Occupation information for

Operate a variety of drills such as rotary, churn, and pneumatic to tap sub-surface water and salt deposits, to remove core samples during mineral exploration or soil testing, and to facilitate the use of explosives in mining or construction. May use explosives. Includes horizontal and earth boring machine operators.

Currently Employed: Not Available

Yearly Projected Openings: Not Available

Typical Hourly Wage: Not Available

Typical Annual Salary: Not Available

• Pour water into wells, or pump water or slush into wells to cool drill bits and to remove drillings.
• Regulate air pressure, rotary speed, and downward pressure, according to the type of rock or concrete being drilled.
• Operate water-well drilling rigs and other equipment to drill, bore, and dig for water wells or for environmental assessment purposes.
• Verify depths and alignments of boring positions.
• Document geological formations encountered during work.
• Perform pumping tests to assess well performance.
• Withdraw drill rods from holes, and extract core samples.
• Monitor drilling operations, checking gauges and listening to equipment to assess drilling conditions and to determine the need to adjust drilling or alter equipment.
• Start, stop, and control drilling speed of machines and insertion of casings into holes.
• Select the appropriate drill for the job, using knowledge of rock or soil conditions.