Gas Plant Operator Job Description

The Gas Plant Operator distributes or processes gas for utility companies and others by controlling compressors to maintain specified pressures on pipelines.

Primary Objectives:

A Gas Plant Operator must keep control of compressors to maintain specified pressures on main pipelines.

The Gas Plant Operator calculates gas ratios to detect deviations from specifications, using testing apparatus.

The Gas Plant Operator is in charge of maintenance of the equipment and the hiring of the maintenance crew.

The Gas Plant Operator adjusts temperature, pressure, vacuum, level, flow rate, and/ or transfer of gas to maintain processes at required levels or to correct problems. Then the Gas Plant Operator calculates gas ratios to detect deviations from specifications, using testing apparatus. Control equipment to regulate flow and pressure of gas feed-lines of boilers, furnaces, and related steam-generating or heating equipment. The Gas Plant Operator knows that he has a very responsible job and that he must keep a perfect attendance or provide a replacement person that is dependable.

The Gas Plant Operator is in charge of the control fractioning columns, compressors, purifying towers, heat exchangers, and related equipment in order to extract nitrogen and oxygen from air. The Gas Plant Operator is also in charge of the control operation of compressors, scrubbers, evaporators, and refrigeration equipment in order to liquefy, compress, or degasify natural gas. The Gas Plant Operator has complete control over all the units necessary to maintain the functions of a gas plant.

The Gas Plant Operator determines causes of abnormal pressure variances, and makes corrective recommendations, such as installation of pipes to relieve overloading. This is a very serious problem that could cause a major explosion. In turn the effect of the explosion could cause the shutdown of the facility and even serious injury or death to employees on the premises. The Gas Plant Operator distributes or processes gas for utility companies or industrial plants, using panel boards, control boards, and semi-automatic equipment. The Gas Plant Operator needs to make sure that these places are receiving the amount of gas necessary in a timely manner. The Gas Plant Operator monitors the equipment functioning, observes temperatures, level and flow gauges, and perform regular unit checks, in order to ensure that all equipment is operating as it should.

The Gas Plant Operator starts up the plant equipment and also shuts down the plant equipment. The Gas Plant Operator test gas, chemicals, and air during processing to assess factors such as purity and moisture content. He must be able to detect quality problems or gas or chemical leaks. The Gas Plant Operator is careful to change the charts in recording meters so everything is kept up-to-date. Then the Gas Plant Operator knows that he must clean, maintain, and repair equipment, using hand tools, or request that repair and maintenance work be performed by professional technicians. The professional technicians are called in for major repair jobs, as the Gas Plant Operator, is capable of doing all the normal repair and maintenance on the equipment. When the plant is large normally several Gas Plant Operators work the different sections maintaining the equipment. Then the Gas Plant Operators will confer one with the other to solve unit problems. When it is not possible for the Gas Plant Operators to resolve the unit problem then they call in the maintenance crews to help take care of the problem.

The Gas Plant Operator often monitors transportation and storage of flammable and other potentially dangerous products to ensure that safety guidelines are followed. The Gas Plant Operator must be capable of reading log sheets to determine product demand and disposition, or to detect malfunctions. Then the Gas Plant Operator records, reviews, and compiles operations records, test results, and gauge readings such as temperatures, pressures, concentrations, and flows. The Gas Plant Operator must signals or direct workers who tend any auxiliary equipment in the process of supplying gas. The Gas Plant Operator must be able to operate construction equipment to install and maintain gas distribution systems.

The Gas Plant Operator is responsible for safe, environmentally sound and efficient operation and minor maintenance of compressors and auxiliary equipment and systems throughout the Gas Processing Facility. The Gas Plant Operator must follow all plant safety, environmental and operating procedures; conduct various inspections of area and equipment including pumps and compressors, vessel levels, and pressures. The Gas Plant Operator operates natural gas sales distribution points, as well as, operating and monitoring injection gas systems. He must start and load natural gas compressors, collect, analyze and log results of samples. He should have a high school diploma, industrial or manufacturing environment or military service with a regard for a high level safety and environmental awareness.