# Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas > Operate a variety of drills such as rotary, churn, and pneumatic to tap subsurface water and salt deposits, to remove core samples during mineral exploration or soil testing, and to facilitate the use of explosives in mining or construction. Includes horizontal and earth boring machine operators. - Code: 47-5023.00 (O*NET-SOC; SOC 2018 47-5023) - Family: [Construction & Extraction](https://foundation.org.ai/occupations#family-47), one of its 65 occupations - Tasks: 29 tasks (14 core, 14 supplemental and 1 not rated) - Page: https://foundation.org.ai/occupations/47-5023.00 - JSON: https://foundation.org.ai/data/tasks/47-5023.00.json ## What the work is made of 1. Operate controls to stabilize machines and to position and align drills. Core task · Task 13673 · Rated by 52 people who do the job, July 2017 2. Start, stop, and control drilling speed of machines and insertion of casings into holes. Core task · Task 13671 · Rated by 52 people who do the job, July 2017 3. Regulate air pressure, rotary speed, and downward pressure, according to the type of rock or concrete being drilled. Core task · Task 13668 · Rated by 52 people who do the job, July 2017 4. Select and attach drill bits and drill rods, adding more rods as hole depths increase, and changing drill bits as needed. Core task · Task 13674 · Rated by 52 people who do the job, July 2017 5. Drive or guide truck-mounted equipment into position, level and stabilize rigs, and extend telescoping derricks. Core task · Task 13677 · Rated by 52 people who do the job, July 2017 6. Operate machines to flush earth cuttings or to blow dust from holes. Core task · Task 13676 · Rated by 52 people who do the job, July 2017 7. Verify depths and alignments of boring positions. Core task · Task 13669 · Rated by 51 people who do the job, July 2017 8. Perform routine maintenance and upgrade work on machines and equipment, such as replacing parts, building up drill bits, and lubricating machinery. Core task · Task 13678 · Rated by 52 people who do the job, July 2017 9. Select the appropriate drill for the job, using knowledge of rock or soil conditions. Core task · Task 13672 · Rated by 52 people who do the job, July 2017 10. Document geological formations encountered during work. Core task · Task 13686 · Rated by 52 people who do the job, July 2017 11. Drive trucks, tractors, or truck-mounted drills to and from work sites. Core task · Task 13679 · Rated by 52 people who do the job, July 2017 12. Assemble and position machines, augers, casing pipes, and other equipment, using hand and power tools. Core task · Task 13682 · Rated by 52 people who do the job, July 2017 13. Record drilling progress and geological data. Core task · Task 13680 · Rated by 52 people who do the job, July 2017 14. Retrieve lost equipment from bore holes, using retrieval tools and equipment. Core task · Task 13681 · Rated by 52 people who do the job, July 2017 15. Fabricate well casings. Supplemental task · Task 13696 · Rated by 51 people who do the job, July 2017 16. Pour water into wells, or pump water or slush into wells to cool drill bits and to remove drillings. Supplemental task · Task 13683 · Rated by 52 people who do the job, July 2017 17. Create and lay out designs for drill and blast patterns. Supplemental task · Task 21016 · Rated by 52 people who do the job, July 2017 18. Place and install screens, casings, pumps, and other well fixtures to develop wells. Supplemental task · Task 13689 · Rated by 52 people who do the job, July 2017 19. Operate water-well drilling rigs and other equipment to drill, bore, and dig for water wells or for environmental assessment purposes. Supplemental task · Task 13684 · Rated by 52 people who do the job, July 2017 20. Review client requirements and proposed locations for drilling operations to determine feasibility, and to determine cost estimates. Supplemental task · Task 13692 · Rated by 52 people who do the job, July 2017 21. Drill or bore holes in rock for blasting, grouting, anchoring, or building foundations. Supplemental task · Task 13675 · Rated by 52 people who do the job, July 2017 22. Perform pumping tests to assess well performance. Supplemental task · Task 13685 · Rated by 52 people who do the job, July 2017 23. Disinfect, reconstruct, and redevelop contaminated wells and water pumping systems, and clean and disinfect new wells in preparation for use. Supplemental task · Task 13691 · Rated by 51 people who do the job, July 2017 24. Design well pumping systems. Supplemental task · Task 13690 · Rated by 51 people who do the job, July 2017 25. Signal crane operators to move equipment. Supplemental task · Task 13694 · Rated by 52 people who do the job, July 2017 26. Withdraw drill rods from holes, and extract core samples. Supplemental task · Task 13687 · Rated by 52 people who do the job, July 2017 27. Inspect core samples to determine nature of strata, or take samples to laboratories for analysis. Supplemental task · Task 13695 · Rated by 51 people who do the job, July 2017 28. Retract augers to force discharge dirt from holes. Supplemental task · Task 13688 · Rated by 51 people who do the job, July 2017 29. 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. 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