NOC 84101: Oil and gas well drilling and related workers and services operators
Oil and gas well drilling workers operate drilling and service rig machinery as intermediate members of the rig crew. Oil and gas well services operators drive trucks and operate specialized hydraulic pumping systems to place cement in wells or to treat wells with chemicals, sand mixtures or gases to stimulate production. They are employed by drilling and well service contractors and by petroleum producing companies.
Last reviewed 2026-11-02 · Sources: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
Quick answer
NOC 84101 (Oil and gas well drilling and related workers and services operators) is a TEER 4 occupation — not skilled work for FSW or CEC. It is not on IRCC's high-wage list. It isn't on any current category-based draw list.
TEER
TEER 4
Not skilled for FSW/CEC
High-wage
Not listed
No extra CRS points
Category draws
None
IRCC 2026 lists
| NOC 2021 code | 84101 |
|---|---|
| Title | Oil and gas well drilling and related workers and services operators |
| Broad category | Natural resources, agriculture and related production occupations |
| TEER | TEER 4 — usually requires a high school diploma or several weeks of on-the-job training |
Example job titles
- acidizer - oil field services
- blender operator - oil field services
- control room operator - offshore drilling
- derrickhand
- motorhand - oil and gas drilling
- offshore drilling rig technician
- oil well cementer - oil field services
- pumper operator - oil field services
Main duties
- Oil and gas well drilling workers
- Use specialized equipment, information and maps to determine and document the location of buried pipelines and other utilities in preparation for seismic exploration and drilling activities
- Align and manipulate sections of pipe or drill stem from platform on rig derrick during removal and replacement of strings of pipe, or drill stem and drill bit
- Operate and maintain drilling mud systems and pumps during drilling, and mix mud, chemicals and additives
- Record mud flows and volumes and take samples
- Operate and maintain drilling rig diesel motors, transmissions and other mechanical equipment
- Assist in setting up, taking down and transporting drilling and service rigs
- Supervise floorhands and labourers.
Your duties should match the lead statement and most of the main duties to use this NOC — check the full profile on the official NOC site.
Related occupations
- NOC 84100 — Underground mine service and support workers
- NOC 84110 — Chain saw and skidder operators
- NOC 84111 — Silviculture and forestry workers
- NOC 84120 — Specialized livestock workers and farm machinery operators
- NOC 84121 — Fishing vessel deckhands
← NOC 84100 Underground mine service and support workers · NOC 84110 Chain saw and skidder operators →
Calculate your CRS score → · All NOC codes · High-wage list
TEER 4 also matters for work permits: see the spousal open work permit (TEER rules for spouses of workers), LMIA explained and the Atlantic Immigration Program (job offers in TEER 0–4).
Sources: Statistics Canada NOC 2021 V1.0; IRCC high-wage occupations; IRCC category-based selection; IRCC who can apply.
Frequently asked questions
Is NOC 84101 eligible for Express Entry?+
NOC 84101 is a TEER 4 occupation. IRCC only counts TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 work as skilled experience for the Federal Skilled Worker Program and the Canadian Experience Class, so this occupation alone generally won't meet those requirements. Provincial programs may differ.
Is NOC 84101 a high-wage occupation?+
No. NOC 84101 isn't on IRCC's Express Entry high-wage occupations list, so it doesn't earn the extra high-wage or job offer CRS points. Canadian work-length points can still apply for TEER 0–3 work.
Which Express Entry category draws include NOC 84101?+
None of IRCC's current category-based selection lists include NOC 84101. Candidates can still be invited in general, program-specific (such as CEC) or PNP rounds.