Occupation Profile: Well Services Operators (Pre- and Post-production Servicing) Under the Job Family: Operators

Occupation Profile: Well Services Operators (Pre- and Post-production Servicing) Under the Job Family: Operators

Table of Contents Introduction................................................................................................................................................................ 4! National Occupational Classification (NOC)....................................................................... 4! Examples of Benchmark Job Titles .................................................................................... 4! Industry Context ........................................................................................................................................................ 5! Main Responsibilities................................................................................................................................................. 7! Acidizing Operator .............................................................................................................. 7! Pump Servicer .................................................................................................................... 8! Cementing Operator ........................................................................................................... 8! Coil Tubing Operator .......................................................................................................... 8! Completion and Service Tool Operator .............................................................................. 8! CO2 Operator...................................................................................................................... 8! Drill Stem Test Operator..................................................................................................... 8! Fishing Tool Operator......................................................................................................... 9! Fracturing Equipment Operator .......................................................................................... 9! Logging and Coring Operator ............................................................................................. 9! Nitrogen Operator............................................................................................................... 9! Power Tong and Casing Operator...................................................................................... 9! Production Well Test Operator ........................................................................................... 9! Snubbing Services Operator ............................................................................................10! Swabbing Unit Operator ...................................................................................................10! Wireline Operator .............................................................................................................10! Minimum Qualifications for Entry.............................................................................................................................10! Education and Experience: ..............................................................................................10! Certification and Licensing ...............................................................................................10! Characteristics and Nature of this Occupation ........................................................................................................11! Regional Considerations .........................................................................................................................................12! Other Work-Related Conditions .......................................................................................12! Key Competencies and Related Training and Development...................................................................................13! Competencies...................................................................................................................13! Training and Development ...............................................................................................14!

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Work Opportunities and Typical Career Path..........................................................................................................14! Career Advancement and Occupational Options .............................................................14! Employment Outlook ...............................................................................................................................................15! Workplaces and Employers in the Petroleum Industry............................................................................................16! Compensation: Wages, Salaries and Other Typical Remuneration ........................................................................16! Extra Information .....................................................................................................................................................17! Related Web Links ...........................................................................................................17! Something to Think About and Helpful Tips .....................................................................19!

Copyright © Petroleum Human Resources Council of Canada 2009. The opinions and interpretations in this publication are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Government of Canada.

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Occupation Profile: Well Services Operators (Pre- And Post- production Servicing) Under the Job Family: Operators

Introduction

National Occupational Classification (NOC) •

#8232: Oil and Gas Well Drillers, Servicers, Testers and Related Workers; and

•

#8412: Oil and Gas Well Drilling Workers and Services Operators.

Examples of Benchmark Job Titles

Job titles vary in the industry with the most common ones being:

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Acidizing Operator;

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Pump Servicer;

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Power Tong and Casing Operator;

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Cementing Operator;

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Coil Tubing Operator;

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Completion and Service Tool Operator;

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Drill Stem Test Operator;

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Fishing Tool Operator;

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Fracturing Equipment Operator;

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Logging and Coring Operator;

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Nitrogen Operator;

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Production Well Test Operator;

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Snubbing Services Operator;

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Swabbing Unit Operator; and

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Wireline Operator.

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Occupation Profile: Well Services Operators (Pre- And Post- production Servicing) Under the Job Family: Operators

Industry Context Well Services Operator jobs can be found onshore, offshore and in Arctic locations. They also play a role in heavy oil (in situ) extractions. There is very little difference in well services operational techniques used in onshore, offshore and Arctic locations aside from the environmental and physical location characteristics. Figure 1 shows where Well Service Operators fit into the big picture of oil and gas extraction and production.

Identifying & Preparing the Site

Setting Up the Drilling Rig

Drilling the Well

Well Production

Well Testing & Completion

Well Servicing, Workover & Maintenance

Well Plugging & Abandonment

Well Services Operator

Figure 1: The life of an oil or gas well.

Identifying and Preparing the Site •

Leveling, excavating and trenching; and

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Preliminary drilling of starter, mouse and rat holes.

Setting up the Drilling Rig •

Setting up the substructure, floor, stairs, railings and derrick;

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Installing the power and circulation systems;

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Installing auxiliary equipment; and

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Inspecting the rig.

Drilling the Well

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Drilling;

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Coring;

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Casing or lining the drilling hole; and

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Rig maintenance and well control.

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Occupation Profile: Well Services Operators (Pre- And Post- production Servicing) Under the Job Family: Operators

Well Testing and Completion •

Well testing and evaluation to determine production is a go, or abandon;

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Conducting drill stem testing (DST);

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Cementing in the casing and dismantling of drilling rig;

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Perforating production casing and installing production tubing; and

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Installing the wellhead and commencement of the production phase.

Well Production •

Wellbore clean-up;

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Installing, testing and monitoring blowout prevention equipment;

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Starting production flow;

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Enhancing the flow rate through fracturing, beam pumping units, etc.; and

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Conducting production well tests.

Well Servicing and Maintenance •

Service rig set-up;

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General services, e.g. removing wellhead, pulling and running rods and tubing;

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Special services, e.g. wireline operations, logging, stimulation, swabbing, snubbing, coil tubing, fishing, etc.; and

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Maintenance and workover, e.g. sand cleanout, repairing casings and recompletions.

Well Plugging and Abandonment

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Removal of casings;

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Plugging the well; and

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Property reclamation.

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Occupation Profile: Well Services Operators (Pre- And Post- production Servicing) Under the Job Family: Operators

Main Responsibilities This Occupation Profile represents a wide variety of specialized Well Services Operator jobs that provide servicing to oil and gas wells in pre- and post-production phases. These jobs are integral to development and long-term viability of the well. Most are highly specialized and dependent on one another for process sequencing and scheduling. The main responsibilities are grouped by: •

Acidizing Operator;

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Pump Servicer;

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Cementing Operator;

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Coil Tubing Operator;

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Completion and Service Tool Operator;

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CO2 Operator;

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Drill Stem Test Operator;

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Fishing Tool Operator;

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Fracturing Equipment Operator;

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Logging and Coring Operator;

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Nitrogen Operator;

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Power Tong and Casing Operator;

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Production Well Tester;

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Snubbing Services Operator;

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Swabbing Unit Operator; and

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Wireline Operator.

Well Services Operator jobs in specialty services have the following responsibilities:

Acidizing Operator •

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Operates equipment that forcefully injects acid (e.g. hydrochloric acid) into the formation surrounding the well to make it more permeable and therefore easier to extract oil or gas into the well. This is also known as acid fracturing.

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Occupation Profile: Well Services Operators (Pre- And Post- production Servicing) Under the Job Family: Operators

Pump Servicer •

Installs and repairs any of the rod pumps, high-pressure liquid pumps or centrifugal pumps that are located near or at the bottom of the well. These highly specialized, heavy duty pumps are instrumental in lifting well fluids.

Cementing Operator •

Maintains and operates mounted high-pressure mixing and pumping systems for placement of specialty cements and fluids into wells for the purpose of zonal isolation, “rigs in” high-pressure steel piping from mounted equipment to the well head; and

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Ensures safe transportation of heavy equipment to and from oil and gas well locations.

Coil Tubing Operator •

Responsible for using continuous coiled tubing to perform insertion tasks like pumping fluids down the well to stimulate the flow of oil or gas. For onshore operations, this is done using small service rigs or “rigless.”

Completion and Service Tool Operator •

Installs completion equipment “downhole” that is used to control the reservoir pressures and production flow; and

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Installs and operates temporary service tools into a well to control reservoir pressures or divert flow while other service operators are performing associated work.

CO2 Operator •

Responsible for pumping and inserting CO2 gas in combination with the fracturing process.

Drill Stem Test Operator •

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Operates a drill stem test tool lowered into the well that consists of a packer(s), valves or ports which are remotely controlled from the surface, and pressure recording equipment designed to test specifically selected formation zones for production viability.

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Occupation Profile: Well Services Operators (Pre- And Post- production Servicing) Under the Job Family: Operators

Fishing Tool Operator •

Operates downhole tools designed specifically to retrieve objects that are left or stuck in the wellbore during drilling or workover operations. These objects must be recovered before work can proceed. They can be anything from a piece of scrap metal to a part of the drill stem.

Fracturing Equipment Operator •

Operates a diesel engine, fracturing pump and control unit to create hydraulic fracturing around the formation surrounding the well. Fracturing fluid is pumped into the well at extreme pressure to open new fractures that create a conduit for oil or gas to enter the well.

Logging and Coring Operator •

Helps provide information about the ability of a rock formation to produce oil and gas;

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Lowers instruments called wireline logging tools into either open or cased holes to record data such as composition, permeability, thickness, etc.; and

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Extracts core samples using a cylindrical bit, which are sent to geologists and other specialists for further study.

Nitrogen Operator •

Pumps and inserts nitrogen gas in combination with acidizing and fracturing fluids into wells to enhance the fracturing process, fluid displacement and well head pressure testing; also places blowout coil tubing units.

Power Tong and Casing Operator •

Uses large pneumatic or electric power tongs to prepare and insert casing (metal tubes) into a well. When combined with cementing, these metal casing serve to stabilize recently drilled well holes.

Production Well Test Operator •

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Operates temporary surface production well testing equipment to record surface pressures and gas and liquid rates and determine the well’s production viability.

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Occupation Profile: Well Services Operators (Pre- And Post- production Servicing) Under the Job Family: Operators

Snubbing Services Operator •

Uses snubbing equipment to insert or remove drill pipe, tubing or specialized equipment into or from a well, when blowout preventers are closed while containing well pressure. Snubbing services are specialized functions of oil and gas well life-cycle maintenance that requires working with a well under pressure.

Swabbing Unit Operator •

Operates specialized equipment consisting of a swabbing assembly, lubricator and shutoff valves that pulls fluid from the wellbore using a wire rope and cup assembly system. Somewhat like priming a pump, the process creates a vacuum that causes the oil or gas well to flow on its own pressure.

Wireline Operator •

Responsible for operating wireline or cable (slickline) to lower objects into a well for various purposes such as fishing, bailing, swabbing, well logging, perforating, well maintenance and transporting downhole tools. Wireline can contain an inner core of insulated electrical wiring that is used to supply power and telemetry to equipment (e.g. logging equipment) at the end of the cable.

Minimum Qualifications for Entry Education and Experience: Entry-level Well Service Operator roles do not require post-secondary education or previous experience. Grade 12 (with good math skills), a strong work ethic and a willingness to learn are what employers typically look for. They also expect clean drug and alcohol test results. Experience in oil and gas drilling or service is preferred but not necessary at the entry level.

Certification and Licensing Many Well Service Operators are required to operate heavy trucks and must possess a Class 1 or 3 operator’s license with heavy truck endorsement and clean driving record. In other situations, a driver’s license may be needed to operate a personal or company vehicle to get to a worksite. Because of the nature of the work and exposure to a potentially hazardous work environment, most Operators are required to obtain certification or tickets in the following:

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Occupation Profile: Well Services Operators (Pre- And Post- production Servicing) Under the Job Family: Operators

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First aid;

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Workplace Hazard Material Information System (WHMIS);

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Blowout prevention;

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Transportation of dangerous goods;

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Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) Alive; and

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Confined Space Entry.

Employers support individuals in getting the required certifications and licenses, and companies offer in-house proprietary training that is mandatory for new hires. Designated occupation certification for Production Well Test Operator and Snubbing Services Operator is available under the Apprenticeship and Industry Training Act. A related role, Well Testing Services Supervisor, is also a designated occupation. When an individual working in the well services sector reaches a certain level of skill as prescribed by the Petroleum Competency Program (PCP), the option exists to apply for an occupational certificate that proves the Operator has meet provincial and industry standards for competency in that occupation. For more information, go to www.petrohrsc.ca or www.tradesecrets.gov.ab.ca.

Characteristics and Nature of this Occupation A career in the well services sector of the oil and gas industry will appeal to individuals with the following attributes, interests and preferences:

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Mechanical aptitude and abilities;

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Ability to work with their hands and fix things even without the proper spare parts;

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Ability to visualize how a tool is functioning (or not) without being able to look at it;

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Tolerance, stamina and flexibility to work outdoors in any weather conditions;

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Interest in being a team player;

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Ability to problem solve, trouble-shoot and think quickly on your feet;

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Mindful of safety precautions for self and others;

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Confidence in personal abilities and potential;

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Interested in the opportunity to be exposed to and potentially learn different work specializations;

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Willingness to perform responsibilities that require physical exertion;

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Occupation Profile: Well Services Operators (Pre- And Post- production Servicing) Under the Job Family: Operators

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Willingness to learn on the job, complete different tasks everyday and deal with impromptu schedule changes;

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Tolerance for travelling to and remaining in isolated locations for extended periods of time;

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In offshore situations, not adverse to marine isolation and sea sickness;

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Ability to take direction and show initiative; and

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Willingness to work hard for long hours.

Regional Considerations Well Services Operator jobs can be found onshore, offshore, and in Arctic locations. To a limited degree they also work in heavy oil (in situ) operations, but are not usually found in oil sands surface mining operations. In general, there is very little difference in well services operational techniques between onshore, offshore and Arctic locations aside from environmental and physical location characteristics. There are also opportunities to work internationally. On offshore platforms, drilling production and service rigs are typically all in one. Offshore well completion is somewhat similar to that of land; however, the wellhead may be located at the seafloor or on the deck of the platform. Subsea completion will result in maintenance and repairs being handled by divers or submersibles and diving bells. In Arctic conditions, operators must deal with not only the extreme cold temperatures, but also the challenge of the permafrost. Partial thawing and refreezing places considerable strain on well casings and wellheads. Wellheads are typically housed in heated structures to protect workers and equipment.

Other Work-Related Conditions Working conditions are ever changing due to the impact of weather conditions. Work can be difficult and sometimes hazardous, and performed in adverse conditions and challenging environments. For example, Operators work on wells that are pressurized and may contain hydrogen sulfide. It is important to know that enhanced safety training, adherence to policy and procedures and monitoring have resulted in an exemplary track record for this industry. Operators are typically employed by Well Service Contractors. Hours of work will often depend on contracts, location and type of service provided. Because of the remoteness of many of these wells, employees will experience travel time and extended stays in hotels and/or camps. Work is usually structured around 12-hour rotating shifts with overtime dependent on the urgency of the service and/or the availability of workers. Well Services Operators are expected to be on call.

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Occupation Profile: Well Services Operators (Pre- And Post- production Servicing) Under the Job Family: Operators

As an example, Cementing Crews are typically made up of two to four people. These Crews generally work rotational schedules of 15-16 days on and five to six days off. During these work cycles, operators are required to be available and ready to work long hours.

Key Competencies and Related Training and Development Competencies Key competencies for this Occupation Profile are listed below. Business •

Ability to quickly understand instructions and provide feedback;

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Effectively work and communicate with all team members;

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Comprehension of quality control work standards;

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Comprehension and adherence to all safety standards and policies; and

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Support of environmental protection.

Technical

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Ability to comprehend instructional documentation;

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Accurate recording and comprehension of numbers, datasets, formulas, tables and mathematical computations;

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Effective researching and gathering of information;

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Accurate and timely preparation and completion of technical reports;

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Computer skills are a benefit as data from all services are collected using various software programs to record well pressures, pump rates, slurry densities and other valuable information for the customers requesting services;

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Diagnostic abilities; and

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Ability to visualize how a tool is functioning (or not) without being able to see it.

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Occupation Profile: Well Services Operators (Pre- And Post- production Servicing) Under the Job Family: Operators

Enabling •

Ability to understand work beyond immediate responsibilities and how individual responsibilities compared to those of other players in well servicing and completion team;

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Ability to formulate answers to increasingly more difficult problems based on increased knowledge and experience;

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Ability to assume a technical, safety and/or people leadership role with experience;

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Ability to continuously learn;

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Ability to help in controlling critical or emergency situations;

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Enhanced diagnostic abilities; and

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Integration of reactive and proactive thinking.

Training and Development Because of the nature of the work and the importance of safety, on-the-job training is a priority. Larger companies provide employees with wide range of training and developmental opportunities for career advancement. Typical on the job training consists of partnering with a more experienced operator to learn processes and procedures involving specialized equipment. Most equipment manufacturers and major service companies provide in-house training on their specific equipment. Other relevant training is provided by industry-recognized training organizations.

Work Opportunities and Typical Career Path Career Advancement and Occupational Options Unless a person has experience in oil and gas well servicing, particularly in the specialty in question, they will begin in entry-level positions. These entry-level positions are generally categorized as Helpers, Labourers and Semi-skilled Workers, and are commonly referred to as an Operator 1 in the career progression. Following an orientation and training period that can range from three months to a year, Operators can advance to a full-working level Operator (e.g. Operator 2). After three to four years at the fullworking level, an individual can be promoted to an advanced level Operator (e.g. Operator 3) role that may also involve “lead-hand” direction over others.

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Occupation Profile: Well Services Operators (Pre- And Post- production Servicing) Under the Job Family: Operators

With successful performance at the Operator 3 level, individuals can move into supervisory, management or partnership positions if people leadership is of interest. Operators can also progress to highly specialized, technical leadership positions. Demonstrating initiative is important for advancement in this profession. Most Operators will gain exposure to other specialties within the well services sector. Operators may decide to change specialties. That typically means starting at the junior level in the new specialty area and advancing to a full-working level in a shorter amount of time. Figure 2 represents the typical career path; however, career paths may vary within the different service or specialty areas.

Figure 2: Typical career path.

Employment Outlook The oil and gas industry is key to Canada’s economy and with many people retiring over the coming decade, the industry is expected to hire for years to come. The number of people retiring already outnumbers those joining the industry today. The Petroleum Human Resources Council has generated medium to long-term industry validated labour market information that forecasts employment demand to 2020 for exploration, development, production, service industries, pipeline transmission, gas processing and mining, and extracting

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Occupation Profile: Well Services Operators (Pre- And Post- production Servicing) Under the Job Family: Operators

and upgrading heavy oil (in situ) and bitumen. Overall, oil sands operations are expected to provide the most new employment opportunities, while conventional oil and gas activity is projected to decrease over time and not return to the peak experienced in 2006. In addition, the service and pipeline sectors are expected to provide increasing support to the heavy oil (in situ) extraction within the oil sands.

Workplaces and Employers in the Petroleum Industry Well Service Operators are hired by well services companies that provide contracted services to petroleum producing companies. The following websites provide membership directories and/or other information about employers and work opportunities in this sector: •

www.psac.ca;

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www.caodc.ca;

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www.subsea.org;

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www.albertaoilboom.com;

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www.careersinoilandgas.com; and

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www.infooil.com.

Compensation: Wages, Salaries and Other Typical Remuneration Compensation within the oil and gas industry is competitive when compared to similar jobs in other sectors. The best place to find information about compensation (base, bonuses and overtime) is to check with employers in the industry. For example, a standard practice in the services sector is to pay a job bonus for each project that is completed. Most companies also offer comprehensive benefits packages. Alberta Wage and Salary Information can be found at www.employment.alberta.ca. Salary information is also provided on other provincial government websites.

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Occupation Profile: Well Services Operators (Pre- And Post- production Servicing) Under the Job Family: Operators

Extra Information Related Web Links Table 1: Related web links. SOURCE

DESCRIPTION

LINK

Canadian Association of Oil Well Drilling Contractors (CAODC)

• The CAODC is an active trade association representing drilling and service rig contractors throughout Canada; and

www.caodc.ca

• Provides a range of oil and gas well drilling and service information, a membership directory and employment brochures, e.g. “A Career in the Service Rig Industry” and “A Career in the Drilling Industry.”

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Canadian Center for Energy Information

• Provides information on the energy industry including a glossary of terms.

www.centreforenergy.com

Job Futures – National Edition

• Links to employment information – Canada, Provinces and Territories.

www.jobfutures.ca

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Occupation Profile: Well Services Operators (Pre- And Post- production Servicing) Under the Job Family: Operators

SOURCE

DESCRIPTION

LINK

Petroleum Human Resources Council of Canada

• This website provides information and resources on human resources issues facing the oil and gas industry including the Occupation Profiles Library;

www.petrohrsc.ca

• The site also includes an information package called “Careers in Oil and Gas: Rich with Potential”; and

Petroleum Competencies Program (PCP)

• The Careers in Oil and Gas website provides information about the industry, job search tips and other career management information.

www.careersinoilandgas.com

• This program is managed by the Petroleum Human Resources Council of Canada; and

www.petrohrsc.ca

• Certifies workers in certain occupations within the petroleum industry. Petroleum Services Association of Canada (PSAC)

• PSAC is the national trade association representing the service, supply and manufacturing sectors within the upstream petroleum industry; and

www.psac.ca

• Provides Petroleum Services industry information and career resources such as brief job descriptions.

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Occupation Profile: Well Services Operators (Pre- And Post- production Servicing) Under the Job Family: Operators

SOURCE

DESCRIPTION

LINK

Provincial Government Profiles

• Alberta;

www.alis.gov.ab.ca

• B.C.; and

www.workfutures.bc.ca

• Ontario.

www.ontariojobfutures.ca

• A comprehensive Oil and Gas Glossary that also includes graphics and photos.

www.glossary.oilfield.slb.com

Schlumberger

Something to Think About and Helpful Tips Students, parents, career counselors and others who are interested in obtaining more information about Well Services Operators may find it useful to: •

Attend local career fairs hosted by employers who offer jobs and careers in this occupation;

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Attend a petroleum-related event, go to www.petroleumshow.com;

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Visit petroleum Industry museums such as the Canadian Petroleum Discovery Centre Leduc #1, go to www.c-pic.org;

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Participate in National Technology Week which is held each November and offers a host of activities along with interactive and fun resources to help students, teachers and parents explore technical careers; and

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Contact a well services company and ask for a tour of a service rig or a well site being serviced. Note: H2S Alive and First Aid training is required to go onsite.

Potential Well Services Operators should consider acquiring skills and knowledge in the competency areas outlined in this Occupation Profile. This may include taking high school or technical college subjects that are relevant (e.g. English, mathematics, mechanics, physics, chemistry), and taking the initiative to obtain H2S Alive and First Aid tickets.

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