- Environment Primarily outdoor work
- Education High school diploma
- Average salary $48,000 to $82,000
Career profile
Solids control technicians operate specialized equipment such as mud tanks, shale shakers, vacuum degassers, and centrifuges to separate out particles, debris and other solids that are crushed by the drill and carried to the surface of a well in drilling fluids. The separation allows the drilling fluids to be reused in the drilling process. They are also responsible for maintaining the solids control equipment and ensuring the treatment of drilling fluids complies with environmental regulations.
In this occupation activities may include:
- Coordinating with other services at the well location to ensure safe and efficient operations
- Maintaining a computer database of the solids control equipment, spares, tools and consumables
- Setting up, tearing down and preparing the solids control equipment and its related systems for transport
- Operating the solids control equipment and its related systems (e.g. mud tanks, shale shaker, vacuum degasser, centrifuge)
- Conducting tests on drilling fluids to ensure the system is functioning properly
Education
- A high school diploma (or equivalent) is typically required. Mechanical aptitude and the ability to troubleshoot and repair problems with motors, electrical, panels and valves are considered assets.
Certifications
- Standard and emergency first aid
- Construction Safety Training System (CSTS)
- H2S Alive
Licensing
- Class 5 driver’s licence (or equivalent) and clean driving record
Additional Requirements
- Ability to pass a pre-employment physical assessment and drug test
- Minimal or no travel
- Shiftwork/variable work hours
- Primarily outdoor work
- Physical work
- Safety-sensitive environment
- Work away from home/in camps
You have solid soft skills, such as customer service and communication. You also have solid hard skills – particularly when it comes to working with machinery and chemistry.
- Mechanics
- Public safety and security
- Maintaining equipment
- Monitoring operations
- Troubleshooting
- Building and construction
- Computers and electronics
- Critical thinking
- Installation
- Building a successful team