Oil and Gas Well Drillers, Servicers, Testers and related workers

National Occupational Classification (NOC): 83101

Fast Facts

  • Average Pay: N/A
  • Future Growth: N/A
  • Skill Level: N/A
  • Employment Size: N/A
  • Unemployment: N/A
  • Full-time Share: N/A

Sample Job Titles

  • Assistant driller - oil and gas well drilling
  • Assistant driller - offshore drilling rig
  • Directional drilling operator
  • Downhole tool operator
  • Drill stem tester
  • Driller - oil and gas drilling
  • Electric line operator
  • Logging and perforating operator
  • Service rig operator
  • Slickline operator
  • Well testing operator
  • Wireline operator


What do oil and gas well drillers, servicers, testers and related workers do?

Oil and gas well drillers, servicers, testers and related workers control the operation of drilling and hoisting equipment on drilling and service rigs, and direct the activities of the rig crew under supervision of the rig manager. Oil and gas well loggers, testers and related workers operate specialized mechanical or electronic equipment, tools or instruments to provide services in conjunction with well drilling, completion or servicing. They are employed by drilling and well service contractors, petroleum producing companies and well logging or testing companies.

Oil and gas well drillers and well servicers perform some or all of the following duties:

  • Direct rig crew in setting up rigs and drilling, completing or servicing oil and gas exploration and producing wells
  • Operate controls of drill or service rig drilling and hoisting machinery
  • Train or arrange for training of crew
  • Maintain records of drilling and servicing operations
  • Ensure safety procedures are followed.

Oil and gas well loggers, testers and related workers perform some or all of the following duties:

  • Drive well service or wireline truck to well site
  • Assemble and attach equipment, tools or recorders to drill stem or wireline to conduct required procedures and tests
  • Operate or direct the operation of wireline or unit controls to lower, position and retrieve equipment and instruments
  • Operate recorders and computers in mobile testing or logging unit to collect data
  • May perform limited data interpretation.

Source: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021, Employment and Social Development Canada

 

Oil and gas well drillers, servicers, testers and related workers work in the following subsectors (NAICS) in Newfoundland and Labrador:

  • 213   Support activities for mining, and oil and gas extraction
  • 211   Oil and gas extraction

Source: Census 2021, Statistics Canada

 

Short and Long Term Occupational Projections

Short Term Projections for 2023-2025

The employment outlook will be good for oil and gas well drillers, servicers, testers and related workers in Newfoundland and Labrador (rating of 4 out of 5) for the 2023-2025 period.

Source: Job Bank, Government of Canada

 

Long Term Projections for 2023-2032

The outlook for oil and gas well drillers, servicers, testers and related workers is forecast to be balanced (rating of 2.0 out of 4) over the next several years, meaning anticipated labour supply will meet anticipated job openings.

Source: Department of Finance, Occupation Projections (Summer 2023)

 

Number of Job Postings in 2023

During 2023, there were 49 public job postings for this occupation, with the following distribution:

Avalon:  88% Western:  0%
Eastern:  4% Labrador:  0%
Central:  6% NL-unspecified:  2%

Source: Lightcast (note: data used in this analysis reflects new unique monthly postings which are totaled for the calendar year)



Who works as oil and gas well drillers, servicers, testers and related workers in Newfoundland and Labrador?

During the reference week of May 2021, there were approximately 185 people working in this occupation in Newfoundland and Labrador. 100% of those employed were Male+ and 0% of those employed were Female+.

Here is the age group breakdown for this group of workers:

15 to 24 25 to 54 55 to 64 65+
0% 89% 11% 0%

Source: Census 2021, Statistics Canada

 

How much do oil and gas well drillers, servicers, testers and related workers make?

Annual Earnings

The median employment income for all oil and gas well drillers, servicers, testers and related workers in the reference year 2020 (255 workers in total, including those working part-time and full-time, as well as part-year and full-year) was $129,000.

Source: Census 2021, Statistics Canada

 

Hourly Earnings

Salary information for oil and gas well drillers, servicers, testers and related workers in Newfoundland and Labrador is as follows:

Low ($/hour) Median ($/hour) High ($/hour)
Newfoundland and Labrador $21.54 $30.00 $61.20

 

The following low, median, and high wages are for Canada:

Low ($/hour) Median ($/hour) High ($/hour)
$24.00 $40.00 $65.00

Source: Job Bank, Government of Canada

 

Most Frequently Sought Skills from Job Postings (2023)

  • Pipe Laying
  • Offshore Drilling
  • Oil And Gas
  • Water Supply Networks
  • Pipe (Fluid Conveyance)
  • Sawing
  • Workplace Hazardous Materials Information Systems
  • Environment Health And Safety


What training is required?

  • Completion of secondary school is usually required.
  • Oil and gas well drillers and well servicers require three to six months of formal on-the-job training, college or petroleum industry-approved training courses and four or more years of work experience in subordinate rig crew positions.
  • A college diploma in drilling may be required.
  • Offshore work requires several years of experience in an equivalent position on land.
  • Certificates in first aid, hydrogen sulphide awareness, blowout prevention, well control, workplace hazardous materials information system (WHMIS), transportation of dangerous goods (TDG) and a special oil well operator (boiler) certificate are required.
  • Oil and gas well loggers, testers and related workers require three to six months of formal on-the-job training and several years of experience in subordinate logging and testing positions or on drilling and servicing rigs.
  • Completion of a college program in electronics or engineering technology may be required for open hole well logging.
  • A provincial blaster’s licence, and seismic blaster and oil well blaster certification are required for well perforation services.
  • Trade certification for rig technician is compulsory in Alberta and available, but voluntary, in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, British Columbia and the Northwest Territories.
  • Red Seal endorsement is also available to qualified rig technicians upon successful completion of the interprovincial Red Seal examination.
  • Mobility between jobs on drilling and service rigs is limited by the differences in the machinery, tools and operations performed, but mobility is possible especially from drilling to service rigs.
  • Progression to crew supervisor or manager is possible with experience and additional education and training.
  • The Red Seal endorsement allows for interprovincial mobility.

Source: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021, Employment and Social Development Canada

* Find public and private education, training and skills development opportunities in Newfoundland and Labrador here.