In this occupation, activities may include:

• Driving well services trucks to well sites
• Assembling pumping equipment and attaching pumps and hoses to the wellhead
• Operating hydraulic pumping systems to pump chemicals, gases, sand, cement or other material into the well
• Reading gauges to monitor pressure, density, rate and concentration and adjusting pumping procedure as required
• Mixing chemicals and cements

More detailed activities are found under each specialty listed above.

Education

• A high school diploma is required as well as three- to six-months of formal on-the-job training, college or industry-approved training courses and four or more years of rig experience.

Certifications

• Standard and emergency first aid
• Construction Safety Training System (CSTS)
• Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS)
• H₂S Alive^®
• Transportation of dangerous goods (TDG)
• Confined space entry
• Fall protection and rig rescue
• Safety management and regulatory awareness for well site supervision
• Oil well operator (boiler) certificate

Licensing

• A provincial blaster’s licence is required for well perforation services
• Valid class 5 driving licence

• Travel likely required
• Shiftwork/variable work hours
• Primarily outdoor work
• Physical work
• Safety-sensitive environment
• Work away from home/in camps

• Mechanical
• Mathematics
• Customer and personal service
• Engineering and technology
• Public safety and security
• Education and training
• Sales and marketing
• Chemistry
• English language
• Administration and management