Dictionary Of Occupational Titles

PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS PRODUCTION INDUSTRY

S

SALES ENGINEER, MINING-AND-OIL-WELL EQUIPMENT AND SERVICES

Sells mining and oilwell equipment and provides technical services to clients, performing duties as described under SALES ENGINEER (profess. & kin.) Master Title.

SAMPLE-TAKER OPERATOR

Pulverizes cuttings and cores removed from oil or gas well boreholes, using hammer or small power crusher. Washes cuttings through various-sized mesh screens to separate samples and fossils from soil and other foreign matter. Places samples in bags and attaches identification tags.

SCOUT

Investigates and collects information concerning oil well drilling operations, geological and geophysical prospecting, and land and lease contracts from other oil fields, the press, lease brokers, individuals, and organizations leading to possible discovery of new oil fields: Interviews individuals and observes field operations to obtain data, such as locations and depths of oil or gas wells or exploratory boreholes or of producing wells, subsurface and geophysical survey results, methods of well completion, and volume of oil or gas flow. Collects rock samples and cuttings and samples of oil or gas from wells. Inspects cores and notes recurrence of specific strata in various boreholes to confirm or disprove concepts of stratigraphy. Obtains information on purpose and locations of lease purchases, royalty contracts, and other agreements made by competitive companies. Observations may be confined to prospecting or to include drilling and producing activities. Must have knowledge of production engineering, oil field practices, and geology. May sketch subsurface contours of geological formations as indicated by data obtained. May negotiate with landowners for drilling leases, ore royalties, and land options [LEASE BUYER (mine & quarry; petrol. & gas)].

shooter

Detonates dynamite or other explosive charges in shallow boreholes to set up seismic waves that are recorded by seismic instruments and interpreted to reveal subsurface rock formations likely to contain petroleum deposits: Lowers explosives into borehole and pushes switch to detonate charge [SHOOTER (petrol. & gas)]. Moves, stores, and maintains inventories of high explosives. Repairs and services electric wiring and other shooting equipment and automotive equipment. Sets up shortwave radio or field telephone equipment to transmit and receive shooting information. May drive truck to transport explosives and shooting equipment. May admit water into borehole to serve as tamping for explosive charge. May be required to be licensed by federal government to handle explosives.

superintendent, drilling

Supervises and coordinates activities of workers engaged in drilling oil and gas wells in area consisting of one or more wellsites: Directs workers to erect, dismantle, and move drilling rigs, and drilling crews in setting up and operating power units, draw works and other drilling equipment. Plans delivery of drilling tools, fuel, water, and other supplies for use at drill site. Orders type of drilling bits to be used, according to type of strata encountered. Directs workers in mixing drilling mud and circulating mud in borehole, and in use of special drilling mud to prevent blowouts from gas pressure. Orders installation of control head (valve device) to control flow when well begins to produce gas or oil. May supervise operations at producing wells to maintain and regulate flow of gas or oil [SUPERVISOR, PRODUCTION (petrol. & gas)]. Performs other duties as described under SUPERVISOR (any industry) Master Title. May supervise PROSPECTING DRILLERS (petrol. & gas) drilling shallow boreholes for use in seismic prospecting or to obtain core samples and be designated Tool Pusher, Shallow-Exploratory Drilling (petrol. & gas).

SUPERVISOR, MAPPING

Supervises and coordinates activities of workers engaged in mapping production areas of petroleum or natural gas company: Supervises drafting personnel in drafting maps used for exploration, leasing of lands, and construction and operation of production facilities, such as pumping stations, storage tanks, drilling derricks, and pipelines. Reviews completed maps for neatness and accuracy. May supervise production of blueprints, photostats, and photographs.

SUPERVISOR, NATURAL-GAS-FIELD PROCESSING

Supervises and coordinates activities of workers engaged in sampling and testing natural gas, and controlling processing equipment at oil field installations: Directs workers in inspection of storage tanks, regulators, traps, and dehydration plants. Orders sample taking and field testing to determine specific gravity, vapor and hydrocarbon content, and other properties of gas and to verify suitability of boiler water used in gas processing equipment. Confers with workers to resolve operational problems. Revises field maps to show locations of gas processing and control equipment. Trains new workers. Performs other duties as described under SUPERVISOR (any industry) Master Title.

SURVEYOR, GEOPHYSICAL PROSPECTING

Locates and marks sites selected for conducting geophysical prospecting activities concerned with locating subsurface earth formations likely to contain petroleum deposits. Makes precise determinations of elevations and records other characteristics of terrain. May obtain permits for prospecting from property owner.

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