Driller's Assistant
Drillers' assistants help move and set up drilling rigs and related equipment, and assist drillers to drill holes for such things as oil, natural gas and water, building foundations, minerals exploration and site investigation.
Drillers' assistants may perform the following tasks:
- help move drilling rigs and equipment from site to site, set up in the new site and connect power cables or hoses for water and air supply
- help obtain good quality drilling core samples
- dig and clean mud pits and drains
- mix and test drilling fluids, chemicals and grout
- assist in slotting, welding and inserting casing screens
- assist with well development and pumping tests
- operate equipment, such as pumps for air, water and mud
- use equipment and tools to correct problems in drilled holes caused by mechanical breakdowns or by harmful natural conditions
- carry out minor maintenance and repairs, including lubrication and cleaning
- clean and maintain equipment, drill and camp sites.
Specialisations:
The major sectors in the drilling industry are:
- Blasthole drilling for the placement of explosives for the removal of rock and ore in quarries and mines, and in the construction of roadworks, dam sites and other capital works.
- Mineral exploration and investigation drilling, which is carried out all over Australia and by Australian companies overseas in areas of suspected or known mineral deposits.
- Oil and gas drilling, which is carried out offshore and onshore by contract companies mainly employed by oil companies.
- Site investigation/geotechnical drilling to determine the soil and rock characteristics on construction sites.
- Foundation/construction drilling on construction sites, usually in towns and cities, as a part of the actual building or construction process.
- Water well drilling for stock and domestic or commercial bores, which is mainly carried out by private contractors based in rural areas.
Driller
A driller runs a team of assistants performing the above tasks. Drillers may specialise in diamond core drilling, rotary/percussion drilling, coal seam drilling or water well drilling.
Drillers and drillers' assistants usually work long hours on roster systems, either outdoors or underground, usually as members of teams or crews. The work is often manual and sometimes physically demanding.
Personal Requirements:
- enjoy practical and manual activities
- aptitude for mechanics and able to handle machinery
- physically fit
- enjoy working as part of a team
- willing to work in remote areas under difficult conditions
- good organisational skills
- able to record details accurately
- clean police record
- have a drug and alcohol clearance
- pass a pre-employment medical examination
- be over 18 years old (it is a legal requirement on most mine and quarry sites).
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