Profession mud logger

Mud loggers analyse the drilling fluids after they have been drilled up. They analyse the fluids in a laboratory. Mud loggers determine the position of hydrocarbons with respect to depth. They also monitor natural gas and identify lithology.

Personality Type

• Investigative / Realistic
• Realistic / Investigative

Knowledge

• Geology

  Solid earth, rock types, structures and the processes by which they are altered.

• Chemical processes

  The relevant chemical processes used in manufacture, such as purification, seperation, emulgation and dispergation processing.

• Chemistry

  The composition, structure, and properties of substances and the processes and transformations that they undergo; the uses of different chemicals and their interactions, production techniques, risk factors, and disposal methods.

• Natural gas

  The various facets of natural gas: its extraction, processing, constituents, uses, environmental factors, etc.

Skills

• Work safely with chemicals

  Take the necessary precautions for storing, using and disposing chemical products.

• Test oil samples

  Analyse oil samples in order to determine characteristics such as consistency, texture, viscosity or concentration. Operate measuring instruments such as pH meters, hydrometers and viscometers.

• Collect samples

  Set up and operate equipment to collect water, gas or soil samples for testing.

• Prepare samples for testing

  Take and prepare samples for testing, verify their representability; avoid bias and any possibility of accidental or deliberate contamination. Provide clear numbering, labelling and recording of the sample details, in order to make sure that the results can be accurately matched to the original material.

• Test samples for pollutants

  Measure concentrations of pollutants within samples. Calculate air pollution or gas flow in industrial processes. Identify potential safety or health risks such as radiation.

• Collect oil samples

  Collect petroleum product samples by turning bleed valves; insert container into tank to obtain sample material.

• Perform data analysis

  Collect data and statistics to test and evaluate in order to generate assertions and pattern predictions, with the aim of discovering useful information in a decision-making process.

• Write production reports

  Make up and complete shift schedules and production reports in a timely manner.

• Monitor equipment

  Monitoring equipment implies watching gauges, dials, or display screens to make sure a machine is working.

• Perform sample testing

  Examine and perform tests on prepared samples; avoid any possibility of accidental or deliberate contamination during the testing phase. Operate sampling equipment in line with design parameters.

• Use a computer

  Utilise computer equipment or digital devices to facilitate quality control, data management, and communication. Follow instructions given by a computer programme, create computer files or documents.

• Examine geochemical samples

  Analyse laboratory samples using equipment such as spectrometers, gas chromatographs, microscopes, microprobes and carbon analysers. Determine the age and characteristics of environmental samples such as minerals, rock or soil.

• Conduct soil sample tests

  Analyse and test soil samples; determine gas chromatography and gather relevant isotope and carbon information; determine viscosity.

Optional knowledge and skills

Source: Sisyphus ODB