- Environment Primarily outdoor work
- Education High school diploma
- Average salary $59,000 to $98,000
Career profile
Nitrogen operators set up, operate and maintain equipment used to generate and supply nitrogen at well sites. Given the extremely low temperatures and high pressures associated with the use of nitrogen in oil and natural gas wells, they must be knowledgeable about the characteristics of nitrogen and cryogenics. It is 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 operators 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.
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
