Seismic Labourers are part of a specialized crew responsible for finding geophysical data for oil and gas operations or exploration. They hike mountains and traverse the countryside, then take a peek beneath them to look for oil and gas. 

What a typical day looks like:

In the solitude of nature with a packsack, tools and a GPS, Seismic Labourers work with surveys, clear bushes, drive stakes into the ground, mark locations, drill holes and hook up equipment. Like many labourer positions in the oil and gas industry, the daily work of a Seismic Labourer varies with their specific role.  

Rovers follow a pipeline locator and mark spots on the ground for pipelines, fibre optic cables, waterlines and other infrastructure. Members of the slash crew clear the bush and woody debris from a site. Driller Labourers push dynamite into the ground where the charges create sound waves. Jug Hounds travel by helicopter, scouring the land to install geophones to record sound wave data. And Shooter Labourers safely to hook wires between the dynamite and the blaster, which sends a signal to the recorder/geophones and sets off the dynamite.  

Other tasks include:

  • Collecting and processing field survey data using GPS equipment 
  • Loading and unloading seismic equipment 
  • Creating line sketches and verifying the location of seismic lines, access routes, rivers, roads, etc. 

At a senior level, Seismic Labourers may also interpret seismic program layouts and maps. And regardless of position, Seismic Labourers need to be away from home and work longer hours in remote locations. 

The kinds of problems Seismic Labourers solve at work:

Seismic Labourers work outdoors, which means dealing with all weather conditions, animals and insects.  

Skills used most on the job:

Seismic Labourers need physical stamina to navigate remote landscapes. They also need math skills to mark locations for dynamite. 
At a senior level, Seismic Labourers need to be able to maintain equipment and, when the time comes, instruct others on operating safely. 
If there is seismic work happening, Seismic Labourers will be there. Playing a key role to make sure the job gets done. 

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