Facility and Process Operators
Facility and process operators work in plants and facilities across energy sectors. They ensure the safe and reliable operation of facilities, equipment, and pipelines. Facility and process operators use electronic and computerized control panels and monitoring instruments to ensure plants, equipment, and pipelines operate within established parameters and procedures. They may be the first to detect and respond to an emergency or malfunction. These operators play a key role in the startup or shutdown of a plant or one of its units. There are different types of Facility and process operators working in the various roles across the energy industry.
There are different types of Facility and process operators working in the various roles across the energy industry: Steam or Power Engineers; Control Room Operators and Field Operators.
The career may appeal to you if you already have direct experience in the field or facilities as a worker, tradesperson, technician, or technologist. You like controlling machines and processes and analyzing data and information. You are curious and systematic by nature. You enjoy following a set of procedures and routines and are always learning as equipment and facilities change around you.
Established Energy Sectors:
- Oil and Gas
- Offshore Oil and Gas
- Oil Sands
- Energy Services
- Pipelines
- Refining
Emerging Energy Sectors:
- Biofuels
- Hydrogen
- Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)
- Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)
What Facility and Process Operators Do
Key Skills and Abilities Facility and Process Operators Need
This chart shows the knowledge, skills, certifications, and personal attributes Facility and Process Operators need to enter and advance their career in the energy industry. Each occupation, job level, and responsibility will require a different mix of these skills and abilities.
Entry to a Facility and Process Operator career generally comes with a mixture of practical experience and technology education. Most employers provide on-the-job training and support for their facility, equipment, and monitoring processes.
Personal Attributes
- Analytical thinking
- Collaboration
- Stress tolerance
- Adaptability
- Attention to detail
- Innovativeness
Core Knowledge
- Discipline-specific knowledge such as electrical and electronics; chemistry; mechanical; manufacturing, processing, and production
- Operation monitoring and maintenance of equipment
- Working with materials, equipment, and tools
- Quality inspection procedures and analysis
- Analyzing data and problem-solving
- Able to work with high-pressure liquids and gases
- Public safety procedures and regulations for industrial equipment and facilities
Technical Skills
- Troubleshoot and perform maintenance on equipment
- Evaluate systems and equipment to improve productivity and reduce risks and failures
- Proficiency with computer hardware and software including automated operations systems
- Work in or around potentially hazardous heavy equipment, chemicals, explosives, etc.
Beneficial Certifications
- Class 5 Driver’s Licence plus a clean abstract
- Standard and Emergency First Aid
- Industry-specific certifications/training may include:
- H2S Alive
- Common Safety Orientation (CSO)
- Confined Space Entry
- Blowout Prevention
- Well Control
- Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS)
- Fall Protection
- Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG)
- Lockout Tagout certification
Facility and Process Operator Careers in the Energy Industry
There are different types of education requirements for the Facility and Process Operator career. Entry to the career generally starts with experience as a worker, tradesperson, or technician in the field or plants plus relevant education. The chart shows how roles and educational requirements change for each career level. As you advance your career, your education and experience can help you to move across the various sectors in the energy industry.
There are three usual types of Facility and Process Operators:
- Power Engineers – work on pressurized vessels/equipment. Five classes of power engineering certificates are available in most provinces; and four classes in others. Within provincial rules, employers determine the certification level required based on the rating class of the plant or facility. Class 4 is considered the usual minimum in industrial facilities. For more information, see https://nipe.ca/safety/.
- Control Room Operators – remotely monitor and operate industrial plants and pipelines in the energy industry, and monitor, adjust, and maintain processing units and equipment in industrial plants. They monitor pipelines for the transportation of product and indicators of potential leaks.
- Field Operators – conduct maintenance activities and monitor and operate field production and processing facilities and equipment.
- Field Operators – specialize in oil and gas production and use control panels to monitor producing wells, compressor stations, and gathering systems. They monitor data about well production rates, flow pressure and temperature to ensure safe and efficient operations. Field Operators are often required to travel to different facilities in remote locations as they provide on-site operations, monitoring, and maintenance of networks of pipes, compressors, valves, and pumps.
The roles described below are generally consistent across all energy sectors requiring Facility and Process Operators.
Career Level
Education Levels & Areas of Study
Minimum education and/or experience typically required varies by type of Facility and Process Operator
Power Engineer
High School Diploma plus a compulsory two-year college program completion and/or specialized education programs and exam completion as determined by the certification level and operating experience.
Certification is required by all provinces and territories.
Control Room Operator
Completion of a 2-3 year college program in process operations or science/engineering technology plus:
- Power engineer certification and plant operator experience for energy plant operations
- On-the-job training for pipeline operations
Field Operator
High School Diploma and combination of field/process operations experience and education. Employers often provide specialized on-the-job learning.
Minimum education and/or experience typically required varies by type of Facility and Process Operator
Power Engineer
High School Diploma plus a compulsory two-year college program completion and/or specialized education programs and exam completion as determined by the certification level and operating experience.
Certification is required by all provinces and territories.
Control Room Operator
Completion of a 2-3 year college program in process operations or science/engineering technology plus:
- Power engineer certification and plant operator experience for energy plant operations
- On-the-job training for pipeline operations
Field Operator
High School Diploma and combination of field/process operations experience and education. Employers often provide specialized on-the-job learning.
Minimum education and/or experience typically required varies by type of Facility and Process Operator
Power Engineer
High School Diploma plus a compulsory two-year college program completion and/or specialized education programs and exam completion as determined by the certification level and operating experience.
Certification is required by all provinces and territories.
Control Room Operator
Completion of a 2-3 year college program in process operations or science/engineering technology plus:
- Power engineer certification and plant operator experience for energy plant operations
- On-the-job training for pipeline operations
Field Operator
High School Diploma and combination of field/process operations experience and education. Employers often provide specialized on-the-job learning.
Types of Careers
Entry-level operators work under supervision
Power Engineer
- Power Engineering Technologist
- Stationary Steam Engineer
- Process Operator
- Plant Operator
- 4th Class: usual minimum requirement in an industrial facility
Control Room Operator (pipeline operations)
Field Operator
- Production Operator
- Outside Plant Operator
Mid-level operators can perform operations and maintenance activities independently
Power Engineer – Class 3 and Class 2 (dependent on the rating of the plant)
Shift Operator
Control Room Operator (energy plant and pipeline operator)
Intermediate Field Operator
Senior-level operators supervise and review other operators’ work
Power Engineer/Supervisor
Lead Operator
Chief Engineer – Class 2 or Class 1 (dependent on the rating of the plant)
Class 1 for complex facilities
Senior Control Room Operator
Senior Field Operator
Career Level
Entry
Education Levels & Areas of Study
Minimum education and/or experience typically required varies by type of Facility and Process Operator
Power Engineer
High School Diploma plus a compulsory two-year college program completion and/or specialized education programs and exam completion as determined by the certification level and operating experience.
Certification is required by all provinces and territories.
Control Room Operator
Completion of a 2-3 year college program in process operations or science/engineering technology plus:
- Power engineer certification and plant operator experience for energy plant operations
- On-the-job training for pipeline operations
Field Operator
High School Diploma and combination of field/process operations experience and education. Employers often provide specialized on-the-job learning.
Types of Careers
Entry-level operators work under supervision
Power Engineer
- Power Engineering Technologist
- Stationary Steam Engineer
- Process Operator
- Plant Operator
- 4th Class: usual minimum requirement in an industrial facility
Control Room Operator (pipeline operations)
Field Operator
- Production Operator
- Outside Plant Operator
Mid
Education Levels & Areas of Study
Minimum education and/or experience typically required varies by type of Facility and Process Operator
Power Engineer
High School Diploma plus a compulsory two-year college program completion and/or specialized education programs and exam completion as determined by the certification level and operating experience.
Certification is required by all provinces and territories.
Control Room Operator
Completion of a 2-3 year college program in process operations or science/engineering technology plus:
- Power engineer certification and plant operator experience for energy plant operations
- On-the-job training for pipeline operations
Field Operator
High School Diploma and combination of field/process operations experience and education. Employers often provide specialized on-the-job learning.
Types of Careers
Mid-level operators can perform operations and maintenance activities independently
Power Engineer – Class 3 and Class 2 (dependent on the rating of the plant)
Shift Operator
Control Room Operator (energy plant and pipeline operator)
Intermediate Field Operator
Senior
Education Levels & Areas of Study
Minimum education and/or experience typically required varies by type of Facility and Process Operator
Power Engineer
High School Diploma plus a compulsory two-year college program completion and/or specialized education programs and exam completion as determined by the certification level and operating experience.
Certification is required by all provinces and territories.
Control Room Operator
Completion of a 2-3 year college program in process operations or science/engineering technology plus:
- Power engineer certification and plant operator experience for energy plant operations
- On-the-job training for pipeline operations
Field Operator
High School Diploma and combination of field/process operations experience and education. Employers often provide specialized on-the-job learning.
Types of Careers
Senior-level operators supervise and review other operators’ work
Power Engineer/Supervisor
Lead Operator
Chief Engineer – Class 2 or Class 1 (dependent on the rating of the plant)
Class 1 for complex facilities
Senior Control Room Operator
Senior Field Operator
Transferring Facility and Process Operator Skills from One Energy Sector to Another
There are core skills and knowledge that all Facility and Process Operators need for their careers. These building blocks apply across all energy sectors and for all specializations.
The building blocks are:
- Knowledge of operations, production, and maintenance processes and equipment for facilities
- Operate and monitor stationary and rotating processing equipment using control systems and sensing instruments
- Read gauges, instruments, and sensors; track and analyze data; and make adjustments to operations
- Install and maintain tools, equipment, and systems, and perform troubleshooting
- Identify risk and safety issues and determine ways to avoid risk and improve safety
- The following interactive tool presents the core skills and knowledge Facility and Process Operators need as building blocks. Each energy sector uses the building blocks in different ways.
New entrants to a Facility and Process Operator career can use the tool to understand the building block skills needed to work in sectors across the energy industry. Experienced Facility and Process Operators can use the tool to understand how each building block is applied across the sectors.
How to use the Tool
- Click on a building block
- Click on a sector
- Read about how that skill can be used in a specific sector
Choose a building block
-
Knowledge of operations, production, and maintenance processes and equipment for facilities
-
Operate and monitor stationary and rotating processing equipment using control systems and sensing instruments
-
Read gauges, instruments, and sensors; track and analyze data; and make adjustments to operations
-
Install and maintain tools, equipment, and systems, and perform troubleshooting
-
Identify risk and safety issues and determine ways to avoid risk and improve safety
Browse energy sectors
Select to learn how these skills can be applied across energy sectors
Pressure vessels, pumps, compressors, pipes, processing units, and storage
Use of equipment in oil and gas production, processing, and operations
Emissions detection, reduction, and monitoring
Pressure vessels, pumps, compressors, pipes, processing units, and storage
Use of equipment in bitumen mining and in situ extraction, upgrading, and processing
Emissions detection, reduction, and monitoring
Pressure vessels, pumps, compressors, pipes, processing units, and storage
Use of equipment in the production, processing, and transportation of energy products
Pumps, compressors, turbines, pipes, and storage
Use of equipment in pipeline transportation and storage facilities
Emissions detection, reduction, and monitoring
Pressure vessels, pumps, compressors, pipes, processing units, and storage
Use of equipment in hydrogen production, compressing, liquifying, blending, transportation, carbon capture and storage
Properties, behaviour, and handling of hydrogen and fuel cells
Emissions detection, reduction, and monitoring
Pressure vessels, pumps, compressors, pipes, processing units, and storage
Use of equipment in carbon separation, purification, steam generation, storage, and transportation
Properties, behaviour, and handling of carbon/CO2
Emissions detection, reduction, and monitoring
Pressure vessels, pumps, refrigeration processes, compressors, pipes, processing units, and storage
Use of equipment used in natural gas liquefication, storage, transportation, and re-gasification
Emissions detection, reduction, and monitoring
Pressure vessels, pumps, compressors, pipes, processing units, and storage
Use of equipment in oil refining
Emissions detection, reduction, and monitoring
Pressure vessels, pumps, compressors, pipes, processing units, and storage
Use of equipment in biofuel refining, petrochemical processing, carbon capture, and transportation of feedstock and biofuels
Emissions detection, reduction, and monitoring
Browse energy sectors
Select to learn how these skills can be applied across energy sectors
Pressure vessels, pumps, compressors, pipes, processing units, and storage
Use of equipment in oil and gas production, processing, and operations
Emissions detection, reduction, and monitoring
Pressure vessels, pumps, compressors, pipes, processing units, and storage
Use of equipment in bitumen mining and in situ extraction, upgrading, and processing
Emissions detection, reduction, and monitoring
Pressure vessels, pumps, compressors, pipes, processing units, and storage
Use of equipment in the production, processing, and transportation of energy products
Pumps, compressors, turbines, pipes, and storage
Use of equipment in pipeline transportation and storage facilities
Emissions detection, reduction, and monitoring
Pressure vessels, pumps, compressors, pipes, processing units, and storage
Use of equipment in hydrogen production, compressing, liquifying, blending, transportation, carbon capture and storage
Properties, behaviour, and handling of hydrogen and fuel cells
Emissions detection, reduction, and monitoring
Pressure vessels, pumps, compressors, pipes, processing units, and storage
Use of equipment in carbon separation, purification, steam generation, storage, and transportation
Properties, behaviour, and handling of carbon/CO2
Emissions detection, reduction, and monitoring
Pressure vessels, pumps, refrigeration processes, compressors, pipes, processing units, and storage
Use of equipment used in natural gas liquefication, storage, transportation, and re-gasification
Emissions detection, reduction, and monitoring
Pressure vessels, pumps, compressors, pipes, processing units, and storage
Use of equipment in oil refining
Emissions detection, reduction, and monitoring
Pressure vessels, pumps, compressors, pipes, processing units, and storage
Use of equipment in biofuel refining, petrochemical processing, carbon capture, and transportation of feedstock and biofuels
Emissions detection, reduction, and monitoring
Browse energy sectors
Select to learn how these skills can be applied across energy sectors
Use measurement and control systems and equipment including control panels and sensing devices to monitor production and processing functions.
Browse energy sectors
Select to learn how these skills can be applied across energy sectors
Use measurement and control systems and equipment including control panels and sensing devices to monitor production and processing functions.
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Select to learn how these skills can be applied across energy sectors
Gather data, maintain daily logs, and create reports for ongoing monitoring and status updates of operational activities
Analyze data to evaluate performance and troubleshoot issues
Make process and equipment adjustments to address issues and improve production performance and safety
Communicate results of reports and issues with operations leaders and workers
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Select to learn how these skills can be applied across energy sectors
Gather data, maintain daily logs, and create reports for ongoing monitoring and status updates of operational activities
Analyze data to evaluate performance and troubleshoot issues
Make process and equipment adjustments to address issues and improve production performance and safety
Communicate results of reports and issues with operations leaders and workers
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Select to learn how these skills can be applied across energy sectors
Conduct equipment upgrades and maintenance
Address mechanical equipment problems and issues
Complete predictive maintenance and troubleshooting
Inspect installations of equipment and facilities
Browse energy sectors
Select to learn how these skills can be applied across energy sectors
Conduct equipment upgrades and maintenance
Address mechanical equipment problems and issues
Complete predictive maintenance and troubleshooting
Inspect installations of equipment and facilities
Browse energy sectors
Select to learn how these skills can be applied across energy sectors
Codes and regulations for equipment, facilities, and materials used in industrial operations
Lockout Tagout procedures
Emergency response procedures
Pipeline construction safety
H2S Alive
Common Safety Orientation (CSO)
Oil spill response
Codes and regulations for equipment, facilities, and materials used in industrial operations
Lockout Tagout procedures
Emergency response procedures
Pipeline construction safety
H2S Alive
Oil spill response
Basic survival and
helicopter/vessel safety
Codes and regulations for equipment, facilities, and materials used in industrial operations
Lockout Tagout procedures
Emergency response procedures
Pipeline construction safety
H2S Alive
Common Safety Orientation (CSO)
Oil spill response
Codes and regulations for equipment, facilities, and materials used in industrial operations
Lockout Tagout procedures
Emergency response procedures
Pipeline construction safety
H2S Alive
Common Safety Orientation (CSO)
Oil spill response
Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG)
Codes and regulations for equipment, facilities, and materials used in industrial operations
Lockout Tagout procedures
Emergency response procedures
Pipeline construction safety
H2S Alive
Common Safety Orientation (CSO)
Oil spill response
Codes and regulations for equipment, facilities, and materials used in industrial operations
Lockout Tagout procedures
Emergency response procedures
Pipeline construction safety
H2S Alive
Oil spill response
Advanced hydrogen safety
Transporting and handling hydrogen safely
Codes and regulations for equipment, facilities, and materials used in industrial operations
Lockout Tagout procedures
Emergency response procedures
Pipeline construction safety
H2S Alive
Oil spill response
Potential hazards of working with CO2
Codes and regulations for equipment, facilities, and materials used in industrial operations
Lockout Tagout procedures
Emergency response procedures
Pipeline construction safety
H2S Alive
Oil spill response
Canadian Marine Certification of Competency
Small vessel operator proficiency
Radio licence
Codes and regulations for equipment, facilities, and materials used in industrial operations
Lockout Tagout procedures
Emergency response procedures
Pipeline construction safety
H2S Alive
Oil spill response
Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG)
Codes and regulations for equipment, facilities, and materials used in industrial operations
Lockout Tagout procedures
Emergency response procedures
Pipeline construction safety
H2S Alive
Oil spill response
Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG)
Browse energy sectors
Select to learn how these skills can be applied across energy sectors
Codes and regulations for equipment, facilities, and materials used in industrial operations
Lockout Tagout procedures
Emergency response procedures
Pipeline construction safety
H2S Alive
Common Safety Orientation (CSO)
Oil spill response
Codes and regulations for equipment, facilities, and materials used in industrial operations
Lockout Tagout procedures
Emergency response procedures
Pipeline construction safety
H2S Alive
Oil spill response
Basic survival and
helicopter/vessel safety
Codes and regulations for equipment, facilities, and materials used in industrial operations
Lockout Tagout procedures
Emergency response procedures
Pipeline construction safety
H2S Alive
Common Safety Orientation (CSO)
Oil spill response
Codes and regulations for equipment, facilities, and materials used in industrial operations
Lockout Tagout procedures
Emergency response procedures
Pipeline construction safety
H2S Alive
Common Safety Orientation (CSO)
Oil spill response
Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG)
Codes and regulations for equipment, facilities, and materials used in industrial operations
Lockout Tagout procedures
Emergency response procedures
Pipeline construction safety
H2S Alive
Common Safety Orientation (CSO)
Oil spill response
Codes and regulations for equipment, facilities, and materials used in industrial operations
Lockout Tagout procedures
Emergency response procedures
Pipeline construction safety
H2S Alive
Oil spill response
Advanced hydrogen safety
Transporting and handling hydrogen safely
Codes and regulations for equipment, facilities, and materials used in industrial operations
Lockout Tagout procedures
Emergency response procedures
Pipeline construction safety
H2S Alive
Oil spill response
Potential hazards of working with CO2
Codes and regulations for equipment, facilities, and materials used in industrial operations
Lockout Tagout procedures
Emergency response procedures
Pipeline construction safety
H2S Alive
Oil spill response
Canadian Marine Certification of Competency
Small vessel operator proficiency
Radio licence
Codes and regulations for equipment, facilities, and materials used in industrial operations
Lockout Tagout procedures
Emergency response procedures
Pipeline construction safety
H2S Alive
Oil spill response
Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG)
Codes and regulations for equipment, facilities, and materials used in industrial operations
Lockout Tagout procedures
Emergency response procedures
Pipeline construction safety
H2S Alive
Oil spill response
Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG)
