Occupation Profile

Service Unit Operators, Oil, Gas, and Mining

(SOC Code : 47-5013)

in California

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. Include fishing-tool technicians.

Employers usually expect an employee in this occupation to be able to do the job after Moderate-term on-the-job training (1-12 months) .

Occupational Wages

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Area	Year	Period	Hourly Mean	Hourly by Percentile
				25th	Median	75th
California	2012	1st Qtr	$25.69	$20.19	$22.07	$26.88

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Occupational Projections of Employment (also called "Outlook" or "Demand")

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Area	Estimated Year-Projected Year	Employment		Employment Change		Annual Avg Openings
		Estimated	Projected	Number	Percent
California	2010 - 2020	1,600	2,100	500	31.3	80

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Job Openings from JobCentral National Labor Exchange

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Enter a Zip Code Find a Zip code in California

Within miles of Zip Code.

Industries Employing This Occupation (click on Industry Title to View Employers List)

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Industry Title

Number of Employers in State of California

Percent of Total
Employment for Occupation in State of California

Support Activities for Mining

245

63.7%

Oil and Gas Extraction

347

30.5%

About Staffing Patterns

Training Programs (click on title for more information)

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Program Title

Mining Technology/Technician

About Training & Apprenticeships

About This Occupation (from O*NET - The Occupation Information Network)

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Top Tasks (Specific duties and responsibilities of this job.)

Observe load variations on strain gauges, mud pumps, and motor pressure indicators; and listen to engines, rotary chains, and other equipment in order to detect faulty operations or unusual well conditions.

Confer with others to gather information regarding pipe or tool sizes or borehole conditions in wells.

Drive truck-mounted units to well sites.

Install pressure-control devices onto wellheads.

Thread cables through derrick pulleys, using hand tools.

Operate pumps that circulate water, oil, or other fluids through wells to remove sand or other materials obstructing the free flow of oil.

Close and seal wells no longer in use.

Operate controls that raise derricks or level rigs.

Direct drilling crews performing activities such as assembling and connecting pipe, applying weights to drill pipes, or drilling around lodged obstacles.

Perforate well casings or sidewalls of boreholes with explosive charges.

More Tasks for Service Unit Operators, Oil, Gas, and Mining

Top Skills used in this Job

Operation Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Operation and Control - Controlling operations of equipment or systems.

Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others` reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Quality Control Analysis - Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.

Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

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Top Abilities (Attributes of the person that influence performance in this job.)

Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.

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Top Work Values (Aspects of this job that create satisfaction.)

Support - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees.

Relationships - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.

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Top Interests (The types of activities someone in this job would like.)

Realistic - Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Conventional - Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

More Interests for Service Unit Operators, Oil, Gas, and Mining