Dictionary
Of Occupational
Titles
PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
PRODUCTION INDUSTRY
F
FIELD ENGINEER, SPECIALIST
Collects fluid samples from oil-or
gas-bearing formations and analyzes sample to determine potential productivity of
formation: Moves controls on panel to fire charge into formation and to operate
hydraulic mechanism which thrusts and seals probe into perforation. Analyzes
fluid in sample to determine potential productivity of formation.
field gauger
pipe-line gauger;
tank-farm gauger; terminal gauger
Gauges and tests amount of oil in storage tanks, and regulates flow of oil and,
other petroleum products into pipelines at wells, tank farms, refineries, and
marine and rail terminals, following prescribed standards and regulations:
Gauges quantity of oil in storage tanks before and after delivery, using
calibrated steel tape and conversion tables. Lowers thermometer into
tanks to obtain temperature reading. Turns bleeder valves, or
lowers sample container into tank to obtain oil sample. Tests oil to determine
amount of bottom sediment, water, and foreign materials, using centrifugal
tester. Calculates test results, using standard formulas. Records
readings and test results. Starts pumps, and opens valves on pipelines and
tanks to regulate and direct flow of oil from and into tanks, according to
delivery schedules. Reads automatic gauges at specified time intervals
to determine flow rate of oil into or out of tanks and amount of oil in tanks.
Inspects
pipelines, valves, and flanges to detect malfunctions, such as loose
connections and leaks. Tightens connections with wrenches, greases
and oils valves, using grease gun and oilcan. Reports leaks or
defective valves to maintenance personnel. Clamps seal around
valves to secure tanks. May gauge tanks containing petroleum and natural
gas byproducts, such as condensate or
natural gasoline. May operate pumps, teletype, and mobile
radio. May clean pumps, machinery, and equipment.
May
issue delivery or receiving tickets. May record meter and
pressure readings at gas wells. May regulate flow of
products into pipelines, using automated pumping equipment. When
gauging oil received from and delivered to terminals, tank farms, and
refineries, may be designated Gauger,
Delivery (pipe lines).
Field Mechanic
Repairs, maintains, and installs
oil well drilling machinery and equipment, using handtools
and following oral and written work orders: Attaches hoisting cables to pumps,
transmissions, diesel engines, and other equipment at drill sites, lashes
equipment to trucks for transfer to repair yard, and guides lowering of
equipment onto blocks in or near repair shop. Disassembles engines and
mechanical units, using hand and power wrenches, screwdrivers, and other handtools.
Cleans
parts, such as pistons, valves, and parts of transmissions and clutches, using
steam hose and detergents. Inspects parts for
defects. Installs specified new or reconditioned parts, such as
relined brake bands and clutch plates, sprockets, pump cylinders, and other
parts of engines and mud pumps. Reassembles complete units. Tests function of
pumps and other mechanical units, using auxiliary power. Test-runs engines at
various speeds and observes efficiency of operations. Welds broken structures,
such as engine mounts, hand rails, machine guards, and pipe racks, using
electric and acetylene welding equipment. Paints reconditioned units, using
spray gun. Installs repaired equipment at drill sites, observes operations, and
readjusts components, as necessary. May maintain, repair, and install machinery
and equipment at drill sites and be designated Field Mechanic (petrol. &
gas).
Field Operator
Reconditions, tests, and
calibrates positive displacement gas meters, using handtools
and test equipment: Dismantles gas meter case, diaphragm assembly, and
connecting rods, using soldering iron and handtools.
Positions and solders diaphragm and diaphragm rings in
dismantled meter case. Inserts and solders flow-control valves in place, using
soldering iron and guide wires. Moves shaft connected to valve to test freedom
of movement. Adjusts shaft, using pliers, or resolders
shaft to correct defective operation. Solders index assembly in position and
connects assembly to activating mechanism. Moves activating arms to
extreme extension to test freedom of movement. Adjusts valve mechanism
to calibrate meter registration in accordance with public utilities commission
specifications. Repositions and resolders
connecting rods to provide sufficient clearance. Resolders
case seams to seal meter. Attaches airhose at meter inlet to
pressurize meter and test ability to register passage of low air volume.
Attaches pressurized meter to fixture which submerges meter under water to test
for leaks. May inspect, repair, and maintain gas meters used to measure volume
of natural gas flowing from producing wells to processing plant and be
designated Field Operator (petrol. & gas).
field operator
Operates
pumps and auxiliary equipment to produce artificial flow of oil or gas from
wells in oil field: Starts pumps and opens valves to pump oil from wells into
storage tanks. Starts compressor engines and diverts oil from storage tanks into
compressor units and auxiliary equipment to recover natural gas from oil. Opens
valves to return compressed gas to bottoms of specified wells to repressurize
them and force oil to surface. Operates engines and pumping units from central powerplant to
shut off wells according to production schedule and to switch flow of oil into
unfilled storage tanks. Reads tank gauges and pump meters, and
keeps production records. May supervise OIL PUMPERS (petrol.
& gas) and other workers engaged in producing oil from wells. May
repair gas and oil meters and gauges [INSTRUMENT MECHANIC (any industry)].
field-party manager
field-party manager Directs
activities in petroleum company or geophysical exploration service concerned
with providing transportation, supplies, housing, and other requirements for
field party prospecting for petroleum reserves: Purchases and maintains flow of
supplies to party. Arranges for housing and other living facilities.
Discharges
financial obligations. Arranges for and directs repair of
automotive and drilling equipment.
field seismologist geophysical operator;
section-plotter operator Plans and
directs activities of field party engaged in collecting seismic data used in
prospecting for oil or gas: Designates location of shot holes and placement of
seismometers and connecting cables over blast area according to plot drawn by
SURVEYOR, GEOPHYSICAL PROSPECTING (petrol. & gas). Plans and directs
activities of workers engaged in laying out seismographic measuring apparatus
over test area. Surveys area to verify that equipment is in position specified
and tests electrical circuits for continuity. Directs SHOOTER,
SEISMOGRAPH (petrol. & gas) to detonate charges placed in
shot holes, using short wave radio. Observes reaction of recording instruments
to detect irregularity. Develops picture of seismic wave pattern in
photographic developing solution. Examines wave pattern on
subterranean strata for evidence of distortion caused by electronic crossfeed,
short circuit, or loose connection. Orders redrilling
of shot holes and equipment layout to repeat shot. Directs repair or repairs
instruments or equipment, using manufacturers' manuals and handtools.
FIELD SUPERVISOR, OIL-WELL SERVICES
Supervises and coordinates
activities of workers engaged in setting up, testing, and servicing equipment
at oil or gas wells, or boreholes, running instruments in and out of wells,
electrical well logging, gun perforating, and temperature surveying. Orders
maintenance and repair of equipment, such as cables, vehicles, and test
instruments. Performs duties as described under SUPERVISOR (any
industry) Master Title.
Fire-Truck Driver
Drives truck with capacity of more
than 3 tons, to transport materials to and from specified destinations: Drives
truck to destination, applying knowledge of commercial driving regulations and area
roads. Prepares receipts for load picked up. Collects payment for
goods delivered and for delivery charges. May maintain truck log,
according to state and federal regulations. May maintain
telephone or radio contact with supervisor to receive delivery instructions.
May load and unload truck. May inspect truck equipment and supplies, such as
tires, lights, brakes, gas, oil, and water. May perform emergency
roadside repairs, such as changing tires, installing light bulbs, tire chains,
and spark plugs. May position blocks and tie rope around items to
secure cargo during transit. When driving truck equipped for specific purposes,
such as fighting fires, digging holes, and installing and repairing utility
company lines, may be designated Fire-Truck Driver (petrol. & gas);
Hole-Digger-Truck Driver (construction; tel. & tel.; utilities);
Tower-Truck Driver (tel. & tel.; utilities). When
specializing in making deliveries, may be designated Delivery-Truck Driver,
Heavy (any industry). May be designated according to type of
truck driven as Truck Driver, Flatbed (logging). May be
designated according to kind of cargo transported as Water Hauler (logging).
FISHING-TOOL TECHNICIAN, OIL WELL
oil-well-fishing-tool operator Analyzes conditions of
unserviceable oil or gas wells and directs use of special well-fishing tools
and techniques to recover lost equipment and other obstacles from boreholes of
wells: Confers with SUPERINTENDENT, DRILLING AND PRODUCTION (petrol. &
gas) to gather information regarding size of pipes and tools and borehole
conditions in wells. Plans fishing methods and selects tools for
removing obstacles, such as liners, broken casing, screens, and drill pipe from
wells. Directs drilling crew in applying weights to drill pipes, in using
special tools, in applying pressure to circulating fluid (mud), and in drilling
around lodged obstacles or specified earth formations, using whipstocks and
other special tools. Observes load variations on strain gauge, mudpump,
and motor pressure indicators, and listens to sounds of engines and rotary
chains to detect signs of faulty operations or unusual conditions in wells.
Quotes prices to customer and prepares reports of services rendered, tools
used, and time required, to serve as basis for billing customer. May
direct drilling crew in installation of well-bottom equipment.
FLOOR WORKER, WELL SERVICE
Rigs well service pulling machine
on oil well and assembles and disassembles rod and tubing sections, using hand
wrenches or power tongs: Pulls lever or turns handle to extend hydraulic or
screw-type jacks to support and level pulling machine and derrick. Fastens
derrick guy lines to ground-anchors to stabilize derrick. Unloads
handtools
and power tools from truck and attaches power tools to cables hanging from
derrick. Connects pulling machine hydraulic hoses to rod and tubing tongs and
other power tools. Unscrews connections on wellhead, using handtools
and removes pumping unit head. Attaches lifting clamp (rod elevator) to rod
sections in wellhole and places lifting clamp on hook of hoist line. Disconnects
rod sections as they are removed from wellhole,
using hand wrenches or power tongs. Disconnects and removes hook
from hoist line after rod sections have been removed from wellhole
and attaches tubing lifting clamp (tubing elevator). Attaches lifting clamps
to tubing in wellhole. Disconnects
tubing sections as they are removed from wellhole,
using hand wrenches or power tongs. Guides uncoupled tubing
sections from wellhole to racking board to stand pipe in derrick or guides
end of tubing section to ground rack and pushes section to slide it down rack
and lay it on ground. Guides tubing and rod sections from derrick or ground
rack to wellhole and connects to sections in wellhole,
using hand wrenches or power tongs, after repairing oil well pump, replacing
defective tubing, or performing similar oil well service. Detaches lifting
clamps from sections lowered into wellhole. Assembles and
tightens wellhead connections, using hand wrenches and replaces pumping unit
head. Disconnects hydraulic hoses and cables from power tools and loads on
truck. Unfastens derrick guy lines from ground-anchors and pushes
lever or turns handle to contract hydraulic or screw-type jacks. Performs
minor maintenance on tools and equipment, such as changing dies in tongs and
hand wrenches and changing worn hydraulic hoses on power equipment.
Washes
tools, equipment, and pulling machine with diesel fuel or other cleaning
solution. Shovels dirt around well location to cover spilled oil
and cleans oil from wellhead connections.
Formation-Fracturing Operator
Controls pumping and blending
equipment to acidize, cement, or fracture gas or oil wells and
permeable rock formations: Consults with SUPERINTENDENT, DRILLING AND
PRODUCTION (petrol. & gas) to determine well conditions, pipe
sizes, and amounts of acid, cement, or fracturing chemicals to be used.
Gives
directions to OIL-WELL-SERVICE-OPERATOR HELPER (petrol. &
gas) to unload pipes, fittings, and chemicals, and to correct pipes between
pumps and well, using handtools. Mixes
acids, chemicals or dry cement according to service specified by customer. Observes
meters and pressure gauges to regulate quantity and consistency of materials
and to control pump pressure. May perform routine
maintenance on vehicles and equipment. May be designated
according to specialty as Acidizer
(petrol. & gas); Acidizer,
Water Well (construction); Cementer, Oil Well (petrol. &
gas); Formation-Fracturing Operator (petrol. & gas).
Formation-Fracturing-Operator Helper
Assists
OIL-WELL-SERVICE OPERATOR (petrol. & gas) in controlling blending and
pumping equipment to treat oil or gas wells and permeable rock formations with
cement, acid, or chemicals: Drives truck equipped with acid pumps, mixers and
related equipment to well site. Unloads and assembles pipes and pumping
equipment, using handtools. Dumps acids, cement, or
other treating materials in mixer to blend solution. Opens
valve as directed to admit specified amounts of solution into well.
Dismantles and loads equipment on truck after treatment. May be designated
according to duty performed as Acidizer
Helper (petrol. & gas); Cementer Helper (petrol. &
gas); Formation-Fracturing-Operator Helper (petrol. & gas).
FORMATION-TESTING OPERATOR
testing-tool operator Analyzes samples of
fluids from specified formations in oil well to determine productivity of
strata, using special testing equipment: Assembles valve device and automatic
pressure recorder on drilling floor, using handtools.
Directs
ROTARY DRILLER (petrol. & gas) to lower section of drill pipe
containing instruments into well to specified depth. Opens valve
by surface control to obtain sample of fluids in valve device and to chart
pressure of fluid-giving formation. Closes valve and directs ROTARY DRILLER
(petrol. & gas) to raise pipe and equipment. Analyzes chemical
content of sample and interprets pressure readings to determine presence and
quantity of oil, gas, water, or other materials in formation. May
send sample of fluids from formation to laboratory for analysis. May
perforate boreholes [PERFORATOR OPERATOR, OIL WELL (petrol. &
gas)].
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