Gas Plant Operators
Medium63.67%
Found in Industries:
Salary Range
Low (10th %)$53,330
Median$82,560
High (90th %)$108,340
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Distribute or process gas for utility companies and others by controlling compressors to maintain specified pressures on main pipelines.
The occupation "Gas Plant Operators" has an automation risk of 63.7%, primarily due to the high potential for machines to take over routine monitoring and equipment control functions. With a base risk of 64.5%, this job involves many repetitive and rules-based tasks that are well suited for automation. For example, gas plant operators frequently monitor equipment functioning, observe gauges, and perform checks to ensure proper operations; these are tasks easily handled by advanced sensors and automated alert systems. Additionally, the use of panel boards or semi-automatic equipment to distribute and process gas is increasingly being replaced by smarter, fully automated process control systems. Machines are also adept at controlling the operation of compressors, scrubbers, evaporators, and other equipment required to handle natural gas, as such systems can be programmed for efficiency, safety, and error reduction. Despite the high automation risk, some tasks remain resistant to automation due to their reliance on manual intervention, complex judgment, or physical manipulation in unpredictable environments. Changing charts in recording meters, for instance, often involves physical replacement and handling that is not yet efficiently automated at scale, especially in older plants. Operating construction equipment for installation or maintenance of gas distribution systems requires adaptability, on-the-spot problem solving, and responsiveness to varying site conditions. Similarly, calculating gas ratios using testing apparatus to detect deviations from specifications depends on analytical thinking and may require interpretation of ambiguous data or dealing with unexpected results, which is currently challenging for machines to replicate fully. A significant bottleneck for automation in this occupation is the low level of required originality, with measured percentages at 2.3% and 2.8% for critical tasks. This indicates that creative problem-solving and innovative thinking are not major aspects of a gas plant operator's daily work, limiting barriers to replacing these jobs with automation. However, where creativity or unique solutions are necessary—such as troubleshooting unusual operational events or adapting procedures to new regulatory requirements—automation still faces hurdles. Therefore, while the majority of tasks are susceptible to automation due to their routine and procedural nature, a subset of tasks requiring manual skill or higher-order judgment continues to resist full automation, at least with current technology.
Filter by Automatable Status
Monitor equipment functioning, observe temperature, level, and flow gauges, and perform regular unit checks to ensure that all equipment is operating as it should.
Automatable
Distribute or process gas for utility companies or industrial plants, using panel boards, control boards, and semi-automatic equipment.
Partially Automatable
Control operation of compressors, scrubbers, evaporators, and refrigeration equipment to liquefy, compress, or regasify natural gas.
Partially Automatable
Record, review, and compile operations records, test results, and gauge readings such as temperatures, pressures, concentrations, and flows.
Automatable
Determine causes of abnormal pressure variances, and make corrective recommendations, such as installation of pipes to relieve overloading.
Partially Automatable
Adjust temperature, pressure, vacuum, level, flow rate, or transfer of gas to maintain processes at required levels or to correct problems.
Automatable
Collaborate with other operators to solve unit problems.
Partially Automatable
Monitor transportation and storage of flammable and other potentially dangerous products to ensure that safety guidelines are followed.
Partially Automatable
Start and shut down plant equipment.
Automatable
Read logsheets to determine product demand and disposition, or to detect malfunctions.
Automatable
Contact maintenance crews when necessary.
Automatable
Test gas, chemicals, and air during processing to assess factors such as purity and moisture content, and to detect quality problems or gas or chemical leaks.
Automatable
Clean, maintain, and repair equipment, using hand tools, or request that repair and maintenance work be performed.
Non-Automatable
Signal or direct workers who tend auxiliary equipment.
Partially Automatable
Calculate gas ratios to detect deviations from specifications, using testing apparatus.
Partially Automatable
Operate construction equipment to install and maintain gas distribution systems.
Partially Automatable
Change charts in recording meters.
Non-Automatable
Control equipment to regulate flow and pressure of gas to feedlines of boilers, furnaces, and related steam-generating or heating equipment.
Automatable
Control fractioning columns, compressors, purifying towers, heat exchangers, and related equipment to extract nitrogen and oxygen from air.
Partially Automatable
Reading ComprehensionActive ListeningCritical ThinkingComplex Problem SolvingOperations MonitoringQuality Control AnalysisSystems EvaluationManagement of Personnel ResourcesWritingSpeakingMathematicsScienceActive LearningLearning StrategiesMonitoringSocial PerceptivenessCoordinationPersuasionNegotiationInstructingService OrientationOperations AnalysisTechnology DesignEquipment SelectionInstallationProgrammingOperation and ControlEquipment MaintenanceTroubleshootingRepairingJudgment and Decision MakingSystems AnalysisTime ManagementManagement of Financial ResourcesManagement of Material Resources
Arm-Hand SteadinessAuditory AttentionCategory FlexibilityControl PrecisionDeductive ReasoningDepth PerceptionDynamic FlexibilityDynamic StrengthExplosive StrengthExtent FlexibilityFar VisionFinger DexterityFlexibility of ClosureFluency of IdeasGlare SensitivityGross Body CoordinationGross Body EquilibriumHearing SensitivityInductive ReasoningInformation OrderingManual DexterityMathematical ReasoningMemorizationMultilimb CoordinationNear VisionNight VisionNumber FacilityOral ComprehensionOral ExpressionOriginalityPerceptual SpeedPeripheral VisionProblem SensitivityRate ControlReaction TimeResponse OrientationSelective AttentionSound LocalizationSpatial OrientationSpeech ClaritySpeech RecognitionSpeed of ClosureSpeed of Limb MovementStaminaStatic StrengthTime SharingTrunk StrengthVisual Color DiscriminationVisualizationWrist-Finger SpeedWritten ComprehensionWritten Expression
Administration and ManagementAdministrativeEconomics and AccountingSales and MarketingCustomer and Personal ServicePersonnel and Human ResourcesProduction and ProcessingFood ProductionComputers and ElectronicsEngineering and TechnologyDesignBuilding and ConstructionMechanicalMathematicsPhysicsChemistryBiologyHistory and ArcheologyPhilosophy and TheologyPublic Safety and SecurityLaw and GovernmentTelecommunicationsCommunications and MediaTransportationPsychologySociology and AnthropologyGeographyMedicine and DentistryForeign LanguageEnglish LanguageFine ArtsEducation and TrainingTherapy and Counseling
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsProcessing InformationGetting InformationIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeopleMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsThinking CreativelyUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesScheduling Work and ActivitiesOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkPerforming General Physical ActivitiesHandling and Moving ObjectsControlling Machines and ProcessesOperating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentWorking with ComputersRepairing and Maintaining Electronic EquipmentDocumenting/Recording InformationDrafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and EquipmentInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersRepairing and Maintaining Mechanical EquipmentCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsAssisting and Caring for OthersSelling or Influencing OthersResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersPerforming for or Working Directly with the PublicCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersDeveloping and Building TeamsTraining and Teaching OthersGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesCoaching and Developing OthersProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersPerforming Administrative ActivitiesStaffing Organizational UnitsMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesAnalyzing Data or InformationCommunicating with People Outside the Organization
Operating log softwareQuorum PGASMicrosoft PowerPointSAP softwareWork scheduling softwareMicrosoft OutlookAspenTech HYSYSOperating log softwareQuorum PGASMicrosoft PowerPointSAP softwareWork scheduling softwareMicrosoft OutlookAspenTech HYSYSSupervisory control and data acquisition SCADA softwareSupervisory control and data acquisition SCADA softwareMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft WordMicrosoft Word
Geothermal Production Managers
Medium50.68%
Manage operations at geothermal power generation facilities. Maintain and monitor geothermal plant equipment for efficient and safe plant operations.
Biomass Power Plant Managers
Medium54.43%
Manage operations at biomass power generation facilities. Direct work activities at plant, including supervision of operations and maintenance staff.
Service Unit Operators, Oil and Gas
Medium38.98%
Operate equipment to increase oil flow from producing wells or to remove stuck pipe, casing, tools, or other obstructions from drilling wells. Includes fishing-tool technicians.
Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door
Low30.04%
Install, repair, and maintain mechanical regulating and controlling devices, such as electric meters, gas regulators, thermostats, safety and flow valves, and other mechanical governors.
Wind Turbine Service Technicians
Medium47.24%
Inspect, diagnose, adjust, or repair wind turbines. Perform maintenance on wind turbine equipment including resolving electrical, mechanical, and hydraulic malfunctions.
Geothermal Technicians
Medium39.03%
Perform technical activities at power plants or individual installations necessary for the generation of power from geothermal energy sources. Monitor and control operating activities at geothermal power generation facilities and perform maintenance and repairs as necessary. Install, test, and maintain residential and commercial geothermal heat pumps.
Power Distributors and Dispatchers
Medium63.42%
Coordinate, regulate, or distribute electricity or steam.
Power Plant Operators
Medium52.63%
Control, operate, or maintain machinery to generate electric power. Includes auxiliary equipment operators.
Biomass Plant Technicians
Medium53.51%
Control and monitor biomass plant activities and perform maintenance as needed.
Hydroelectric Plant Technicians
Medium39.93%
Monitor and control activities associated with hydropower generation. Operate plant equipment, such as turbines, pumps, valves, gates, fans, electric control boards, and battery banks. Monitor equipment operation and performance and make necessary adjustments to ensure optimal performance. Perform equipment maintenance and repair as necessary.
Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators
Medium43.49%
Operate or maintain stationary engines, boilers, or other mechanical equipment to provide utilities for buildings or industrial processes. Operate equipment such as steam engines, generators, motors, turbines, and steam boilers.
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators
Medium52.51%
Operate or control an entire process or system of machines, often through the use of control boards, to transfer or treat water or wastewater.
Chemical Plant and System Operators
Medium58.58%
Control or operate entire chemical processes or system of machines.
Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers
Medium54.55%
Operate or control petroleum refining or processing units. May specialize in controlling manifold and pumping systems, gauging or testing oil in storage tanks, or regulating the flow of oil into pipelines.
Biofuels Processing Technicians
Medium54.54%
Calculate, measure, load, mix, and process refined feedstock with additives in fermentation or reaction process vessels and monitor production process. Perform, and keep records of, plant maintenance, repairs, and safety inspections.
Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders
Medium53.74%
Operate or tend equipment to control chemical changes or reactions in the processing of industrial or consumer products. Equipment used includes devulcanizers, steam-jacketed kettles, and reactor vessels.
Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Medium48.23%
Set up, operate, or tend continuous flow or vat-type equipment; filter presses; shaker screens; centrifuges; condenser tubes; precipitating, fermenting, or evaporating tanks; scrubbing towers; or batch stills. These machines extract, sort, or separate liquids, gases, or solids from other materials to recover a refined product. Includes dairy processing equipment operators.
Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators
Medium49.42%
Operate steam-, gas-, electric motor-, or internal combustion-engine driven compressors. Transmit, compress, or recover gases, such as butane, nitrogen, hydrogen, and natural gas.
Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers
Medium61.86%
Tend, control, or operate power-driven, stationary, or portable pumps and manifold systems to transfer gases, oil, other liquids, slurries, or powdered materials to and from various vessels and processes.
Wellhead Pumpers
Medium33.60%
Operate power pumps and auxiliary equipment to produce flow of oil or gas from wells in oil field.
Biofuels Production Managers
Medium54.44%
Manage biofuels production and plant operations. Collect and process information on plant production and performance, diagnose problems, and design corrective procedures.
Hydroelectric Production Managers
Medium54.67%
Manage operations at hydroelectric power generation facilities. Maintain and monitor hydroelectric plant equipment for efficient and safe plant operations.
Petroleum Engineers
Medium51.23%
Devise methods to improve oil and gas extraction and production and determine the need for new or modified tool designs. Oversee drilling and offer technical advice.
Nuclear Technicians
Medium50.70%
Assist nuclear physicists, nuclear engineers, or other scientists in laboratory, power generation, or electricity production activities. May operate, maintain, or provide quality control for nuclear testing and research equipment. May monitor radiation.
Meter Readers, Utilities
High70.08%
Read meter and record consumption of electricity, gas, water, or steam.
Nuclear Power Reactor Operators
Medium53.14%
Operate or control nuclear reactors. Move control rods, start and stop equipment, monitor and adjust controls, and record data in logs. Implement emergency procedures when needed. May respond to abnormalities, determine cause, and recommend corrective action.