Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas

Task by task

Each task this job involves, as listed by O*NET, rated on whether a large language model like GPT-4 could cut the time it takes by at least half at the same quality. Tasks marked Seen in real AI use appeared in conversations with Claude in April–May 2026 (Anthropic Economic Index).

• AI can speed this up on its own: 1 (5%)
• AI can speed this up with extra software: 0 (0%)
• Little or no AI speed-up: 21 (95%)

• Maintain records of footage drilled, location and nature of strata penetrated, materials and tools used, services rendered, and time required.AI can speed this up on its own · core task
• Train crews, and introduce procedures to make drill work more safe and effective.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
• 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.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
• Count sections of drill rod to determine depths of boreholes.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
• 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.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
• Connect sections of drill pipe, using hand tools and powered wrenches and tongs.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
• Maintain and adjust machinery to ensure proper performance.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
• Start and examine operation of slush pumps to ensure circulation and consistency of drilling fluid or mud in well.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
• Locate and recover lost or broken bits, casings, and drill pipes from wells, using special tools.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
• Weigh clay, and mix with water and chemicals to make drilling mud.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
• Direct rig crews in drilling and other activities, such as setting up rigs and completing or servicing wells.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
• Monitor progress of drilling operations, and select and change drill bits according to the nature of strata, using hand tools.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
• Repair or replace defective parts of machinery, such as rotary drill rigs, water trucks, air compressors, and pumps, using hand tools.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
• Clean and oil pulleys, blocks, and cables.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
• Bolt together pump and engine parts, and connect tanks and flow lines.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
• Remove core samples during drilling to determine the nature of the strata being drilled.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
• Cap wells with packers, or turn valves, to regulate outflow of oil from wells.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
• Line drilled holes with pipes, and install all necessary hardware, to prepare new wells.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
• Position and prepare truck-mounted derricks at drilling areas specified on field maps.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
• Plug observation wells, and restore sites.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
• Lower and explode charges in boreholes to start flow of oil from wells.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task
• Dig holes, set forms, and mix and pour concrete, for foundations of steel or wooden derricks.Little or no AI speed-up · supplemental task

Questions about rotary drill operators, oil and gas and AI