Will “Swabber” be Replaced By Robots? 🤔
93% Chance of Automation
“Swabber” will almost certainly be replaced by robots.
This job is ranked #576 out of #702. A higher ranking (i.e., a lower number) means the job is less likely to be replaced.
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Job Description
Operate equipment to increase oil flow from producing wells or to remove stuck pipe, casing, tools, or other obstructions from drilling wells. May also perform similar services in mining exploration operations. Includes fishing-tool technicians.
Job Details
- The SOC (Standard Occupational Classification) code is 47-5013.00
- The Mean Annual Wage in the U.S. is $ 53,520.00
- The Mean Hourly Wage is $ 25.00
- Currently, there are 42,890 people on this job
☝️ Information based on the reference occupation “Service Unit Operators, Oil, Gas, and Mining”.
Also Known As…
- Service Unit Operators, Oil, Gas, and Mining
- Wireline Operator
- Well Servicing Rig Operator
- Tool Pusher
- Service Rig Operator
- Service Operator
- Rig Operator
- Reverse Unit Operator-Fisherman
- Pulling Unit Operator
- Operator
- Fisherman
- Work Over Rig Operator
- Wireline Supervisor
- Well Services Operator
- Well Service Pump Equipment Operator
- Well Cleaner
- Tar Processing Technician
- Spray Rig Operator
- Shale Processing Technician
- Service Unit Operator
- Reverse Unit Operator
- Oil Well Service Unit Operator
- Oil Well Service Operator
- Oil Well Fishing-Tool Technician
- Oil Well Fishing Tool Technician
- Oil Processing Technician
- Oil and Shale and Tar Processing Technician
- Oil and Gas Field Technician
- Fishing Tool Supervisor
- Fishing Tool Operator
- Coiled Tubing Supervisor
- Coiled Tubing Operator
Tasks for “Swabber”
- Close and seal wells no longer in use.
- Drive truck-mounted units to well sites.
- Monitor sound wave generating or detecting mechanisms to determine well fluid levels.
- Install pressure-control devices onto wellheads.
- Operate pumps that circulate water, oil, or other fluids through wells to remove sand or other materials obstructing the free flow of oil.
- Maintain and perform safety inspections on equipment and tools.
- Operate controls that raise derricks or level rigs.
- Operate specialized equipment to remove obstructions by backing-off or severing pipes by chemical or explosive action.
- Apply green technologies or techniques such as the use of coiled tubing, slim-hole drilling, horizontal drilling, hydraulic fracturing, or gas lift systems.
- Listen to engines, rotary chains, or other equipment to detect faulty operations or unusual well conditions.
- Interpret instrument readings to ascertain the depth of obstruction.
- Insert detection instruments into wells with obstructions.
- Perforate well casings or sidewalls of boreholes with explosive charges.
- Prepare reports of services rendered, tools used, or time required, for billing purposes.
- Confer with others to gather information regarding pipe or tool sizes or borehole conditions in wells.
- Examine unserviceable wells to determine actions to be taken to improve well conditions.
- Thread cables through derrick pulleys, using hand tools.
- Select fishing methods or tools for removing obstacles such as liners, broken casing, screens, or drill pipe.
- Direct drilling crews performing activities such as assembling and connecting pipe, applying weights to drill pipes, or drilling around lodged obstacles.
Related Technology & Tools
- Utility knives
- Hex wrenches
- Hydraulic pumping systems
- Wellhead drives
- Stuck pipe tools
- Well tubing perforation guns
- Straight screwdrivers
- Truck-mounted derricks
- Pipe wrenches
- Jet casing cutters
- Torpedo levels
- Pressure indicators
- Phillips head screwdrivers
- Mallets
- Sonar equipment
- Power drills
- Pressure control devices
- Hoisting equipment
- Electric downhole pumps
- Free point tools
- Strain gauges
- Pipe elevators
- Mud pumps
- Downhole object retrieval equipment
- Continuous sucker rods
- Claw hammers
- Cement mixers
- Slickline severance tools
- Steel measuring tapes
- Adjustable hand wrenches
- Safety goggles
- Diesel motors
- Wire cutters
- Jet pipe cutters
- Safety gloves
- Channel lock pliers
- Chemical pipe cutters
- Protective ear muffs
- Cement pumps
- Ratchet sets
- Chemical casing cutters
- Desktop computers
- Pipe slips
- Laptop computers
- Personal computers
- Pipe tongs
- Hydraulic hoisting equipment
- Depth gauges
- Handheld data loggers
- Programmable logic controllers PLC
- Time and attendance software
- Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software
- Inventory tracking software
- Computerized maintenance management system CMMS
- Data logger software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office