On an offshore petroleum production vessel, offshore petroleum operators are the generalists who keep everything moving smoothly, from the rig’s equipment to the oil and natural gas they’ve come out to sea to find.
Oil and natural gas exploration and production in Canada occurs both on land as well as on offshore vessels and installations. Offshore production operators have a number of responsibilities including monitoring, operating and maintaining the vast network of pipes, pumps, separators, centrifuges, processing units and valves on an offshore petroleum production vessel.
I'm interested in a career in
- Sub-sector Offshore
- Environment Primarily outdoor work
- Education High school diploma
- Career Demand Limited
In this occupation, activities may include:
- Operating electronic or computerized control panels 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.
- Adjusting equipment performance to match operating requirement (centrifuges for low gravity solids removal or barite recovery), optimize screen selection on shale shakers or mud cleaners etc.
- Ensuring equipment is in good condition and operating properly
- Monitoring process indicators, instruments, gauges, and meters to detect and report any possible problems.
Education
- A High School Diploma is required with some companies requiring a College Diploma in process operation, sciences or a related subject
Certifications
- The following certificates may be required and obtained by taking short courses for work in an offshore environment:
- First Aid
- Hydrogen Sulfide Awareness (H2S Alive®)
- Blowout Prevention
- Well Control
- Workplace Hazardous Material Information System (WHMIS)
- Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG)
- Firefighting
Licensing
- A provincial power engineer licence, compressor operator or refrigeration certificate may be required when certain kinds of equipment are included in the process.
Additional Requirements
- Specific health and safety certifications may be required, determined by location of work and company requirements. Marine work in general includes:
- Basic Survival Training
- Helicopter Underwater Escape Training (HUET)
- Helicopter Underwater Emergency Breathing Apparatus (HUEBA)
- Marine Emergency Duties (MED)
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to oil and natural gas include:
- Minimal or no travel
- Shiftwork/variable work hours
- Primarily outdoor work
- Physical work
- Safety-sensitive environment
- Work away from home/in camps
- Production and Processing
- Understanding Risk
- Works Safely
- Interpreting Documents/Plans
- Mechanical Operation
- Preventative Maintenance
- Equipment Maintenance
- Equipment Selection
- Operation and Control
- Operation Monitoring
- Troubleshooting
