operate equipment to increase oil flow from producing wells or to remove stuck pipe, casing, tools, or other obstructions from drilling wells. May also perform similar services in mining exploration operations. Includes fishing-tool technicians.
Daily Life Of an Oil, Gas, & Mining Service Unit Operator
- Examine unserviceable wells to determine actions to be taken to improve well conditions.
- Monitor sound wave generating or detecting mechanisms to determine well fluid levels.
- Listen to engines, rotary chains, or other equipment to detect faulty operations or unusual well conditions.
- Operate pumps that circulate water, oil, or other fluids through wells to remove sand or other materials obstructing the free flow of oil.
- Operate controls that raise derricks or level rigs.
- Select fishing methods or tools for removing obstacles such as liners, broken casing, screens, or drill pipe.
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Oil, Gas, & Mining Service Unit Operator Needed Skills
Below is a list of the skills most Oil, Gas, and Mining Service Unit Operators say are important on the job.
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Troubleshooting: Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Types of Oil, Gas, & Mining Service Unit Operator Jobs
- Coiled Tubing Supervisor
- Tar Processing Technician
- Service Unit Operator
- Unit Operator
- Reverse Unit Operator-Fisherman
Are There Job Opportunities for Oil, Gas, and Mining Service Unit Operators?
There were about 41,400 jobs for Oil, Gas, and Mining Service Unit Operator in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 23.4% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 9,700 new jobs for Oil, Gas, and Mining Service Unit Operator by 2026. There will be an estimated 6,400 positions for Oil, Gas, & Mining Service Unit Operator per year.
The states with the most job growth for Oil, Gas, & Mining Service Unit Operator are Wyoming, Utah, and North Dakota. Watch out if you plan on working in Kentucky, Michigan, or Alaska. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Do Oil, Gas, and Mining Service Unit Operators Make A Lot Of Money?
The average yearly salary of an Oil, Gas, & Mining Service Unit Operator ranges between $32,430 and $78,840.
Oil, Gas, and Mining Service Unit Operators who work in Alaska, New Mexico, or California, make the highest salaries.
How much do Oil, Gas, and Mining Service Unit Operators make in each U.S. state?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $49,550 |
Alaska | $63,720 |
Arkansas | $52,240 |
California | $56,730 |
Colorado | $56,310 |
Florida | $44,140 |
Illinois | $45,440 |
Indiana | $44,220 |
Kansas | $42,170 |
Kentucky | $47,000 |
Louisiana | $54,000 |
Michigan | $49,860 |
Mississippi | $57,570 |
Montana | $60,480 |
New Mexico | $63,040 |
North Dakota | $60,760 |
Ohio | $55,370 |
Oklahoma | $45,930 |
Pennsylvania | $44,470 |
Tennessee | $51,750 |
Texas | $51,850 |
Utah | $54,160 |
West Virginia | $50,110 |
Wyoming | $55,410 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Oil, Gas, and Mining Service Unit Operators
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Oil, Gas, and Mining Service Unit Operators:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software
- Inventory tracking software
- SAP software
- Computerized maintenance management system CMMS
- Time and attendance software
- Data logger software
How to Become an Oil, Gas, & Mining Service Unit Operator
Education needed to be an Oil, Gas, and Mining Service Unit Operator:
What work experience do I need to become an Oil, Gas, & Mining Service Unit Operator?
Who Employs Oil, Gas, and Mining Service Unit Operators?
The table below shows the approximate number of Oil, Gas, and Mining Service Unit Operators employed by various industries.
Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Those interested in being an Oil, Gas, and Mining Service Unit Operator may also be interested in:
Are you already one of the many Oil, Gas, and Mining Service Unit Operator in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:
References:
Image Credit: Jeffrey Beall via Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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