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A comment on Robots Are Taking Over Oil Rigs. Parent comment

Re:Robots Are Taking Over Oil Rigs by cdibona on Tuesday January 24, 2017 @01:17PM (#13473952)
It is worth pointing out that it is the exploratory, fracturing and 'setting up' of a well that demands the most work and labor. Once they're pumping, you don't need nearly the same amount of help.

After the pricing downturn, the number of exploratory/new wells and re-fracturing of old wells declined remarkably, so it's not like they actually 'need' as many people on the oil field. If oil goes back above, say 60$/barrel you'll start seeing more hiring/exploration in ND. Right now they can profitably pump extant wells, but new wells will wait for demand...

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Re:Robots Are Taking Over Oil Rigs by maxerickson on Tuesday January 24, 2017 @01:35PM (#13474116)
The article is about drilling roles being reduced though, so those future wells will come with less jobs than new wells required just a few years ago (article claims 1/3 to 1/2 of jobs will not be there on new wells).
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