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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