So much power…so much control! You are responsible for a plant of tanks, pipes and towers that transform oil and natural gas into usable products, such as lubricants and butane. Or, you control the pipelines transporting these products to market. You know what’s flowing in, what’s flowing out and the processes in between. Using sophisticated instruments and systems, you monitor the plant or pipeline remotely and make key decisions to ensure it operates safely and efficiently.
Control room operators are responsible for the safe and reliable operation of processing plants and pipelines. In a processing plant, control room operators monitor and control the operation of its processing units using a distributive control system (DCS) typically located within the plant. They are experienced plant operators, making key decisions on adjustments to processing units, as well as overseeing other plant operators within the facility. Control room operators also provide the initial response to an emergency situation or evacuation, and oversee the start-up or shut down of a plant or one of its units.
In the pipeline sector of the industry, control room operators control pipeline activity from a centralized control room. They must have a solid understanding of the integrated processes and systems required for the transportation of products, as well as the product’s inherent characteristics and customer specifications. Control room operators often are the first to detect any potential operational issues and work closely with operations and maintenance staff to avert any problems or issues.
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- Sub-sector Exploration and production, Pipelines, Oil sands, Offshore
- Environment Primarily indoor/office work
- Average Salary $59,000 to $102,000
- Education Post-secondary diploma
- Career Demand Growing
In this occupation activities may include:
- Using a highly computerized Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition system (SCADA) to control and monitor pipeline flow rates, system pressures, temperatures, product quality deviations, pressure loses, product blending and batch logistics for the pipelines sub-sector
- Responding to alarm conditions as they arise including initiating front line emergency response measures
- Providing daily forecasts of system-wide requirements and adjusting to differences between forecasted and actual product volumes
- Remotely operating the mainline and booster pumping stations along the pipeline
- Communicating with pipeline field operations personnel to ensure safe and efficient operations
- Signaling other workers by telephone or radio to operate pumps, open and close valves and check temperatures
Education
- Entry-level education and experience requirements for control room operators vary. In processing plants, these operators typically have up to 10 years of operating experience. In the pipeline sub-sector, they require a minimum of a high school diploma (or equivalent). However, most employers prefer a technologist or technical diploma in petroleum, power, chemical, mechanical, electrical or instrumentation engineering, as well as an understanding of the characteristics of oil and gas and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems.
Certifications
- Standard and emergency first aid
Licensing
- Provincial Stationary Engineer licence may be required
- Compressor Operator or Refrigeration certification may be required
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to oil and natural gas include:
- Minimal or no travel
- Shiftwork/variable work hours
- Primarily indoor/office work
- Work not physically demanding
- Safety-sensitive environment
You are experienced and bring a strong command of chemistry, physics and mathematics and are able to troubleshoot problems with equipment.
- Production and processing
- Public safety and security
- Monitoring operations
- Controlling operations
- Attention to detail
- Judgment and decision making
- Taking initiative
- Critical thinking
- Computer use
- Continuous learning
- Sub-sector Carbon capture, utilization and storage
- Environment Primarily indoor/office work
- Average Salary Equal to oil and gas
- Education High school diploma
- Career Demand Growing
- Skills Upgrading Minor
-
Refocus
A control room operator considering a career change from oil and natural gas to the CCUS sub-sector of cleantech may need to complete some minor upskilling and adjust to differences in processes for a successful transition.
In this occupation activities may include:
- Using a highly computerized Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition system (SCADA) to control and monitor pipeline flow rates, system pressures, temperatures, product quality deviations, pressure loses, product blending and batch logistics for the pipelines sub-sector
- Responding to alarm conditions as they arise including initiating front line emergency response measures
- Providing daily forecasts of system-wide requirements and adjusting to differences between forecasted and actual product volumes
- Remotely operating the mainline and booster pumping stations along the pipeline
- Communicating with pipeline field operations personnel to ensure safe and efficient operations
- Signaling other workers by telephone or radio to operate pumps, open and close valves and check temperatures
Education
- Entry-level education and experience requirements for control room operators vary. In processing plants, these operators typically have up to 10 years of operating experience. In the pipeline sub-sector, they require a minimum of a high school diploma (or equivalent). However, most employers prefer a technologist or technical diploma in petroleum, power, chemical, mechanical, electrical or instrumentation engineering, as well as an understanding of the characteristics of oil and gas and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems.
Certifications
- Standard and emergency first aid
Licensing
- Provincial Stationary Engineer licence may be required
- Compressor Operator or Refrigeration certification may be required
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to cleantech include:
- Shiftwork/variable work hours (CCUS)
- Primarily indoor/office work (CCUS)
- Lower-risk tolerant culture (CCUS)
- Transition to a similar level (CCUS)
- Safety-sensitive environment (CCUS)
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to oil and natural gas include:
- Minimal or no travel
- Shiftwork/variable work hours
- Primarily indoor/office work
- Work not physically demanding
- Safety-sensitive environment
You are experienced and bring a strong command of chemistry, physics and mathematics and are able to troubleshoot problems with equipment.
- Production and processing
- Public safety and security
- Monitoring operations
- Controlling operations
- Attention to detail
- Judgment and decision making
- Taking initiative
- Critical thinking
- Computer use
- Continuous learning
- Sub-sector Start-up and commissioning
- Environment Primarily indoor/office work
- Average Salary Equal to oil and gas
- Education High school diploma
- Career Demand Growing
- Skills Upgrading None
-
Direct
Congratulations! The skills gained as a control room operator in oil and natural gas are directly transferable to the start-up and commissioning project life cycle phase of industrial construction and maintenance. Workers may find knowledge of plant equipment and operating systems and previous experience in start-up and commissioning helpful.
In this occupation activities may include:
- Using a highly computerized Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition system (SCADA) to control and monitor pipeline flow rates, system pressures, temperatures, product quality deviations, pressure loses, product blending and batch logistics for the pipelines sub-sector
- Responding to alarm conditions as they arise including initiating front line emergency response measures
- Providing daily forecasts of system-wide requirements and adjusting to differences between forecasted and actual product volumes
- Remotely operating the mainline and booster pumping stations along the pipeline
- Communicating with pipeline field operations personnel to ensure safe and efficient operations
- Signaling other workers by telephone or radio to operate pumps, open and close valves and check temperatures
Education
- Entry-level education and experience requirements for control room operators vary. In processing plants, these operators typically have up to 10 years of operating experience. In the pipeline sub-sector, they require a minimum of a high school diploma (or equivalent). However, most employers prefer a technologist or technical diploma in petroleum, power, chemical, mechanical, electrical or instrumentation engineering, as well as an understanding of the characteristics of oil and gas and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems.
Certifications
- Standard and emergency first aid
Licensing
- Provincial Stationary Engineer licence may be required
- Compressor Operator or Refrigeration certification may be required
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to industrial construction and maintenance include:
- Shiftwork/variable work hours (start-up and commissioning)
- Work away from home/in camps (start-up and commissioning)
- Temporary/project-to-project work (start-up and commissioning)
- Freelance/contract opportunities (start-up and commissioning)
- Lower-risk tolerant culture (start-up and commissioning)
- Safety-sensitive environment (start-up and commissioning)
- Transition to a similar level (start-up and commissioning)
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to oil and natural gas include:
- Minimal or no travel
- Shiftwork/variable work hours
- Primarily indoor/office work
- Work not physically demanding
- Safety-sensitive environment
You are experienced and bring a strong command of chemistry, physics and mathematics and are able to troubleshoot problems with equipment.
- Production and processing
- Public safety and security
- Monitoring operations
- Controlling operations
- Attention to detail
- Judgment and decision making
- Taking initiative
- Critical thinking
- Computer use
- Continuous learning
- Environment Primarily indoor/office work
- Average Salary Equal to oil and gas
- Education High school diploma
- Career Demand Growing
- Skills Upgrading Minor
-
Refocus
A control room operator considering a career change into digitization and automation in energy may need to complete some minor upskilling for a successful transition. Workers may also find there is an adjustment to a different working environment where people, machines, systems equipment and components communicate and cooperate with each other, and there is increased reliance on self-managing processes, production and mechanical operations, as well as increased use of computers, software and technology.
In this occupation activities may include:
- Using a highly computerized Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition system (SCADA) to control and monitor pipeline flow rates, system pressures, temperatures, product quality deviations, pressure loses, product blending and batch logistics for the pipelines sub-sector
- Responding to alarm conditions as they arise including initiating front line emergency response measures
- Providing daily forecasts of system-wide requirements and adjusting to differences between forecasted and actual product volumes
- Remotely operating the mainline and booster pumping stations along the pipeline
- Communicating with pipeline field operations personnel to ensure safe and efficient operations
- Signaling other workers by telephone or radio to operate pumps, open and close valves and check temperatures
Education
- Entry-level education and experience requirements for control room operators vary. In processing plants, these operators typically have up to 10 years of operating experience. In the pipeline sub-sector, they require a minimum of a high school diploma (or equivalent). However, most employers prefer a technologist or technical diploma in petroleum, power, chemical, mechanical, electrical or instrumentation engineering, as well as an understanding of the characteristics of oil and gas and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems.
Certifications
- Standard and emergency first aid
Licensing
- Provincial Stationary Engineer licence may be required
- Compressor Operator or Refrigeration certification may be required
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to digitization and automation include:
- Shiftwork/variable work hours
- Primarily indoor/office work
- Lower-risk tolerant culture
- Safety-sensitive environment
- Transition to a similar level
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to oil and natural gas include:
- Minimal or no travel
- Shiftwork/variable work hours
- Primarily indoor/office work
- Work not physically demanding
- Safety-sensitive environment
You are experienced and bring a strong command of chemistry, physics and mathematics and are able to troubleshoot problems with equipment.
- Production and processing
- Public safety and security
- Monitoring operations
- Controlling operations
- Attention to detail
- Judgment and decision making
- Taking initiative
- Critical thinking
- Computer use
- Continuous learning
- Environment Primarily indoor/office work
- Average Salary Equal to oil and gas
- Education Post-secondary diploma
- Career Demand Growing
- Skills Upgrading Minor
-
Refocus
A control room operator considering a career change from oil and natural gas to LNG facility operation may need to complete some minor upskilling for a successful transition. Workers may find there is a need to adapt to unfamiliar processes related to regasification, which is similar to upstream processes and the liquefaction process, which differs from upstream.
In this occupation activities may include:
- Using a highly computerized Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition system (SCADA) to control and monitor pipeline flow rates, system pressures, temperatures, product quality deviations, pressure loses, product blending and batch logistics for the pipelines sub-sector
- Responding to alarm conditions as they arise including initiating front line emergency response measures
- Providing daily forecasts of system-wide requirements and adjusting to differences between forecasted and actual product volumes
- Remotely operating the mainline and booster pumping stations along the pipeline
- Communicating with pipeline field operations personnel to ensure safe and efficient operations
- Signaling other workers by telephone or radio to operate pumps, open and close valves and check temperatures
Education
- Entry-level education and experience requirements for control room operators vary. In processing plants, these operators typically have up to 10 years of operating experience. In the pipeline sub-sector, they require a minimum of a high school diploma (or equivalent). However, most employers prefer a technologist or technical diploma in petroleum, power, chemical, mechanical, electrical or instrumentation engineering, as well as an understanding of the characteristics of oil and gas and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems.
Certifications
- Standard and emergency first aid
Licensing
- Provincial Stationary Engineer licence may be required
- Compressor Operator or Refrigeration certification may be required
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to LNG include:
- Shiftwork/variable work hours
- Potential for relocation
- Primarily indoor/office work
- Lower-risk tolerant culture
- Safety-sensitive environment
- Transition to a similar level
- Rural location
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to oil and natural gas include:
- Minimal or no travel
- Shiftwork/variable work hours
- Primarily indoor/office work
- Work not physically demanding
- Safety-sensitive environment
You are experienced and bring a strong command of chemistry, physics and mathematics and are able to troubleshoot problems with equipment.
- Production and processing
- Public safety and security
- Monitoring operations
- Controlling operations
- Attention to detail
- Judgment and decision making
- Taking initiative
- Critical thinking
- Computer use
- Continuous learning
- Environment Primarily indoor/office work
- Average Salary Equal to oil and gas
- Education Post-secondary diploma
- Career Demand Growing
- Skills Upgrading Minor
-
Refocus
A control centre operator considering a career change from oil and natural gas to petrochemicals and refining may need to complete some minor upskilling for a successful transition. Workers may find there is a need to adapt to unfamiliar processes related to converting natural resources such as crude oil, natural gas, ores and minerals into products for a wide range of applications.
In this occupation activities may include:
- Using a highly computerized Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition system (SCADA) to control and monitor pipeline flow rates, system pressures, temperatures, product quality deviations, pressure loses, product blending and batch logistics for the pipelines sub-sector
- Responding to alarm conditions as they arise including initiating front line emergency response measures
- Providing daily forecasts of system-wide requirements and adjusting to differences between forecasted and actual product volumes
- Remotely operating the mainline and booster pumping stations along the pipeline
- Communicating with pipeline field operations personnel to ensure safe and efficient operations
- Signaling other workers by telephone or radio to operate pumps, open and close valves and check temperatures
Education
- Entry-level education and experience requirements for control room operators vary. In processing plants, these operators typically have up to 10 years of operating experience. In the pipeline sub-sector, they require a minimum of a high school diploma (or equivalent). However, most employers prefer a technologist or technical diploma in petroleum, power, chemical, mechanical, electrical or instrumentation engineering, as well as an understanding of the characteristics of oil and gas and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems.
Certifications
- Standard and emergency first aid
Licensing
- Provincial Stationary Engineer licence may be required
- Compressor Operator or Refrigeration certification may be required
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to petrochemicals and refining include:
- Shiftwork/variable work hours
- Potential for relocation
- Primarily indoor/office work
- Lower-risk tolerant culture
- Safety-sensitive environment
- Transition to a similar level
- Potentially unionized
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to oil and natural gas include:
- Minimal or no travel
- Shiftwork/variable work hours
- Primarily indoor/office work
- Work not physically demanding
- Safety-sensitive environment
You are experienced and bring a strong command of chemistry, physics and mathematics and are able to troubleshoot problems with equipment.
- Production and processing
- Public safety and security
- Monitoring operations
- Controlling operations
- Attention to detail
- Judgment and decision making
- Taking initiative
- Critical thinking
- Computer use
- Continuous learning
- Sub-sector Geothermal
- Environment Primarily indoor/office work
- Average Salary Equal to oil and gas
- Education High school diploma
- Career Demand Growing
- Skills Upgrading None
-
Direct
Good news! The skills gained as a control centre operator in oil and natural gas are directly transferable to the geothermal sub-sector of renewables. Workers may find there is a need to adapt to different processes related to geothermal resource development.
In this occupation activities may include:
- Using a highly computerized Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition system (SCADA) to control and monitor pipeline flow rates, system pressures, temperatures, product quality deviations, pressure loses, product blending and batch logistics for the pipelines sub-sector
- Responding to alarm conditions as they arise including initiating front line emergency response measures
- Providing daily forecasts of system-wide requirements and adjusting to differences between forecasted and actual product volumes
- Remotely operating the mainline and booster pumping stations along the pipeline
- Communicating with pipeline field operations personnel to ensure safe and efficient operations
- Signaling other workers by telephone or radio to operate pumps, open and close valves and check temperatures
Education
- Entry-level education and experience requirements for control room operators vary. In processing plants, these operators typically have up to 10 years of operating experience. In the pipeline sub-sector, they require a minimum of a high school diploma (or equivalent). However, most employers prefer a technologist or technical diploma in petroleum, power, chemical, mechanical, electrical or instrumentation engineering, as well as an understanding of the characteristics of oil and gas and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems.
Certifications
- Standard and emergency first aid
Licensing
- Provincial Stationary Engineer licence may be required
- Compressor Operator or Refrigeration certification may be required
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to renewables include:
- Shiftwork/variable work hours (geothermal)
- Potential for relocation (geothermal)
- Primarily indoor/office work (geothermal)
- Safety-sensitive environment (geothermal)
- Transition to a similar level (geothermal)
- Rural location (geothermal)
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to oil and natural gas include:
- Minimal or no travel
- Shiftwork/variable work hours
- Primarily indoor/office work
- Work not physically demanding
- Safety-sensitive environment
You are experienced and bring a strong command of chemistry, physics and mathematics and are able to troubleshoot problems with equipment.
- Production and processing
- Public safety and security
- Monitoring operations
- Controlling operations
- Attention to detail
- Judgment and decision making
- Taking initiative
- Critical thinking
- Computer use
- Continuous learning
