What Do Gas Plant Operators Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Gas Plant Operators distribute or process gas for utility companies and others by controlling compressors to maintain specified pressures on main pipelines. They also distribute or process gas for utility companies or industrial plants, using panel boards, control boards, and semi-automatic equipment.

Other tasks include:

• Monitor transportation and storage of flammable and other potentially dangerous products to ensure that safety guidelines are followed.
• Monitor equipment functioning, observe temperature, level, and flow gauges, and perform regular unit checks to ensure that all equipment is operating as it should.
• Control operation of compressors, scrubbers, evaporators, and refrigeration equipment to liquefy, compress, or regasify natural gas.
• Start and shut down plant equipment.
• Control equipment to regulate flow and pressure of gas to feedlines of boilers, furnaces, and related steam-generating or heating equipment.
• Record, review, and compile operations records, test results, and gauge readings such as temperatures, pressures, concentrations, and flows.

We asked Gas Plant Operators how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

---

69% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 68% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Gas Plant Operators change charts in recording meters. They clean, maintain, and repair equipment, using hand tools, or request that repair and maintenance work be performed.

A typical day for a Gas Plant Operator will also include:

• Collaborate with other operators to solve unit problems.
• Read logsheets to determine product demand and disposition, or to detect malfunctions.
• Monitor equipment functioning, observe temperature, level, and flow gauges, and perform regular unit checks to ensure that all equipment is operating as it should.
• Start and shut down plant equipment.
• Calculate gas ratios to detect deviations from specifications, using testing apparatus.

We asked some Gas Plant Operators a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	97% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	43% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	56% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	13% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	20% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	54% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Gas Plant Operators also signal or direct workers who tend auxiliary equipment. They may also operate construction equipment to install and maintain gas distribution systems.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Gas Plant Operators Collaborate with other operators to solve unit problems. They might also Change charts in recording meters.

In addition, they Contact maintenance crews when necessary.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Clean, maintain, and repair equipment, using hand tools, or request that repair and maintenance work be performed.

To some Gas Plant Operators, it is also their responsibility to Control equipment to regulate flow and pressure of gas to feedlines of boilers, furnaces, and related steam-generating or heating equipment.

Working life

Standard 40 hour work week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Gas Plant Operator, you can expect to work 40 hour work week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery..

They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2013/spring/art02.pdf