Senior Field Pipeline Technician - Grand Cane, LA

About the role

Day-to-day operations and maintenance of natural gas compressor stations and gathering systems.

Responsibilities

• Operate natural gas pipeline-associated equipment, including reciprocating natural gas compressors, dehydrators, fluid separating equipment, valves, and gas/liquid measurement equipment.
• Adjust controls to bring equipment into recommended or prescribed operating ranges.
• Start up and shut down equipment.
• Visually inspect equipment and controls at periodic intervals to detect malfunctions or need for repair, adjustment, or lubrication.
• De-pressurize equipment and pipelines.
• Purge/pressurize equipment and pipelines.
• Perform pipeline patrols and gas leakage surveys.
• Locate and mark underground pipelines.
• Operate valves.
• Implement safe work practices and a proactive safety culture to ensure safety for employees, the public, and the environment.
• Ensure regulatory compliance and record-keeping requirements, including those from the Department of Transportation, Railroad Commission, and Operator Qualification Plans.
• Read, monitor, and record conditions such as pressures, temperatures, hours of operation, fuel consumed, and water levels.
• Perform minor maintenance on equipment, including:
  • Monitoring and replacing filters, oil, chemicals, and other lubricating fluids.
  • Removing and replacing gaskets and valves as needed.
  • Installing plugs.
  • Changing gauges.
  • Maintaining site cleanliness (e.g., picking up trash, controlling weeds, minor painting).
  • Cleaning sight glasses.
  • Changing suction/discharge valves on compressors.
  • Changing light bulbs or fuses.
  • Performing pigging operations.
• Meet and improve upon customer needs.
• Maintain a near-perfect driving record.
• Demonstrate sound economic thinking skills.
• Direct and supervise contract labor involved in pipeline maintenance activities.
• Collaborate with supervisors on new and improved ideas for a changing pipeline system.
• Provide incident command support to emergency responders and lead mock/tabletop exercises.
• Recommend solutions to operational problems and improvements for operational efficiency.
• Interact with contractors and customers, both internal and external.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• 6 years of experience in valve maintenance, leak survey of natural gas pipelines, mechanical aptitude, or equivalent technical education.
• Possess and maintain a valid driver’s license.
• Ability to function autonomously.
• Thorough knowledge of O&M (Operations & Maintenance) manual.
• Demonstrated ability to lead or participate in work crews and special projects.
• Use experience to recommend solutions to operational problems.
• High integrity and self-motivated.
• Excellent vehicle driving record.
• Basic computer skills.
• Good communication, problem-solving, and physical perceptive skills.
• Ability to work without close supervision.
• Team player.
• Maintain OQ (Operator Qualification) for all tasks.
• Ability to start and stop equipment.
• Competent in damage prevention activities and documentation.
• Ability to read and interpret alignment sheets and P&IDs (Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams).

Preferred Qualifications

• Associate’s degree or technical education.

Physical Demands

• Must be able to sit, stand, walk, stoop, kneel, reach, talk, hear, grasp, and carry objects.
• Extensive use of hands to finger, handle, or feel, and reach with hands and arms.
• Ability to lift and/or move up to 10 pounds frequently, up to 50 pounds regularly, and occasionally up to 100 pounds.
• Vision requirements include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

Working Conditions

• Works unsupervised in field operations and alone 90% of the time.
• Works in all types of weather.
• Available 24 hours per day for on-call and emergency situations.
• Must remain calm and focused during emergency situations.
• Requires excellent driving skills and a clean driving record.
• Frequently exposed to work near moving mechanical parts.
• Works in high, precarious places and near toxic or caustic chemicals.
• Occasionally exposed to wet or humid conditions (non-weather), fumes or airborne particles, risk of electrical shock, and vibration.
• Noise level in the work environment may exceed 90 dB.