Will AI Replace Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas?

Operate controls to stabilize machines and to position and align drills.

Semi-structured task combining routine and non-routine responsibilities.

Start, stop, and control drilling speed of machines and insertion of casings into holes.

Semi-structured task combining routine and non-routine responsibilities.

Regulate air pressure, rotary speed, and downward pressure, according to the type of rock or concrete being drilled.

Semi-structured task combining routine and non-routine responsibilities.

Select and attach drill bits and drill rods, adding more rods as hole depths increase, and changing drill bits as needed.

Semi-structured task combining routine and non-routine responsibilities.

Drive or guide truck-mounted equipment into position, level and stabilize rigs, and extend telescoping derricks.

Complex problem-solving, strategic leadership, or high-empathy task requiring human judgment.

Operate machines to flush earth cuttings or to blow dust from holes.

Semi-structured task combining routine and non-routine responsibilities.

Verify depths and alignments of boring positions.

Semi-structured task combining routine and non-routine responsibilities.

Perform routine maintenance and upgrade work on machines and equipment, such as replacing parts, building up drill bits, and lubricating machinery.

Complex problem-solving, strategic leadership, or high-empathy task requiring human judgment.

Select the appropriate drill for the job, using knowledge of rock or soil conditions.

Semi-structured task combining routine and non-routine responsibilities.

Document geological formations encountered during work.

Semi-structured task combining routine and non-routine responsibilities.

Drive trucks, tractors, or truck-mounted drills to and from work sites.

Semi-structured task combining routine and non-routine responsibilities.

Assemble and position machines, augers, casing pipes, and other equipment, using hand and power tools.

Semi-structured task combining routine and non-routine responsibilities.

Record drilling progress and geological data.

Routine cognitive or manual task with high vulnerability to automation.

Retrieve lost equipment from bore holes, using retrieval tools and equipment.

Semi-structured task combining routine and non-routine responsibilities.

Fabricate well casings.

Semi-structured task combining routine and non-routine responsibilities.

Pour water into wells, or pump water or slush into wells to cool drill bits and to remove drillings.

Semi-structured task combining routine and non-routine responsibilities.

Create and lay out designs for drill and blast patterns.

Complex problem-solving, strategic leadership, or high-empathy task requiring human judgment.

Place and install screens, casings, pumps, and other well fixtures to develop wells.

Complex problem-solving, strategic leadership, or high-empathy task requiring human judgment.

Operate water-well drilling rigs and other equipment to drill, bore, and dig for water wells or for environmental assessment purposes.

Semi-structured cognitive task involving analysis, inspection, or monitoring.

Review client requirements and proposed locations for drilling operations to determine feasibility, and to determine cost estimates.

Semi-structured cognitive task involving analysis, inspection, or monitoring.

Drill or bore holes in rock for blasting, grouting, anchoring, or building foundations.

Semi-structured task combining routine and non-routine responsibilities.

Perform pumping tests to assess well performance.

Complex problem-solving, strategic leadership, or high-empathy task requiring human judgment.

Disinfect, reconstruct, and redevelop contaminated wells and water pumping systems, and clean and disinfect new wells in preparation for use.

Complex problem-solving, strategic leadership, or high-empathy task requiring human judgment.

Design well pumping systems.

Complex problem-solving, strategic leadership, or high-empathy task requiring human judgment.

Signal crane operators to move equipment.

Semi-structured task combining routine and non-routine responsibilities.

Withdraw drill rods from holes, and extract core samples.

Semi-structured task combining routine and non-routine responsibilities.

Inspect core samples to determine nature of strata, or take samples to laboratories for analysis.

Semi-structured cognitive task involving analysis, inspection, or monitoring.

Retract augers to force discharge dirt from holes.

Semi-structured task combining routine and non-routine responsibilities.

Monitor drilling operations, by checking gauges and listening to equipment to assess drilling conditions and to determine the need to adjust drilling or alter equipment.

Semi-structured cognitive task involving analysis, inspection, or monitoring.