Wellhead Pumpers operate power pumps and auxiliary equipment to produce a flow of oil or gas from wells in oil fields.

  • Monitor pumps and flow lines for gas and fluid leaks.
  • Gauge oil and gas production.
  • Start compressor engines and divert oil from storage tanks into compressor units and auxiliary equipment to recover natural gas from oil.
  • Monitor control panels during pumping operations to ensure that materials are being pumped at the correct pressure, density, rate, and concentration.
  • Operate engines and pumps to shut off wells according to production schedules, and to switch flow of oil into storage tanks.
  • Repair gas and oil meters and gauges.
  • Perform routine maintenance on vehicles and equipment.
  • Open valves to return compressed gas to bottoms of specified wells to repressurize them and force oil to surface.
  • Change water filters.
  • Prepare trucks and equipment necessary for the type of pumping service required.
  • Attach pumps and hoses to wellheads.
  • Mix acids, chemicals, or dry cement as required for a specific job.
  • Unload and assemble pipes and pumping equipment, using hand tools.
  • Supervise oil pumpers and other workers engaged in producing oil from wells.
  • Drive trucks to transport high-pressure pumping equipment, and chemicals, fluids, or gases to be pumped into wells.
  • Control pumping and blending equipment to acidize, cement, or fracture gas or oil wells and permeable rock formations.
Work Context

Work Context information for this career will be available soon.

Work Activities
  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material — Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
  • Documenting/Recording Information — Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
  • Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment — Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
  • Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings — Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
  • Controlling Machines and Processes — Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
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Detailed Work Activities
  • Monitor equipment operation to ensure proper functioning.
  • Inspect gas systems or components to identify leaks or other potential hazards.
  • Measure equipment outputs.
  • Calculate weights, volumes or other characteristics of materials.
  • Install parts, assemblies, or attachments in transportation or material handling equipment.
  • Install machine or equipment replacement parts.
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Knowledge

Mechanical
  • Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Mathematics
  • Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Skills

Operation Monitoring
  • Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Operation and Control
  • Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Repairing
  • Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
Troubleshooting
  • Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
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Abilities

Problem Sensitivity
  • The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Near Vision
  • The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Control Precision
  • The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
Reaction Time
  • The ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears.
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Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Achievement/Effort
  • Persistence
  • Initiative
  • Leadership
  • Cooperation
  • Concern for Others
  • Social Orientation
  • Self Control
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Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Data base user interface and query software
  • Data entry software Hot Technology
Spreadsheet software
  • Microsoft Excel Hot Technology
Office suite software
  • Microsoft Office Hot Technology
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