Oil and gas technicians either work as a maintenance technician or process operation technician. They have to work in a team along with other operational staff.
One aspect of oil and gas jobs is undertaking the work of managing electrical, mechanical, instrument, and control systems. Mechanical technicians have to mostly deal with machinery including gas turbine, valves, transmission system, pumps, and diesel engines. Similarly, electrical technicians are responsible for electronic equipments like motors. They have to ensure that high voltage power is generated during the process. An instrument and control technician has to monitor and maintain an accurate measurement for the flow of oil and gas. They have to regulate the level, pressure, and temperature of these items.
Another area includes process operation technicians who are responsible for the production and delivery of oil and gas. From the beginning of the production process till the end, they supervise and control the work. They give verbal instructions and use the technology to manage the system. They have to make sure that considerable oil and gas production is obtained and for this they have to operate the production system effectively.
The technician engineers for the oil and gas industry should have a logical and scientific approach towards their job. They should have good understanding of various tools and technology. Oil and gas jobs involve working away from home for several days and also working in unfavorable weather conditions. A technician should be ready for this. They need to have a good idea about various locations where maximum production can be extracted. A fear of heights or deep mines should not be possessed by an oil and gas technician. Good and healthy communication with colleagues, juniors, and workers should be maintained by such technicians. Personal qualities like reliability, self confidence, responsibility, and being safety conscious are very essential. A good technician engineer is the one who solves all the problems with ease and in relatively less time.
To become an oil and gas technician, you need to achieve a diploma in engineering or NVQ Level 2 or Level 3 qualification. The technician should gain a certificate in mechanical engineering, process control, operations, or electrical engineering.
Involve yourself in training programs and learn the necessary skills required to become an oil and gas technician. A basic training off-site and On-site is essential to get a better placement and position. Training involves 2 years in a college or an equivalent institution. This is followed by 2 years training on site, either on shore or off shore. Working under senior technicians can help the new employee gain experience and acquire related skills.
The hours of working depends upon whether the technician engineer is working On-site or off-site. Generally off-site work has a fixed number of working hours while those working On-site have to work for longer durations. off-site work is highly demanding while on site work is also strenuous. You have to work under all weather condition. For protection against bad weather, technicians have to wear protective gear like gloves, hats, overcoats, etc.
Around the globe you can see many career prospects for technician engineer in the field of oil and gas. Choices are ample like mechanical, electrical, maintenance, instrument, and control technicians. With such good choices, you can pursue a good career in the field. A junior technician can aim at becoming a registered engineering technician. Those who are experienced get an opportunity to work as a team leader, supervisor of the production process, trainer, or project manager. You also stand a chance to become maintenance supervisor, production supervisor, project manager, or team manager. Based on your qualification and experience, you can be recruited for the post and according to your designation you are offered a fair amount of salary. There are certain companies which offer overseas work and projects.
This is a decent paying job. It certainly is not as lucrative job as some other professions. The average salary is around $25,000 to $30,000 annually.
