Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers

Bookmark Print History Journal
x

Journal

    • Please sign in to view journal entries
x

Your Employment History in this Occupation

Please sign in to view Employment History
x
Rating
x

Please fill out the fields below to e-mail someone a link to this page

x
Please sign in to bookmark occupations

This occupation is part of the Production cluster

About the Job

Operate or control petroleum refining or processing units. May specialize in controlling manifold and pumping systems, gauging or testing oil in storage tanks, or regulating the flow of oil into pipelines.

It is also Called

  • Absorption Plant Operator
  • Blender
  • Board Operator
  • Boiler House Operator
  • Cat Cracker Operator
  • Control Board Operator
  • Control Operator
  • Control Panel Operator
  • Crude Unit Operator
  • Dock Operator

What They Do

  • Coordinate shutdowns and major projects.
  • Conduct general housekeeping of units, including wiping up oil spills and performing general cleaning duties.
  • Monitor process indicators, instruments, gauges, and meters in order to detect and report any possible problems.
  • Start pumps and open valves or use automated equipment to regulate the flow of oil in pipelines and into and out of tanks.
  • Control or operate manifold and pumping systems to circulate liquids through a petroleum refinery.
  • Operate control panels to coordinate and regulate process variables such as temperature and pressure, and to direct product flow rate, according to process schedules.
  • Signal other workers by telephone or radio to operate pumps, open and close valves, and check temperatures.
  • Verify that incoming and outgoing products are moving through the correct meters, and that meters are working properly.
  • Read automatic gauges at specified intervals to determine the flow rate of oil into or from tanks, and the amount of oil in tanks.
  • Operate auxiliary equipment and control multiple processing units during distilling or treating operations, moving controls that regulate valves, pumps, compressors, and auxiliary equipment.

Interests

People who work in this occupation generally have the interest code: RC.

This means people who work in this occupation generally have Realistic interests, but also prefer Conventional environments.

Work Values

People who work in this occupation generally prize Support, but also value Working Conditions and Independence in their jobs.

Things They Need to Know

  • Mechanical - Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
  • Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
  • Public Safety and Security - Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
  • Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
  • Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Things They Need to Be Able to Do

  • Operation Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
  • Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
  • Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
  • Operation and Control - Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
  • Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
  • Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
  • Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Education Required

These occupations usually require a high school diploma.

Wages

In 2012, the average annual wage in California was $72,110.00 with most people making between $52,400.00 and $92,700.00

Outlook

0.00%
avg. annual growth

During 2010, this occupation employed approximately 5,000 people in California. It is projected that there will be 4,700 employed in 2020.

This occupation will have about 0 openings due to growth and about 160 replacement openings for approximately 160 total annual openings.

Industries that Employ this Occupation

Similar Occupations


People who viewed this occupation also viewed:


California Career Resource Network