Will derrick operators be replaced by AI?
Updated
Derrick operators score 12 of 100 for AI exposure. 86% of their task time still needs a person. AI speeds up the other 14%.
- 14% AI helps
- 86% Needs a person
Low exposure
Lower than 93% of the 923 occupations we scored.
Task by task
We graded 15 tasks, listed here from most to least exposed. AI can't do any of them end to end yet. It speeds up 2 and leaves 13 to people.
| Task | AI exposure |
|---|---|
| Prepare mud reports, and instruct crews about the handling of any chemical additives. AI can draft mud reports from data; instructing crews stays human. | 55% AI helps |
| Control the viscosity and weight of the drilling fluid. Software can interpret mud test data, but crews run physical tests. | 30% AI helps |
| Listen to mud pumps and check regularly for vibration and other problems to ensure that rig pumps and drilling mud systems are working properly. Listening and feeling for pump faults is physical sensing on site. | 18% Needs a person |
| Supervise crew members, and provide assistance in training them. Supervising and training crew is live people management and judgement. | 15% Needs a person |
| Inspect derricks, or order their inspection, prior to being raised or lowered. Physical derrick inspection needs on-site presence and hands-on checks. | 12% Needs a person |
| Start pumps that circulate mud through drill pipes and boreholes to cool drill bits and flush out drill cuttings. Starting pumps is physical equipment operation on the rig floor. | 8% Needs a person |
| Weigh clay, and mix with water and chemicals to make drilling mud, using portable mixers. Mixing clay and chemicals with portable mixers is physical handling. | 6% Needs a person |
| Inspect derricks for flaws, and clean and oil derricks to maintain proper working conditions. Physical flaw inspection, cleaning and oiling need hands-on work. | 5% Needs a person |
| Repair pumps, mud tanks, and related equipment. Repairing pumps and mud tanks is hands-on mechanical work. | 5% Needs a person |
| Set and bolt crown blocks to posts at tops of derricks. Bolting crown blocks to derrick posts is physical work at height. | 3% Needs a person |
Show the other 5 tasks
| Task | AI exposure |
|---|---|
| Position and align derrick elements, using harnesses and platform climbing devices. Replaced the incomplete phrase with a complete statement of the task. | 3% Needs a person |
| Guide lengths of pipe into and out of elevators. Added a period to finish the sentence; wording had no banned terms. | 3% Needs a person |
| Clamp holding fixtures on ends of hoisting cables. Clamping fixtures onto hoisting cable ends is hands-on rigging work. | 3% Needs a person |
| String cables through pulleys and blocks. Stringing cables through pulleys and blocks is physical rigging work. | 3% Needs a person |
| Steady pipes during connection to or disconnection from drill or casing strings. Steadying pipe during connections needs physical presence and skill. | 3% Needs a person |
How derrick operators compare
All occupations (923)
Construction and extraction (61)
Pay and outlook in the US
- Median pay
- $58,620 a year, May 2025
- People employed
- 10,590 in the US, May 2025
- Projected change in jobs
- +1.6% from 2024 to 2034
Skills to build
- Check AI-drafted mud reports against physical test readings in Excel
- Write chemical additive handling instructions for crews in Word
- Run drilling fluid viscosity and weight tests on site
- Hold IADC WellSharp well control certification
- Coach and train crew members on rig floor procedures
- Log pump vibration faults and derrick inspection requests in Outlook
Safer roles nearby
5 related occupations with lower scores.
Questions about derrick operators and AI
Will AI replace derrick operators?
Unlikely. About 1 in 10 working hours go to tasks AI can already do, mostly drafting mud reports and interpreting fluid test data. Pump checks, derrick handling and crew training stay with people because they need a person on the rig floor.
Which tasks is AI taking over for derrick operators?
Preparing mud reports has the highest exposure score at 55, because AI can draft reports from logged mud data in Excel and Word. Controlling drilling fluid viscosity and weight scores 30, since software can read mud test results, though crews still run the physical tests.
Which tasks stay human for derrick operators?
Listening to mud pumps for faults scores 18, because it depends on physical sensing on site. Supervising and training crew scores 15, since it needs live judgement and people management. Derrick inspections score 12 because they need hands-on checks before a derrick is raised or lowered.
How can derrick operators stay valuable?
Keep mud report and fluid test records in Excel so you can check AI drafts against real readings. Lead chemical additive instructions and crew coaching on the floor, and hold IADC WellSharp well control certification. Log pump vibration checks in Outlook so faults trace to a named operator.
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