You ensure products flow through the intricate maze of underground pipes that act as the key transportation network. Responsible for designing these systems, you ensure pipeline integrity and that pipeline projects meet regulatory and health and safety requirements.
Pipeline engineers design pipeline systems and facilities, develop inspection and protection programs and collect performance data to ensure all projects related to pipelines are completed on budget and schedule.
The main priority of pipeline engineers is the safety of pipeline systems for operations staff, the public and the environment.
I'm interested in a career in
- Sub-sector Pipelines, Exploration and production, Oil and gas services, Oil sands, Offshore
- Environment Primarily indoor/office work
- Average Salary $89,000 to $134,000
- Education Post-secondary degree
- Career Demand Stable
When you start in this occupation activities may include:
- Preparing mechanical or civil drawings
- Planning routes and preparing design drawings of pipeline and supportive facilities
- Optimizing the design with due considerations to safety, quality, cost and long-term operability
As you advance you may take on additional tasks including:
- Ensuring the safe and cost-effective design of all gathering pipelines, main transportation systems, pump or compressor stations and storage tank facilities
- Providing Control Centre Operators with specialized training and guidance on the use of a variety of tools for pressure and leak detection purposes
- Providing engineering design, leadership, guidance and troubleshooting services on complex matters relating to the centralized pipeline control and leak detections systems
Education
- A post-secondary degree in mechanical, civil or geotechnical engineering (or related discipline) from an institution accredited by Engineers Canada is typically required.
Certifications
- Specific health and safety certifications will be determined by job requirements
Licensing
- To obtain a license as a professional engineer (P.Eng) you must obtain a degree from an accredited engineering program, pass a professional practice exam and have three or four years of engineering experience, of which one year must be gained in Canada. You must also have Canadian citizenship or proof of permanent residency in Canada.
- Once licensed, engineers receive a seal to stamp their designs and drawings
- Unlicensed engineers must work under the supervision of a P. Eng.
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 embrace challenge and problem-solving. Sometimes the challenges are technical, such as running a pipeline under a river, and require coordination with specialty engineers and surface land team members and consultation with First Nations and landowners. Other challenges are logistical or interpersonal.
- Engineering and technology
- Mechanics
- Critical thinking
- Analyzing operations
- Evaluating systems
- Design
- Physics
- Managing material resources
- Judgment and decision making
- Innovative
- Sub-sector Engineering, design and procurement, Construction, Start-up and commissioning
- Environment Primarily indoor/office work
- Average Salary Equal to oil and gas
- Education Post-secondary degree
- Career Demand Stable
- Skills Upgrading None
-
Direct
Good news! The skills gained as a pipeline engineer in oil and natural gas are directly transferable to the industrial construction and maintenance in energy sector.
When you start in this occupation activities may include:
- Preparing mechanical or civil drawings
- Planning routes and preparing design drawings of pipeline and supportive facilities
- Optimizing the design with due considerations to safety, quality, cost and long-term operability
As you advance you may take on additional tasks including:
- Ensuring the safe and cost-effective design of all gathering pipelines, main transportation systems, pump or compressor stations and storage tank facilities
- Providing Control Centre Operators with specialized training and guidance on the use of a variety of tools for pressure and leak detection purposes
- Providing engineering design, leadership, guidance and troubleshooting services on complex matters relating to the centralized pipeline control and leak detections systems
Education
- A post-secondary degree in mechanical, civil or geotechnical engineering (or related discipline) from an institution accredited by Engineers Canada is typically required.
Certifications
- Specific health and safety certifications will be determined by job requirements
Licensing
- To obtain a license as a professional engineer (P.Eng) you must obtain a degree from an accredited engineering program, pass a professional practice exam and have three or four years of engineering experience, of which one year must be gained in Canada. You must also have Canadian citizenship or proof of permanent residency in Canada.
- Once licensed, engineers receive a seal to stamp their designs and drawings
- Unlicensed engineers must work under the supervision of a P. Eng.
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to industrial construction and maintenance include:
- Shiftwork/variable work hours (start-up and commissioning)
- Primarily indoor/office work (engineering, design and procurement | construction | start-up and commissioning)
- Temporary/project-to-project work (engineering, design and procurement | construction | start-up and commissioning)
- Freelance/contract opportunities (engineering, design and procurement | construction | start-up and commissioning)
- Lower-risk tolerant culture (engineering, design and procurement | construction | start-up and commissioning)
- Safety-sensitive environment (engineering, design and procurement | construction | start-up and commissioning)
- Transition to a similar level (engineering, design and procurement | construction | start-up and commissioning)
- Urban location (engineering, design and procurement | construction | start-up and commissioning)
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 embrace challenge and problem-solving. Sometimes the challenges are technical, such as running a pipeline under a river, and require coordination with specialty engineers and surface land team members and consultation with First Nations and landowners. Other challenges are logistical or interpersonal.
- Engineering and technology
- Mechanics
- Critical thinking
- Analyzing operations
- Evaluating systems
- Design
- Physics
- Managing material resources
- Judgment and decision making
- Innovative
- Environment Primarily indoor/office work
- Average Salary Equal to oil and gas
- Education Post-secondary degree
- Career Demand Stable
- Skills Upgrading None
-
Direct
Good news! The skills gained as a pipeline engineer in oil and natural gas are directly transferable to petrochemicals and refining.
When you start in this occupation activities may include:
- Preparing mechanical or civil drawings
- Planning routes and preparing design drawings of pipeline and supportive facilities
- Optimizing the design with due considerations to safety, quality, cost and long-term operability
As you advance you may take on additional tasks including:
- Ensuring the safe and cost-effective design of all gathering pipelines, main transportation systems, pump or compressor stations and storage tank facilities
- Providing Control Centre Operators with specialized training and guidance on the use of a variety of tools for pressure and leak detection purposes
- Providing engineering design, leadership, guidance and troubleshooting services on complex matters relating to the centralized pipeline control and leak detections systems
Education
- A post-secondary degree in mechanical, civil or geotechnical engineering (or related discipline) from an institution accredited by Engineers Canada is typically required.
Certifications
- Specific health and safety certifications will be determined by job requirements
Licensing
- To obtain a license as a professional engineer (P.Eng) you must obtain a degree from an accredited engineering program, pass a professional practice exam and have three or four years of engineering experience, of which one year must be gained in Canada. You must also have Canadian citizenship or proof of permanent residency in Canada.
- Once licensed, engineers receive a seal to stamp their designs and drawings
- Unlicensed engineers must work under the supervision of a P. Eng.
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to petrochemicals and refining include:
- Primarily indoor/office work
- Safety-sensitive environment
- Transition to a similar level
- Urban location
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 embrace challenge and problem-solving. Sometimes the challenges are technical, such as running a pipeline under a river, and require coordination with specialty engineers and surface land team members and consultation with First Nations and landowners. Other challenges are logistical or interpersonal.
- Engineering and technology
- Mechanics
- Critical thinking
- Analyzing operations
- Evaluating systems
- Design
- Physics
- Managing material resources
- Judgment and decision making
- Innovative
