You can handle it. The extreme cold that is. Not just a cold winter, but rather the extreme low temperature of nitrogen. As in -197° C. You know all about cryogenics; in other words, you’re used to dealing with materials at extremely low temperatures. Your job is to set up, operate and maintain equipment used to generate and supply nitrogen at well sites. With a nitrogen tank in hand and your face shield securely in place, you’re pumped to get pumping.
Nitrogen may be pumped into wells to help stimulate production, test pressure or displace well fluids to assist with cleaning the well, initiate oil or gas flow and maintain pressure in reservoirs. Nitrogen is used in the drilling, completions, workover and abandonment of wells due to its low density and high pressure characteristics.
Nitrogen operators must be able to transport equipment to and from the well location, safely rig in and operate the equipment, perform day-to-day inspections, servicing and maintenance of equipment, and complete all required paperwork accurately and on time. They are required to load and unload nitrogen and know the characteristics of nitrogen and cryogenics.
Transferability information for this occupation is available on the Oil and gas well services operators career.
I'm interested in a career in
- Sub-sector Oil and gas services
- Environment Primarily outdoor work
- Average Salary $55,000 to $92,000
- Education High school diploma
- Career Demand Growing
In this occupation activities may include:
- Ensuring all nitrogen equipment arrives on location and inspecting it for damage
- Assisting during the rigging up and down of nitrogen service line equipment on work locations
- Loading nitrogen equipment on trucks at the service center
- Operating the major equipment used in a nitrogen job
- Performing basic nitrogen job calculations to audit or verify information
- Performing post-job and preventive maintenance procedures on nitrogen equipment
Education
- A high school diploma (or equivalent) is typically required. Basic mechanical skills and heavy hauling or off-road driving experience are assets.
Certifications
- Standard and emergency first aid
- Transportation of dangerous goods (TDG)
- Oilfield driver awareness
- H2S Alive
Licensing
- Class 1 driver’s licence (with air brake endorsement) and a clean driving record
Additional Requirements
- Ability to pass a pre-employment physical assessment and drug test
- Minimal or no travel
- Shiftwork/variable work hours
- Primarily outdoor work
- Physical work
- Safety-sensitive environment
- Work away from home/in camps
Mechanical skills are a necessity. You have the basic knowledge needed to fix the hydraulics and minor mechanical issues.
- Public safety and security
- Transportation
- Maintaining equipment
- Installing equipment
- Attention to detail
- Mechanics
- Document use
- Monitoring operations
- Controlling operations
- Troubleshooting
