Oil and Gas Technician Series

California State Personnel Board Specification

Series established July 29, 1986

Scope

This series specification describes three classifications in the Department of Conservation to perform monitoring and inspection of oil and gas well operations and to provide technical assistance to professional engineering staff.

Definition of Series

The Oil and Gas Technician series describes field and office work to be learned and performed in providing technical assistance in oil and gas regulatory programs. Incumbents in these classes function as assistants to professional engineering staff performing such duties as making inspections of oil, gas and geothermal well drilling, production, maintenance, abandonment, enhanced recovery operations and disposal projects to ensure compliance with State conservation and environmental regulations; performing and reviewing calculations and elementary engineering computations; reviewing well records and project folders; preparing inspection reports and correspondence; collecting and preparing engineering and geological data for analysts; compiling and tabulating statistical data; constructing graphs and charts; doing simple drafting, drawings, and tracings; and plotting data on maps. Work assignments are varied, requiring both field duty and office work. Extensive travel is required.

Entry Level

Entry into this series is typically at the level of Oil and Gas Techni-cian I. Provision is made for upward mobility through lateral transfer from Office Assistant II to Oil and Gas Technician I if the candidate meets transfer eligibility criteria.

Factors Affecting Position Allocation

Oil and Gas Technician levels are differentiated by the following factors: Range and complexity of inspection duties; extent and nature of reports written; scope and complexity of data compiled; degree of supervision received; extent and types of knowledge and abilities required; and latitude for independent judgment and action. This last factor is particularly important to the Oil and Gas Technician III class.

Definition of Levels

Oil and Gas Technician I

This is the entry and training level class into the Oil and Gas Technician series. Under close supervision, incumbents perform the less complex inspection and technical assistance duties. Typical Oil and Gas Technician I tasks include the more routine compliance monitoring; making the less complex inspections of oil field operations and equipment, such as hazardous, deserted or idle wells, and drilling and production facilities; monitoring enhanced recovery wells and injection programs; making oil sump, pollution and other environmental inspections; preparing reports of inspections and obtaining data as required; doing simple drafting, including various types of maps, drawings, or tracings.

Oil and Gas Technician II

This is the first working level for the series. Incumbents at this level work under general supervision to perform the more complex inspection and technical assistance duties. Typical Oil and Gas Technician II tasks include inspection of more complex well operations; making environmental inspections; preparing and maintaining accurate field reports; making elementary engineering compilations; constructing graphs and charts; updating maps, and preparing and reviewing map revision reports.

Oil and Gas Technician III

This is the full journey level for the series. Incumbents exercise independent judgment in the performance of their duties and receive general direction from professional engineering staff at the Division of Oil and Gas. Incumbents may have lead responsibility and coordinate the work of lower level Oil and Gas Technicians. Typically Oil and Gas Technician III tasks include the most complex inspection and engineering support work, such as inspecting and witnessing the testing of blowout prevention equipment to ensure proper installation and operation; witnessing well cementing operations; witnessing tests for the location and hardness of cement plugs; witnessing production tests of water shut off by interpreting flow meter charts; assisting in inspections that do not require engineering decisions; inspecting oil fields for conditions or practices hazardous or detrimental to the environment and making suggestions or recommendations on ways to improve such conditions and practices; writing reports on these field inspections; calculating cement fill in wells and tanks; calculating sump volumes; conferring with representatives of oil companies on problems and standards relating to oil field operations; making map measurements and plotting well locations.

Minimum Qualifications

All Levels:

Possession of a valid California driver's license. (Applicants who do not possess the license will be admitted into the examination, but must secure the license prior to appointment.)

Oil and Gas Technician I

Either I

One year of experience in California state service performing the duties of a Service Assistant (Engineering).

Or II

Education equivalent to completion of academic course work at the high school level; two courses (in any combination) in drafting, algebra, or geometry.

Or III

One year of hands-on experience in oil or gas well drilling, production, maintenance, or abandonment operations.

Oil and Gas Technician II

Either I

One year of experience in the California state service performing the duties of an Oil and Gas Technician I in the Division of Oil and Gas.

Or II

Two years of experience in engineering, geology or hands-on experience in oil or gas well drilling, production, maintenance, or abandonment operations. (Experience in three or more of these categories is particularly desirable.) Note: Up to two years of college with major work in petroleum technology may be substituted for work experience on a year-for-year basis.

Oil and Gas Technician III

Either I

One year of experience in the California state service performing the duties of an Oil and Gas Technician II in the Division of Oil and Gas.

Or II

Three years of experience in engineering, geology or hands-on experience in oil or gas drilling, production, maintenance or abandonment operations. (Experience in three or more of these categories is particularly desirable.) Note: Up to two years of college with major work in petroleum technology may be substituted for work experience on a year-for-year basis.

Knowledge and Abilities

Oil and Gas Technician I

Knowledge of: Arithmetic, elementary drafting procedures, fundamental map referencing, spelling, grammar, and punctuation.

Ability to: Read and write at a level required for successful job performance; learn rapidly; follow directions; interpret written material; read and construct maps and graphs; calculate numerical data accurately; interpret charts of precision pressure recording instruments and flow meters; communicate effectively and maintain cooperative relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Oil and Gas Technician II

Knowledge of: All of the above and algebra; geometry; well drilling procedures and environmental and well regulations.

Ability to: All of the above and plot data on maps; determine locations on maps using various coordinate systems; make accurate field observations; prepare and maintain accurate records and reports; analyze situations accurately and adopt effective courses of action.

Oil and Gas Technician III

Knowledge of: All of the above and drilling methods and equipment; petroleum production practices; production facilities and well head equipment; well servicing rigs and equipment; abandonment procedures; and enhanced recovery and disposal methods.

Ability to: All of the above and assemble data for analysis by professional engineering staff; make calculations of cement fill in wells and volumes of tanks and sumps; and exercise good judgment.

Special Personal Characteristics

All Levels:

Willingness to travel and work odd hours; be punctual and dependable; interest in petroleum engineering or geologic field and office work.

Additional Desirable Qualification

All Levels:

Knowledge of: Electronic data processing equipment and procedures.

Class History