Oil and gas well drilling workers
Oil and gas well drilling workers operate drilling and service rig machinery as intermediate members of the rig crew.
Moderate
Market Demand
TEER 4
Skill Level
SK, AB, BC
Top Provinces
What They Do
- Use specialized equipment, information and maps to determine and document the location of buried pipelines and other utilities in preparation for seismic exploration and drilling activities
- Align and manipulate sections of pipe or drill stem from platform on rig derrick during removal and replacement of strings of pipe, or drill stem and drill bit
- Operate and maintain drilling mud systems and pumps during drilling, and mix mud, chemicals and additives
- Record mud flows and volumes and take samples
- Operate and maintain drilling rig diesel motors, transmissions and other mechanical equipment
- Assist in setting up, taking down and transporting drilling and service rigs
- Supervise floorhands and labourers.
Qualifications
- checkCompletion of secondary school is required.
- checkCompletion of petroleum industry-approved training courses may be required.
- checkOne year of experience as a floorhand, assistant or labourer is usually required.
- checkCertificates in first aid, hydrogen sulphide awareness, blowout prevention, workplace hazardous materials information system (WHMIS), transportation of dangerous goods (TDG), cryogenic safety or in other safety concerns may be required.
- checkRig technician certification for motorhands and derrickhands may be required by some employers.
Market Outlook by Province
Saskatchewan
The employment outlook will be Moderate for oil and gas well drilling and related workers and services operators (NOC 84101) in Saskatchewan for the 2025-2027 period.The following factors contributed to this outlook:Employment growth will lead to several new positions.Not many positions will become available due to retirements.Here are some key facts about oil and gas well drilling and related workers and services operators in Saskatchewan: Approximately 600 people work in this occupation. Oil and gas well drilling and related workers and services operators mainly work in the following sectors: Support activities for mining, oil and gas (NAICS 213): 48%Oil and gas extraction (NAICS 211): 35% 55% of oil and gas well drilling and related workers and services operators work all year, while 45% work only part of the year, compared to 65% and 35% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 40 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.14% of oil and gas well drilling and related workers and services operators are self-employed compared to an average of 16% for all occupations.The gender distribution of people in this occupation is: Men: more than 95% compared to 53% for all occupations Women: less than 5% compared to 47% for all occupations The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is: no high school diploma: 20% compared to 11% for all occupations high school diploma or equivalent: 51% compared to 33% for all occupations apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 16% compared to 15% for all occupations college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 12% compared to 17% for all occupations bachelor's degree: less than 5% compared to 18% for all occupations university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: less than 5% compared to 7% for all occupations
Moderate
Outlook
Alberta
The employment outlook will be Moderate for oil and gas well drilling and related workers and services operators (NOC 84101) in Alberta for the 2025-2027 period.The following factors contributed to this outlook:Employment growth will lead to a few new positions.Not many positions will become available due to retirements.There are several unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.Here are some key facts about oil and gas well drilling and related workers and services operators in Alberta: Approximately 3,000 people work in this occupation. Oil and gas well drilling and related workers and services operators mainly work in the following sectors: Support activities for mining, oil and gas (NAICS 213): 44%Oil and gas extraction (NAICS 211): 38%Construction (NAICS 23): 5% 44% of oil and gas well drilling and related workers and services operators work all year, while 56% work only part of the year, compared to 61% and 39% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 39 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.9% of oil and gas well drilling and related workers and services operators are self-employed compared to an average of 15% for all occupations.The gender distribution of people in this occupation is: Men: more than 95% compared to 53% for all occupations Women: less than 5% compared to 47% for all occupations The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is: no high school diploma: 14% compared to 10% for all occupations high school diploma or equivalent: 49% compared to 28% for all occupations apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 19% compared to 13% for all occupations college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 13% compared to 19% for all occupations bachelor's degree: less than 5% compared to 21% for all occupations university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: less than 5% compared to 9% for all occupations
Moderate
Outlook
British Columbia
The employment outlook will be Limited for oil and gas well drilling and related workers and services operators (NOC 84101) in British Columbia for the 2025-2027 period.The following factors contributed to this outlook:Employment growth will lead to a moderate number of new positions.Not many positions will become available due to retirements.There are several unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.The start-up and expansion of LNG Canada and other LNG facilities may create new drilling opportunities in the Montney natural gas-producing region of northeast British ColumbiaHere are some key facts about oil and gas well drilling and related workers and services operators in British Columbia: Approximately 450 people worked in this occupation in May 2021. Oil and gas well drilling and related workers and services operators mainly work in the following sectors: Support activities for mining, oil and gas (NAICS 213): 50%Oil and gas extraction (NAICS 211): 33%Construction (NAICS 23): 9% 38% of oil and gas well drilling and related workers and services operators work all year, while 62% work only part of the year, compared to 61% and 39% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 37 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.7% of oil and gas well drilling and related workers and services operators are self-employed compared to an average of 17% for all occupations.The gender distribution of people in this occupation is: Men: 93% compared to 52% for all occupations Women: 7% compared to 48% for all occupations The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is: no high school diploma: 17% compared to 8% for all occupations high school diploma or equivalent: 47% compared to 28% for all occupations apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 23% compared to 13% for all occupations college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 10% compared to 17% for all occupations bachelor's degree: less than 5% compared to 22% for all occupations university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: less than 5% compared to 12% for all occupations
Limited
Outlook
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Immigration Pathways
TEER 4 occupations typically require a high school diploma and on-the-job training. Not eligible for Express Entry but may qualify through provincial programs.
Provincial Nominee Programs
Atlantic Immigration Program
Rural & Northern Immigration Pilot
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Top Companies Hiring
Organizations with the most NOC 84101 openings right now.
Calfrac Well Services
3 active roles · Grande Prairie, AB · Red Deer, AB
Linde Canada Inc.
1 active role · Sarnia, ON
Ricoh
1 active role · Victoria, BC
Komatsu
1 active role · Fort McMurray, AB
Bunzl
1 active role
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