DETAILED OCCUPATION DATA
51-8092 Gas Plant Operators
Occupational Description:
Distribute or process gas for utility companies and others by controlling compressors to maintain specified pressures on main pipelines.| Percentiles | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geography | Employment | Emp SE* | Mean | Mean SE* | 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
| Minnesota | 230 | 89 | $30.73/hr | $1.01/hr | $23.19/hr | $25.78/hr | $29.54/hr | $35.90/hr | $41.81/hr |
| U S | 12,380 | 446 | $29.76/hr | $0.27/hr | $19.87/hr | $24.58/hr | $29.78/hr | $35.14/hr | $40.88/hr |
| *SE = Standard error, a measure of the statistical reliability of the estimate. | |||||||||
| Occupation (click title for details) | OES | Projections | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employment | Median Wage | % Change - | |
| Power Plant Operators | 210 | $30.30/hr | N/A |
| Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | 200 | $26.11/hr | N/A |
| Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders | 170 | $26.85/hr | N/A |
Tasks for Gas Plant Operators
- Controls fractioning columns, compressors, purifying towers, heat exchangers, and related equipment, to extract nitrogen and oxygen from air.
- Observes pressure, temperature, level, and flow gauges to ensure standard operation.
- Reads logsheet to ascertain demand and disposition of product or to detect equipment malfunctions.
- Records gauge readings and test results.
- Calculates gas ratios, using testing apparatus, to detect deviations from specifications.
- Signals or directs workers tending auxiliary equipment.
- Cleans and repairs equipment, using hand tools.
- Tests oxygen for purity and moisture content at various stages of process, using burette and moisture meter.
- Controls operation of compressors, scrubbers, evaporators, and refrigeration equipment to liquefy, compress, or regasify natural gas.
- Adjusts temperature, pressure, vacuum, level, flow rate, or transfer of gas, according to test results and knowledge of process and equipment.
- Controls equipment to regulate flow and pressure of gas to feedlines of boilers, furnaces, and related steam-generating or heating equipment.
- Determines causes of abnormal pressure variances and makes corrective recommendations, such as installation of pipe to relieve overloading.
- Changes charts in recording meters.
- Observes, records, and reports flow and pressure gauge readings on gas mains and fuel feedlines.
- Determines required governor adjustments, according to customer-demand estimates.
- Adjusts governors to maintain specified gas pressure and volume.