Your prime responsibility as a gas and oil network engineer is to maintain pipelines after installing them so that the businesses and home supply would take place smoothly. The responsibilities include: manually digging holes or with the use of equipment for digging, finding out a proper place to dig with the use of proper plans and the maps, laying of pipes and repair of them along with the maintenance of systems, connecting businesses and homes to the network of gas, installing and taking care of the equipment for controlling gas pressure, handling situations when there is a sudden gas leak and repairing pavements and filling in the holes after the work is complete. While carrying out the required tasks, you have to ensure that the recommended safety procedures are followed and the standards of the Gas Company are met.
The general working hours would be from eight in the morning to six in the evening. Often they have to work overtime as required. You have to work outdoors during all types of weathers and would be given the required protective clothing such as high-visibility vests and safety boots.
The work as an engineer in this field would be demanding physically so it is necessary to be physically fit.
Requirements
Academic
Formal qualifications are not a necessity but you require a general education standard and GCSEs or qualifications of a similar level. The entry requirements vary depending on the employers. A few employers ask for formal qualifications. Most of the employers look for a minimum of 4 GCSEs that include English, Math and other relevant subjects like design, engineering, technology or science. This is needed if you are looking forward to getting employed in the sector by means of an apprenticeship program.
Skills Sets
An oil and gas engineer job requires excellent practical skills and the capability to follow several technical diagrams and plans. As they have to work irrespective of the weather conditions, the ability to adapt to all situations is very important. He needs to deal with the public in a professional and polite manner and should have a safety-conscious and responsible attitude towards work. A gas and oil engineer has to work as a team member and the ability to carry out these duties is another important concern.
Training
There are formal courses offered at various training centers besides learning-at-the-job. Try to be qualified by taking up training enabling you to be at levels 1, 2 and third level in gas networking operations and third level qualifications in emergency operation services.
Prior experience: Experience would help you if you are unable to get employed in the sector with the help of apprenticeship programs.
Employment Outlook
Career Prospects
If you are experienced enough in the sector, you can become a team leader along with getting promoted to managerial positions.
Salaries
Apprentices get a payment ranging from $16,000 to about $18,000 in a year. Experienced team leaders and workers can earn about $40,000 in a year.
So, the oil and gas jobs sector would be a good option for interested and skilled workers.