Gas Plant Operator

Distribute or process gas for utility companies and others by controlling compressors to maintain specified pressures on main pipelines.

O*NET reports this occupation under titles such as: Compressor Technician (Compressor Tech); Engine Room Operator; Gas Controller; Gas Dispatcher; Gas Plant Operator; Gas Resource Control Operator; Gas System Operator; Liquefied Natural Gas Technician (LNG Technician); Liquid Natural Gas Plant Operator (LNG Plant Operator); Plant Operator

Tasks

• Monitor equipment functioning, observe temperature, level, and flow gauges, and perform regular unit checks to ensure that all equipment is operating as it should.
• Distribute or process gas for utility companies or industrial plants, using panel boards, control boards, and semi-automatic equipment.
• Control operation of compressors, scrubbers, evaporators, and refrigeration equipment to liquefy, compress, or regasify natural gas.
• Control equipment to regulate flow and pressure of gas to feedlines of boilers, furnaces, and related steam-generating or heating equipment.
• Record, review, and compile operations records, test results, and gauge readings such as temperatures, pressures, concentrations, and flows.
• Determine causes of abnormal pressure variances, and make corrective recommendations, such as installation of pipes to relieve overloading.
• Adjust temperature, pressure, vacuum, level, flow rate, or transfer of gas to maintain processes at required levels or to correct problems.
• Collaborate with other operators to solve unit problems.
• Monitor transportation and storage of flammable and other potentially dangerous products to ensure that safety guidelines are followed.
• Start and shut down plant equipment.
• Read logsheets to determine product demand and disposition, or to detect malfunctions.
• Contact maintenance crews when necessary.
• Test gas, chemicals, and air during processing to assess factors such as purity and moisture content, and to detect quality problems or gas or chemical leaks.
• Clean, maintain, and repair equipment, using hand tools, or request that repair and maintenance work be performed.
• Signal or direct workers who tend auxiliary equipment.

Knowledge

• Public Safety and Security
• Mechanical
• English Language
• Computers and Electronics
• Mathematics
• Production and Processing
• Engineering and Technology
• Administrative
• Customer and Personal Service

Skills

• Monitoring
• Critical Thinking
• Reading Comprehension
• Active Listening
• Writing
• Speaking

Abilities

• Perceptual Speed
• Near Vision
• Problem Sensitivity
• Auditory Attention
• Selective Attention
• Oral Comprehension
• Deductive Reasoning
• Flexibility of Closure
• Far Vision
• Written Comprehension
• Written Expression
• Information Ordering
• Reaction Time
• Oral Expression
• Inductive Reasoning
• Category Flexibility
• Visualization
• Time Sharing
• Arm-Hand Steadiness
• Manual Dexterity
• Finger Dexterity
• Control Precision
• Rate Control
• Visual Color Discrimination
• Hearing Sensitivity
• Speech Recognition
• Speech Clarity