Despite their colorful name, roustabouts do some of the most down to earth work there is. Roustabouts work at oil fields and off-shore rigs on a variety of tasks to keep the oil flowing and operations safe. They assemble and disassemble pipes, pumps, and engines; load and unload trucks; search out leaks and repair equipment. They also guide cranes, and, when working in oil fields, dig holes for oil derricks, and drainage ditches. Clean up is a frequent, daily task on the job. Typically, oil and gas workers spend long weeks outdoors in all types of weather. They must pay close attention to safety, for their sake as well as those around them. Protective clothing such as hard hats, gloves, and coveralls are necessary most of the time, and all-weather gear is worn when the weather requires it. Roustabouts’ work schedules may depend on weather conditions and production demands. They often work on contract, so may have gaps in employment. There are no formal education requirements for roustabouts, but many have a high school diploma or have taken some college classes. They need general mechanical knowledge and familiarity with tools, and most skills can be learned on the job.
What they do:
Assemble or repair oil field equipment using hand and power tools. Perform other tasks as needed.
On the job, you would:
Keep pipe deck and main deck areas clean and tidy.
Unscrew or tighten pipes, casing, tubing, and pump rods, using hand and power wrenches and tongs.
Walk flow lines to locate leaks, using electronic detectors and by making visual inspections, and repair the leaks.
Safety and Government
public safety and security
Engineering and Technology
mechanical
Basic Skills
keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements
thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem
Problem Solving
noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it
Hand and Finger Use
hold or move items with your hands
keep your arm or hand steady
Controlled Movement
use your arms and/or legs together while sitting, standing, or lying down
quickly change the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat
Endurance
exercise for a long time without getting out of breath
People interested in this work like activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions.
They do well at jobs that need:
Dependability
Attention to Detail
Integrity
Concern for Others
Cooperation
Self Control
You might use software like this on the job:
Enterprise resource planning ERP software
Maintenance software
SAP software
Presentation software
Microsoft PowerPoint
Spreadsheet software
Microsoft Excel
no high school diploma/GED or high school diploma/GED usually needed
Get started on your career:
New job opportunities are very likely in the future.
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