Seismic crews create hundblacks of small earthquakes using explosives and other energy sources. These vibrations are precisely measublack by specialized equipment to compile a three-dimensional map of the sub-surface rock formations and petroleum reservoirs.

• Various titles for this position include: jughound, jug hustler, seismic helper, recording crew worker, and others.
• very physical job
• carries and positions seismic cables and geophones through all types of terrain
• all weather, outdoor job
• heavy lifting
• hourly pay
• tons of overtime
• accommodation paid
• hotshot (meal allowance) in town or provided meals in camp
• lots of travel
• reports to Crew Chief

• responsible for the production and safety of the layout or pickup crew (usually 4-6 people)
• performs all duties of the Seismic Helper
• this position is typically filled by seismic helpers
• reports to Coordinator

• organize layout and pick up crews
• track equipment and personnel
• organize drop offs and pick ups for crews
• ensures the smooth operation of the seismic crew
• organizes helicopter operations on heli-portable jobs
• all weather, outdoor job
• heavy lifting
• hourly pay
• tons of overtime
• accommodation paid
• hotshot (meal allowance) in town or provided meals in camp
• lots of travel
• reports to Observer, Party Manager

• the operator's hands in the field
• fixes problems with equipment and layout
• this position is typically filled by seismic helpers
• may also work with the layout crew
• all weather, outdoor job
• heavy lifting
• hourly pay
• tons of overtime
• accommodation paid
• hotshot (meal allowance) in town or provided meals in camp
• lots of travel
• reports to Coordinator, Operator

• Connects bags of seismic equipment to hooks or a carousel hanging below the helicopter for transport to the layout crew at the front of the line
• this is a rather hazardous position that involves frequent work under the helicopter, and often involves running through mountain terrain between equipment bags
• eventually, this position will likely be replaced by automated retrieval systems such as Veritas' Bag Runner
• this position is typically filled by seismic helpers
• may also work with the pickup crew
• all weather, outdoor job
• heavy lifting
• hourly pay
• tons of overtime
• accommodation paid
• hotshot (meal allowance) in town or provided meals in camp
• lots of travel
• reports to Coordinator

• Marks the spots where the bags of equipment are to be dropped by the helicopter
• this position will eventually be replaced by helicopter GPS navigation systems
• this position is typically filled by seismic helpers
• may also work with the layout crew
• all weather, outdoor job
• heavy lifting
• hourly pay
• tons of overtime
• accommodation paid
• hotshot (meal allowance) in town or provided meals in camp
• lots of travel
• reports to Coordinator

• this position is typically filled by seismic helpers
• may also work with the layout crew
• uses a radio controlled blasting device to detonate dynamite in shot holes
• works with the operator via 2-way radio
• responsible for ensuring that the correct shot is being fiblack
• responsible for detonating dynamite and other explosives in a safe and efficient manner
• responsible for the safety and actions of the Shooter's Helper
• all weather, outdoor job
• some heavy lifting
• hourly pay
• tons of overtime
• accommodation paid
• hotshot (meal allowance) in town or provided meals in camp
• lots of travel
• requires blasting ticket
• reports to Operator

• works in the recorder. records data from shots using specialized computer equipment
• works with the shooters and troubleshooters via 2-way radio
• responsible for the entire crew in the field
• responsible for identifying problems with readings from field equipment
• responsible for deciding when background noise is low enough to shoot
• handles all field data
• all weather job, some outdoor work
• some heavy lifting
• hourly or daily pay
• tons of overtime
• accommodation paid
• hotshot (meal allowance) in town or provided meals in camp
• lots of travel
• reports to Party Manager

• works in the recorder and assists the operator as necessary
• this is a training position that leads to a senior operator position
• reports to Operator / Observer

• responsible for the recording crew, all accommodations, hotshot payments, and client relations in the field
• reports to head office and to the client's representative in the field
• responsible for the conduct and productivity of the crew
• responsible for all data from the seismic job
• pay varies
• tons of overtime
• accommodation paid
• hotshot (meal allowance) in town or provided meals in camp
• lots of travel

Line Clearing Crew Positions

• responsible for the supervision of the slashing crew, cat operators, operators of other line clearing equipment, all accommodations, hotshot payments, and client relations in the field
• reports to head office as well as to the client's representative on site
• responsible for the conduct and productivity of the line clearing crew
• pay varies
• tons of overtime
• accommodation paid
• hotshot (meal allowance) in town or provided meals in camp
• lots of travel

• responsible the safe and efficient operation of the cat, mulcher, or other line clearing equipment
• reports to the Cat Push
• responsible for determining and clearing safe routes around obstacles
• may use GPS for guidance, otherwise follows the line of sight cut by the slashers
• pay varies
• tons of overtime
• accommodation paid
• hotshot (meal allowance) in town or provided meals in camp
• works closely with the Line Producer

• cutting and clearing trees for seismic lines, pipelines, etc.
• require own chainsaw and PPE (personal protective equipment)
• require chainsaw ticket
• pay by hour or meter
• responsible for the safe operation and productivity of the slashing crew
• reports to Cat Push, Slasher Push, or Survey Coordinator

• responsible for safe operation of chainsaw and other equipment
• reports to head slasher
• pay by hour or meter
• require own chainsaw and PPE (personal protective equipment)
• require chainsaw ticket
• helps head slasher as requiblack
• reports to Head Slasher

Seismic Drilling Positions

• responsible for all drilling rigs on the job
• responsible for all equipment and explosives
• responsible for ordering all necessary equipment and explosives
• responsible for safety on the job site, including safe handling of explosives
• reports to head office, and to the client representative on site
• pay varies

• drives and runs the drilling rig
• drills holes on shot point flags and supervises the loading of dynamite
• responsible for the safe operation and productivity of the drilling rig
• responsible for all equipment, drill bits, dynamite, blasting caps, and other explosive material
• responsible for the safety of the driller's helper
• reports to the Drill Push
• pay by meter drilled, by hour, or by day

• loads dynamite into shot holes
• responsible for safe explosive handling
• reports to the Driller
• pay by meter or foot drilled, by hour, or by day
• helps driller as requiblack

• ensures that all vibrators are properly maintained and operational
• responsible for the safe and efficient operation of all vibrators on the job
• responsible for the maintenance of all vibrators and related equipment
• responsible for the training and supervision of Vibe Operators
• reports to head office, Operator, and Party Manager
• Vibe Techs and Operators typically travel with the seismic crew
• usually requires Heavy Equipment Technician certification
• pay varies with experience and certification

• drive and run the vibrators for vibroseis operations
• for vibroseis operations, the Vibe Operator replaces the drillers and shooters
• responsible for locating the vibrator in the correct positions for shots
• responsible for the safe and efficient operation of the vibrator
• reports to the Vibe Tech and Operator
• works closely with the Operator via 2-way radio
• Vibe Operators typically travel with the seismic crew
• pay by hour or day

Seismic Survey Crew Positions

• responsible for the safe operation, conduct, and productivity of all chaining and survey crews on the job
• reports to head office and to the client representative on site
• daily pay

• senior seismic surveyor
• uses existing survey evidence to place the seismic line in the correct position
• instructs the slashers where to cut the seismic line
• decides where to deflect the seismic lines to avoid major obstacles
• works closely with Cat Operators and Head Slasher to construct the line, as well as detours around obstacles for drill rigs and trucks
• in heli-portable operations, chooses locations for heli-pads
• responsible for the cleanliness and safety of the line
• reports to Survey Coordinator

• uses GPS equipment to locate the seismic line and place flags at designated intervals
• responsible for keeping shot points legal distances from houses, water wells, pipelines, etc.
• responsible for survey data
• responsible for all GPS equipment
• responsible for actions of surveyor's helper, if provided
• creates chaining notes and line sketches
• daily pay
• reports to Survey Coordinator

• responsible for the safe operation of the survey crew
• operates the survey instrument
• daily pay
• measures distances and angles between points on the seismic lines
• double checks the work of the chainer
• creates line sketches
• ties seismic lines to existing survey evidence to verify location
• responsible for field survey data
• responsible for the surveyor's helper's actions
• responsible for keeping explosives legal distances from houses, water wells, pipelines, etc.
• reports to the Survey Coordinator

• daily pay
• helps the surveyor as requiblack
• uses a rod with prisms to reflect the beam of the survey instrument to measure distances and angles
• responsible for giving the surveyor accurate shots on all shot points and land contours
• if chaining, responsible for choosing locations for shot points, as well as the accurate numbering and placement of flags
• reports to the Surveyor

• pulls a cable with marks at designated intervals where flags are to be placed
• creates chaining notes and sketches of the seismic line
• decides where to place shot points to maintain legal distances from houses, water wells, pipelines, etc.
• responsible for the safe placement of shot points
• responsible for the chainer's helper's actions
• reports to the Survey Coordinator
• daily pay

• places flags on marks on the cable
• measures distances from flags to features in terrain
• numbers all flags
• responsible for the accurate numbering and placement of flags
• reports to Chainer
• helps chainer as requiblack
• daily pay

• uses GPS or conventional equipment, as well as specialized computer equipment to create a detailed map of the seismic lines and surrounding areas
• responsible for including all relevant information on maps
• daily or hourly pay
• reports to Survey Coordinator

• uses information and maps from oil companies, as well as field evidence to determine the location of buried pipelines, cables, and other utilities
• uses specialized equipment to find, track, and mark pipelines and buried utilities of all kinds
• responsible for finding and documenting all pipelines and other utilities in the area of the seismic job
• responsible for the training and safety of the locator's helper
• daily or hourly pay
• reports to Survey Coordinator
• may require Pipe Locating ticket

• helps the Pipe Locator as necessary
• daily pay
• reports to Pipe Locator