Will AI replace Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas?

The core of your work stays human. For you, AI is mainly an amplifier.

Task exposure to today's AI

16/100

Low exposure

This is the occupation's typical task mix. Your own score can be up to 30 points higher or lower depending on how you work: routine share, people contact, judgment and how much you already use AI.

Get your personal score

Will AI replace Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas?

Not entirely. Today's AI tools can take on about 16% of the typical work in this occupation, mostly: maintain records of footage drilled, location and nature of strata penetrated, materials and tools used, services rendered, and time required. The parts that stay human include: Observe pressure gauge and move throttles and levers to control the speed of rotary tables, and to regulate pressure of tools at bottoms of boreholes.; Push levers and brake pedals to control gasoline, diesel, electric, or steam draw works that lower and raise drill pipes and casings in and out of wells.; Direct rig crews in drilling and other activities, such as setting up rigs and completing or servicing wells..

People who learn to use AI for the automatable parts keep the edge. The 3-phase plan below shows where to start.

Which tasks AI can take on

The largest tasks in this occupation, their share of the working week, and how much of each today's AI tools can do.

TaskAutomatable

Maintain records of footage drilled, location and nature of strata penetrated, materials and tools used, services rendered, and time required. 68%

Observe pressure gauge and move throttles and levers to control the speed of rotary tables, and to regulate pressure of tools at bottoms of boreholes. 15%

Direct rig crews in drilling and other activities, such as setting up rigs and completing or servicing wells. 12%

Maintain and adjust machinery to ensure proper performance. 12%

Push levers and brake pedals to control gasoline, diesel, electric, or steam draw works that lower and raise drill pipes and casings in and out of wells. 10%

Connect sections of drill pipe, using hand tools and powered wrenches and tongs. 10%

+ 14 more tasks (35% of the week) in the full test.

Your human edge

Observe pressure gauge and move throttles and levers to control the speed of rotary tables, and to regulate pressure of tools at bottoms of boreholes.
Push levers and brake pedals to control gasoline, diesel, electric, or steam draw works that lower and raise drill pipes and casings in and out of wells.
Direct rig crews in drilling and other activities, such as setting up rigs and completing or servicing wells.

AI tools to try

ChatGPT / Claude for quotes and documentationEstimating and project management appsPhoto and voice reporting apps

Related roles

A 3-phase AI learning plan

Phase 1

AI for quotes and paperwork

Quotes, material lists and invoices with AI.
Site reports from photos and voice notes.
Standards and regulations explained, checked in the source.

Project

Use AI to turn two weeks of voice notes and rig photos into daily drilling reports (mud weight, ROP, bit hours) and cut report writing time by at least 50%.

Phase 2

Better planning

Schedules and material planning with AI.
Customer communication and change orders.
Safety checklists.

Project

Build an AI-assisted casing-run plan and pre-tour safety checklist for one well section, covering crew tasks, pipe tally and lifting hazards, and review it with the crew.

Phase 3

Lead the site or run the business

Estimating and pricing with data.
Digital tools clients and contractors expect.
Foreman, estimator or own-business paths.

Project

Analyze 10 past wells' bit, torque and downtime records with AI to estimate days and cost per 1,000 ft, and present a pricing or efficiency proposal to your supervisor.

Take the free 11-question test