Exploration and production occurs in a wide variety of locations across Canada, including many that are remote and widespread. Field operators have a number of responsibilities including monitoring, operating and maintaining the vast network of pipes, pumps, separators, centrifuges, processing units, compressors, and valves in a variety of energy facilities.
I'm interested in a career in
- Sub-sector Exploration and production
- Environment Primarily indoor/office work
- Education High school diploma
- Career Demand Growing
In this occupation, activities may include:
- Operating electronic or computerized control panel from a central control room to monitor and optimize physical and chemical processes for several processing units.
- Operating control panels to coordinate and regulate process variables such as temperature and pressure, and to direct product flow rate, according to process schedules.
- Reading automatic gauges at specified intervals to determine the flow rate of oil into or from tanks, and the amount of oil in tanks.
- Monitoring process indicators, instruments, gauges, and meters to detect and report any possible problems.
- Operating compressors, pumps and separators.
- Servicing mechanical equipment (pumps and compressors) devices.
Education
- High School Diploma is required with some companies requiring a College Diploma in process operation, sciences or a related subject
Certifications
- First aid
- Hydrogen Sulphide Awareness
- Blowout Prevention
- Well Control
- Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS)
- Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG)
- Firefighting or other safety and technical subjects may be required and are obtained by completing short courses
Licensing
- A provincial power engineer licence, compressor operator, steam operator or refrigeration certificate may be required when certain kinds of equipment are included in the process.
Additional Requirements
- A valid driver’s license is required.
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to oil and natural gas include:
- Minimal or no travel
- Primarily indoor/office work
- Work not physically demanding
You have a strong knowledge of production processes and know how to maximize efficiences. You can interpret documents like instructions, blueprints and reports to get results. You understand and control operations and make adjustments as necessary.
- Production and Processing
- Understanding Risk
- Works Safely
- Interpreting Documents/Plans
- Mechanical Operation
- Equipment Maintenance
- Equipment Selection
- Operation and Control
- Retrieving data.
- Quality Control Analysis
- Instructing
- Troubleshooting
- Attention to Detail
- Sub-sector Carbon capture, utilization and storage, Emissions reduction
- Environment Primarily indoor/office work
- Average Salary Equal to oil and gas
- Education High school diploma
- Career Demand Growing
- Skills Upgrading None
-
Direct
A field operator’s skills working in the CCUS sub-sector of cleantech are easily transferable from oil and natural gas with little or no skills upgrading, however, to work in the emissions reduction sub-sector, gaining knowledge and experience conducting leak detection surveys, calibrating and maintaining equipment, recording data and additional training on emissions detection, measurement and reduction are likely needed.
In this occupation, activities may include:
- Operating electronic or computerized control panel from a central control room to monitor and optimize physical and chemical processes for several processing units.
- Operating control panels to coordinate and regulate process variables such as temperature and pressure, and to direct product flow rate, according to process schedules.
- Reading automatic gauges at specified intervals to determine the flow rate of oil into or from tanks, and the amount of oil in tanks.
- Monitoring process indicators, instruments, gauges, and meters to detect and report any possible problems.
- Operating compressors, pumps and separators.
- Servicing mechanical equipment (pumps and compressors) devices.
Education
- High School Diploma is required with some companies requiring a College Diploma in process operation, sciences or a related subject
Certifications
- First aid
- Hydrogen Sulphide Awareness
- Blowout Prevention
- Well Control
- Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS)
- Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG)
- Firefighting or other safety and technical subjects may be required and are obtained by completing short courses
Licensing
- A provincial power engineer licence, compressor operator, steam operator or refrigeration certificate may be required when certain kinds of equipment are included in the process.
Additional Requirements
- A valid driver’s license is required.
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to cleantech include:
- Shiftwork/variable work hours (CCUS | emissions reduction)
- Travel required (CCUS | emissions reduction)
- Work away from home/in camps (CCUS)
- Primarily outdoor work (CCUS)
- Physical work (CCUS | emissions reduction)
- Temporary/project-to-project work (CCUS)
- Freelance/contract opportunities (CCUS | emissions reduction)
- Lower-risk tolerant culture (CCUS | emissions reduction)
- Safety-sensitive environment (CCUS | emissions reduction)
- Transition to a similar level (CCUS | emissions reduction)
- Rural location (CCUS | emissions reduction)
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to oil and natural gas include:
- Minimal or no travel
- Primarily indoor/office work
- Work not physically demanding
You have a strong knowledge of production processes and know how to maximize efficiences. You can interpret documents like instructions, blueprints and reports to get results. You understand and control operations and make adjustments as necessary.
- Production and Processing
- Understanding Risk
- Works Safely
- Interpreting Documents/Plans
- Mechanical Operation
- Equipment Maintenance
- Equipment Selection
- Operation and Control
- Retrieving data.
- Quality Control Analysis
- Instructing
- Troubleshooting
- Attention to Detail
The cleantech sector is further divided into sub-sectors:
CCUS
- Transferability: Direct
- Skills upgrade: None
Emissions reduction
- Transferability: Refocus
- Skills upgrade: Minor
What does this mean for workers?
Workers will find that the ease of a career change from oil and natural gas into cleantech may vary by sub-sector. There could be differences in the need to upskill, gain knowledge and experience and varying work environments. Further research on the sector or consultation with a career advisor may be required.
- Environment Primarily indoor/office work
- Average Salary Equal to oil and gas
- Education High school diploma
- Career Demand Growing
- Skills Upgrading Minor
-
Refocus
A field operator in oil and natural gas will require some skills upgrading to work in digitization and automation. Experience working in an environment where equipment and components are connected and share information as well as comfort with increased use of computers, software and technology are important.
In this occupation, activities may include:
- Operating electronic or computerized control panel from a central control room to monitor and optimize physical and chemical processes for several processing units.
- Operating control panels to coordinate and regulate process variables such as temperature and pressure, and to direct product flow rate, according to process schedules.
- Reading automatic gauges at specified intervals to determine the flow rate of oil into or from tanks, and the amount of oil in tanks.
- Monitoring process indicators, instruments, gauges, and meters to detect and report any possible problems.
- Operating compressors, pumps and separators.
- Servicing mechanical equipment (pumps and compressors) devices.
Education
- High School Diploma is required with some companies requiring a College Diploma in process operation, sciences or a related subject
Certifications
- First aid
- Hydrogen Sulphide Awareness
- Blowout Prevention
- Well Control
- Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS)
- Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG)
- Firefighting or other safety and technical subjects may be required and are obtained by completing short courses
Licensing
- A provincial power engineer licence, compressor operator, steam operator or refrigeration certificate may be required when certain kinds of equipment are included in the process.
Additional Requirements
- A valid driver’s license is required.
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to digitization and automation include:
- Shiftwork/variable work hours
- Freelance/contract opportunities
- Lower-risk tolerant culture
- Safety-sensitive environment
- Transition to similar level
- Career development fostered/supported
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to oil and natural gas include:
- Minimal or no travel
- Primarily indoor/office work
- Work not physically demanding
You have a strong knowledge of production processes and know how to maximize efficiences. You can interpret documents like instructions, blueprints and reports to get results. You understand and control operations and make adjustments as necessary.
- Production and Processing
- Understanding Risk
- Works Safely
- Interpreting Documents/Plans
- Mechanical Operation
- Equipment Maintenance
- Equipment Selection
- Operation and Control
- Retrieving data.
- Quality Control Analysis
- Instructing
- Troubleshooting
- Attention to Detail
- 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 field operator in oil and natural gas directly transfer to work in the petrochemicals and refining sector.
In this occupation, activities may include:
- Operating electronic or computerized control panel from a central control room to monitor and optimize physical and chemical processes for several processing units.
- Operating control panels to coordinate and regulate process variables such as temperature and pressure, and to direct product flow rate, according to process schedules.
- Reading automatic gauges at specified intervals to determine the flow rate of oil into or from tanks, and the amount of oil in tanks.
- Monitoring process indicators, instruments, gauges, and meters to detect and report any possible problems.
- Operating compressors, pumps and separators.
- Servicing mechanical equipment (pumps and compressors) devices.
Education
- High School Diploma is required with some companies requiring a College Diploma in process operation, sciences or a related subject
Certifications
- First aid
- Hydrogen Sulphide Awareness
- Blowout Prevention
- Well Control
- Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS)
- Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG)
- Firefighting or other safety and technical subjects may be required and are obtained by completing short courses
Licensing
- A provincial power engineer licence, compressor operator, steam operator or refrigeration certificate may be required when certain kinds of equipment are included in the process.
Additional Requirements
- A valid driver’s license is required.
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to petrochemicals and refining include:
- Shiftwork/variable work hours
- Freelance/contract opportunities
- Lower-risk tolerant culture
- Safety-sensitive environment
- Transition to similar level
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to oil and natural gas include:
- Minimal or no travel
- Primarily indoor/office work
- Work not physically demanding
You have a strong knowledge of production processes and know how to maximize efficiences. You can interpret documents like instructions, blueprints and reports to get results. You understand and control operations and make adjustments as necessary.
- Production and Processing
- Understanding Risk
- Works Safely
- Interpreting Documents/Plans
- Mechanical Operation
- Equipment Maintenance
- Equipment Selection
- Operation and Control
- Retrieving data.
- Quality Control Analysis
- Instructing
- Troubleshooting
- Attention to Detail
- 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
Congratulations! The skills gained as a field operator in oil and natural gas directly transfer to work in the geothermal sub-sector of renewables. Experience working in an environment where equipment and components are connected and share information will be helpful, as the sub-sector is increasing use of computers, software and technology in operations.
In this occupation, activities may include:
- Operating electronic or computerized control panel from a central control room to monitor and optimize physical and chemical processes for several processing units.
- Operating control panels to coordinate and regulate process variables such as temperature and pressure, and to direct product flow rate, according to process schedules.
- Reading automatic gauges at specified intervals to determine the flow rate of oil into or from tanks, and the amount of oil in tanks.
- Monitoring process indicators, instruments, gauges, and meters to detect and report any possible problems.
- Operating compressors, pumps and separators.
- Servicing mechanical equipment (pumps and compressors) devices.
Education
- High School Diploma is required with some companies requiring a College Diploma in process operation, sciences or a related subject
Certifications
- First aid
- Hydrogen Sulphide Awareness
- Blowout Prevention
- Well Control
- Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS)
- Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG)
- Firefighting or other safety and technical subjects may be required and are obtained by completing short courses
Licensing
- A provincial power engineer licence, compressor operator, steam operator or refrigeration certificate may be required when certain kinds of equipment are included in the process.
Additional Requirements
- A valid driver’s license is required.
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to renewables include:
- Shiftwork/variable work hours (geothermal)
- Travel required (geothermal)
- Work away from home/in camps (geothermal)
- Primarily outdoor work (geothermal)
- Physical work (geothermal)
- Lower-risk tolerant culture (geothermal)
- Safety-sensitive environment (geothermal)
- Rural location (geothermal)
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to oil and natural gas include:
- Minimal or no travel
- Primarily indoor/office work
- Work not physically demanding
You have a strong knowledge of production processes and know how to maximize efficiences. You can interpret documents like instructions, blueprints and reports to get results. You understand and control operations and make adjustments as necessary.
- Production and Processing
- Understanding Risk
- Works Safely
- Interpreting Documents/Plans
- Mechanical Operation
- Equipment Maintenance
- Equipment Selection
- Operation and Control
- Retrieving data.
- Quality Control Analysis
- Instructing
- Troubleshooting
- Attention to Detail
