Gas and Oil Plant Operators

Career summary

This occupational description covers natural gas and petroleum processing operators, gas distribution operators, petroleum pump system operators, and gaugers.

#match with 5914, checked 2/19/15 lh

Gas and oil plant operators work at refineries where crude oil and natural gas are processed for distribution to utility companies or industrial plants. Crude oil and natural gas are processed into products such as gasoline, diesel, and kerosene.

Gas and oil plant operators do similar tasks. They monitor all steps of the refining process. They keep track of temperature levels and rate of flow. They take samples to inspect the quality of the product.

If quality standards are not met, operators determine what is wrong and fix it. For example, they may adjust the temperature or turn valves to increase or decrease the flow of additives.

Operators keep logs of meter readings, test results, and adjustments they make.

Gas and oil plant operators inspect equipment for safety problems, leaks, or wear. They check flow meters and panel lights to make sure they are giving correct information. Operators discuss repairs with maintenance staff. Some operators perform their own repairs. If there is an emergency, operators shut down the machines following their supervisors' instructions.

Gas and oil plant workers do different types of work at refineries:

• Gas distribution operators work at power plants and steel mills. They manage the gas or oil flow to fuel the furnaces or boilers.
• Petroleum pump system operators control the movement of products from processing to holding tanks. They work closely with other operators to make sure each step happens at the right time.
• Gaugers test and control the flow of oil and gas at wells, tank farms, and refineries.

Related careers

This career is part of the Manufacturing cluster of careers.

Related careers include:

• Chemical Equipment Operators
• Chemical Plant Operators
• General and Operations Managers
• Plumbers and Pipefitters
• Power Plant Operators
• Pump Operators
• Stationary Engineers
• Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders
• Water Treatment Plant Operators

Job duties

Task list

The following list of tasks is specific to gas and oil plant operators.

• Read and analyze operating schedules.
• Control equipment or use control panels to regulate flow of gas.
• Observe gauges, identify problems, and adjust controls based on conditions.
• Take samples of products and test them for quality.
• Compare samples against standards.
• Record test data, the amount of crude oil or gas used, and the amount produced.
• Record gauge readings, quantity pumped, and test results.
• Clean and repair equipment.
• Inspect equipment for possible or actual hazards, wear, or leaks. Report problems to maintenance.
• Plan movement of product through lines to process, store, and ship.
• Follow supervisors' directions to shut down equipment in emergencies.

Common work activities

Gas and oil plant operators perform the following tasks. These tasks are common to many careers.

• Monitor events, materials, and surroundings
• Identify objects, actions, and events
• Control machines and processes
• Make decisions and solve problems
• Inspect equipment, structures, or materials
• Get information needed to do the job
• Document and record information
• Communicate with supervisors, peers, or subordinates
• Use computers
• Evaluate information against standards
• Process information
• Update and use job-related knowledge
• Analyze data or information
• Teach others
• Establish and maintain relationships
• Explain the meaning of information to others
• Judge the value of objects, services, or people
• Operate vehicles or mechanized equipment

Work requirements

Working conditions

In a typical work setting, gas and oil plant operators:

Interpersonal relationships

• Are responsible for the health and safety of coworkers.
• Have a medium level of contact with other workers.
• Communicate with others by telephone, face-to-face discussions, e-mail, letters, and memos.
• Are somewhat responsible for the work done by others.
• Often work as part of a team.

Physical work conditions

• Often work indoors. Gaugers are more likely to work outdoors.
• Wear work gloves and hardhats on a daily basis.
• Are exposed to loud and distracting sounds and noise levels on a daily basis.
• Are frequently exposed to contaminants.
• Are regularly exposed to hazardous conditions. Gaugers and gas processing operators are more likely to be around hazardous conditions.
• Are often exposed to very hot or very cold temperatures.
• Are regularly exposed to hazardous equipment and situations that may result in cuts, burns, or scrapes.
• Sometimes must reach high places to complete a task.
• Sometimes must get into awkward positions to reach cramped work places.
• Occasionally must work in very bright or very dim lighting conditions.
• May work physically near others.

Work performance

• Must fully complete and be exact in their job. Errors could create serious safety hazards.
• Must let the equipment determine the work pace.
• Repeat the same physical activities.
• Regularly make decisions that greatly impact coworkers and their employers.
• Often act without consulting another person first.
• Set some, but not all, of their daily tasks and goals without consulting a supervisor first.
• Must meet daily and weekly deadlines.

Hours/travel

• Usually work full time.
• May work days, evenings, or night shifts. Some employers offer alternative schedules, such as four days on and four days off.

Physical demands

Gas and oil plant operators frequently:

• Use their hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.
• Stand for long periods of time.

It is important for gas and oil plant operators to be able to:

• Focus on one source of sound and ignore others.
• See details of objects that are less than a few feet away.
• See details of objects that are more than a few feet away.
• React quickly using hands, fingers, or feet.
• Make quick, precise adjustments to machine controls.
• Hear sounds and recognize the difference between them.
• Understand the speech of another person.
• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Use fingers to grasp, move, or assemble very small objects.
• See differences between colors, shades, and brightness.
• Hold the arm and hand in one position or hold the hand steady while moving the arm.

It is not as important, but still necessary, for gas and oil plant operators to be able to:

• Use one or two hands to grasp, move, or assemble objects.
• Move two or more limbs together (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while remaining in place.
• Choose quickly and correctly among various movements when responding to different signals.
• Adjust body movements or equipment controls to keep pace with speed changes of moving objects.
• Determine the distance between objects.
• Use stomach and lower back muscles to support the body for long periods without getting tired.
• Make fast, repeated movements of fingers, hands, and wrists.
• Keep or regain the body's balance or stay upright when in an unstable position.
• Use muscles to lift, push, pull, or carry heavy objects.
• Bend, stretch, twist, or reach out.
• Be physically active for long periods without getting tired or out of breath.
• Coordinate movement of several parts of the body, such as arms and legs, while the body is moving.
• Move arms and legs quickly.
• See objects in very bright or glaring light.
• Use muscles for extended periods without getting tired.
• While looking forward, see objects or movements that are off to the side.
• Determine from which direction a sound came.

Skills and abilities

Gas and oil plant operators need to:

Communicate

• Write clearly so other people can understand.
• Read and understand work-related materials.
• Understand spoken information.
• Understand written information.
• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Listen to others and ask questions.

Reason and problem solve

• Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
• Concentrate and not be distracted while performing a task.
• Analyze ideas and use logic to determine their strengths and weaknesses.
• Follow guidelines to arrange objects or actions in a certain order.
• Recognize the nature of a problem.
• Use reasoning to discover answers to problems.
• Judge the costs and benefits of a possible action.
• Combine several pieces of information and draw conclusions.
• Develop rules that group items in various ways.
• Make sense of information that seems without meaning or organization.

Manage oneself, people, time, and things

• Check how well one is learning or doing something.

Work with people

• Change behavior in relation to others' actions.

Work with things

• Watch gauges, dials, and output to make sure a machine is working properly.
• Operate and control equipment.
• Inspect and evaluate the quality of products.
• Determine the causes of technical problems and find solutions for them.

Perceive and visualize

• Quickly and accurately compare letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns.
• Identify a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in distracting material.
• Imagine how something will look if it is moved around or its parts are rearranged.

Education and training

Educational programs

The programs of study listed below will help you prepare for the occupation or career cluster you are exploring.

Programs of study directly related to this occupation

• Petroleum Technology
• Process Technology

Other programs of study to consider

• Chemical Technology
• Energy Management and Systems Technology
• Engineering, General

Training

To work as a gas and oil plant operator, you typically need to:

• have a high school diploma or equivalent; and
• complete long-term, on-the-job training.

Education after high school

No formal education beyond high school is required for this occupation.

On-the-job training

Larger companies have their own training programs. Smaller companies usually send new employees to training workshops. Many gas and oil plant operators learn their skills on the job from experienced workers. Professional organizations, businesses, universities, and community colleges all offer training workshops.

On-the-job training includes classroom and hands-on work experience. Your training may also include computer simulated plant operations.

After training, another worker supervises your work for a period of time. Training may last up to two years.

Helpful high school courses

You should take a general high school curriculum that meets the state's graduation requirements. You will be required to take both math and science classes to graduate.

Helpful electives to take in high school that prepare you for this career include:

• Computer Fundamentals
• Equipment Maintenance and Repair
• Physical Education
• Safety and First Aid

The courses listed above are meant to help you create your high school plan. If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking.

You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.

Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization that interests you. By participating in activities you can have fun, make new friends, and learn about yourself. Maybe one of them will help direct you to a future career. Here are examples of activities and groups that may be available in your high school or community.

Things to know

Most employers require operators to have at least a high school diploma or equivalent. They prefer to hire workers who have experience working at processing plants.

Employers look for operators who pay attention to details. They also look for operators who are able to identify problems and come up with solutions. As gas and oil plants use more technology, more employers look for operators who are familiar with computers.

Some employers require a two- to three-year apprenticeship. Drug testing is often required throughout the industry.

Most workers begin at the laborer-helper level and are promoted through a bidding process.

Tips

Knowledge of safety procedures or fire training may be beneficial. A year of college-level chemistry may be helpful.

Costs to workers

Some workers are required to join a union and pay an initiation fee and monthly dues.

Job listings

Listed below are links to job categories from the National Labor Exchange that relate to this career. Once you get a list of jobs, you can view information about individual jobs and find out how to apply. If your job search finds too many openings, or if you wish to search for jobs outside of Washington, you will need to refine your search.

• Gas Plant Operators 
• Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers 

To get a listing of current jobs from the WorkSource system, go to the WorkSource website .

Wages

Wages vary by the operator's level of experience and training. Some operators are members of a union. Union workers tend to be paid more than non-union workers.

Many employers offer benefits to full-time gas and oil plant operators. Benefits may include health, dental, and retirement plans. They may also include vacation and sick leave. Some major oil companies offer cash bonuses and profit-sharing plans.

Employment and outlook

Washington outlook

The table below provides information about the number of workers in this career in various regions. It also provides information about the expected growth rate and future job openings.

National employment

Most oil companies are located in southern or western areas of the country. Examples include Alaska, California, Mississippi, Texas, and Hawaii. Refineries and distribution companies are located throughout the nation.

Major employers:

• Oil and gas refineries
• Oil and gas extraction companies
• Pipeline companies
• Chemical manufacturers

National outlook

Demand for plant operators is declining. The number of new refineries built in the future is likely to be small. Also, some refineries may close because they have outdated technology, or because they cannot comply with environmental rules.

Although the number of refineries is likely to decrease, job openings will continue to occur as operators advance to other jobs or retire.

Other resources

American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers 
1800 M Street, NW Suite 900 North
Washington, DC 20036
202.457.0480

Washington Business Week 
PO Box 1170
Renton, WA 98057
253.237.3545

References

Career cluster

• Manufacturing

Career path

• Realistic (Technical)

O*Net  occupations

• Gas Plant Operators (51-8092.00) 
• Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers (51-8093.00) 

O*Net job zones 

• Job Zone 2 - Some preparation needed. Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful in these occupations, but usually is not needed.

• Job Zone 3 - Medium preparation needed. Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations.

DOT occupations

• Control-panel Operator (546.382-010) 
• Fuel Attendant (953.362-010) 
• Gauger (914.384-010) 
• Liquefaction-and-regasification-plant Operator (953.362-014) 
• Liquefaction-plant Operator (559.362-018) 
• Oxygen-plant Operator (552.362-014) 
• Pressure Controller (953.362-018) 
• Pumper (549.360-010) 
• Refinery Operator (549.260-010) 

Holland occupational clusters

• Conventional/Realistic/Investigative
• Realistic/Conventional/Enterprising
• Realistic/Conventional/Investigative

COPSystem

• Technology Skilled