Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Oil & Gas Technician

🎯 Role Definition

The Oil & Gas Technician is a hands-on field professional who performs preventive maintenance, diagnostics, repairs and commissioning on a variety of oil & gas equipment including pumps, compressors, separators, wellheads, and control systems. This role emphasizes safe, compliant operations at wellsites, production facilities, and pipeline locations and requires strong mechanical, electrical and instrumentation skills, experience with rig-up/rig-down procedures, and the ability to respond to emergency incidents. Ideal candidates have proven field experience in upstream/midstream environments, valid safety certifications (H2S, Confined Space, First Aid), and the ability to document work accurately for regulatory and operational reporting.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Maintenance Technician (industrial or manufacturing)
Field Service Technician or Equipment Operator
Production Operator / Wellsite Assistant

Advancement To:

Senior Oil & Gas Technician / Lead Technician
Maintenance Supervisor or Field Superintendent
Rotating Equipment Specialist / Reliability Technician
Field Engineer or Operations Manager

Lateral Moves:

Instrumentation & Controls Technician
Pipeline Integrity Technician
Electrical Technician (Power & Controls)

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Perform scheduled preventive maintenance and inspections on pumps, compressors, separators, heat exchangers and associated wellsite equipment, ensuring reliability, reducing unplanned downtime and documenting maintenance activities in CMMS or field logs.
Diagnose mechanical and electrical failures using systematic troubleshooting methods, portable test equipment and schematics, and execute corrective repairs to restore equipment to production-ready condition.
Perform rig-up, rig-down and equipment change-out activities for wellsite operations and temporary installations, including safe lifting, rigging, and securing of heavy rotating and static equipment per site procedures.
Set up, calibrate and troubleshoot field instrumentation (pressure, temperature, flow, level transmitters) and interface with PLC/SCADA systems to verify proper control and data acquisition.
Conduct pressure testing, leak detection and integrity checks on wellheads, valves, and pipeline tie-ins, using industry-standard testing procedures and ensuring test documentation meets regulatory requirements.
Execute mechanical alignment, coupling replacement, bearing replacement, shaft repairs and vibration checks on rotating equipment to maintain optimal efficiency and prolong asset life.
Perform fluid sampling, basic chemical testing and wellsite analytical checks to support production optimization, corrosion control and downstream processing requirements.
Carry out welding, cutting and brazing tasks to fabricate or repair piping, structural components and fittings in compliance with welding procedure specifications and quality standards.
Operate and maintain hydraulic and pneumatic systems, including troubleshooting valves, actuators and fluid power components to ensure precise equipment motion and control.
Respond to emergency breakdowns, safe-start procedures and flare or shutdown events, coordinating with operations and safety teams to mitigate risk and restore controlled operations.
Adhere strictly to HSE policies by conducting job safety analyses (JSA), permit-to-work processes, confined space entry, and working with gas detection and personal protective equipment at all times.
Maintain accurate daily field reports, maintenance logs, inventory records and work orders in the company’s maintenance management system to ensure traceability and regulatory compliance.
Assist in commissioning and start-up of new equipment and facilities by performing field checks, functional testing and punch-list closure in coordination with engineering and project teams.
Perform routine electrical troubleshooting including motor starters, variable frequency drives (VFDs), relays and basic wiring repairs following lockout/tagout (LOTO) procedures and electrical safety guidelines.
Support corrosion mitigation and cathodic protection activities through coating inspections, anode checks, and coordination with corrosion engineers where required.
Execute valve maintenance and repair (including gate, ball, check and control valves) to ensure tight shutoff and proper flow control for production and injection systems.
Maintain and calibrate hand tools, portable meters, torque wrenches and test equipment; ensure calibration records are up to date and equipment is stored per company policy.
Coordinate with crane operators, rigging crews and third-party service providers for heavy lifts, installations and vendor-led maintenance activities while ensuring compliance with lifting plans and risk assessments.
Lead fault-finding efforts on skid-mounted packages and modular equipment, isolating faulty components and arranging spares or repairs to minimize downtime.
Participate in shutdowns and turnarounds performing mechanical plug, replace and reassembly tasks, contributing to the shutdown scope and completing assigned work packages on schedule.
Provide on-the-job mentorship and basic training to junior technicians and new hires on site-specific equipment, safe work practices and standard operating procedures.
Manage spare parts and consumables inventory at the site level, conducting stock checks, requisitioning critical spares and optimizing parts usage to improve mean time to repair (MTTR).
Implement continuous improvement suggestions from field observations to reduce maintenance costs, improve equipment uptime and enhance operational reliability.
Ensure proper handling, labeling and disposal of hazardous materials and produced water in compliance with environmental permits and local regulations.

Secondary Functions

Support engineering and reliability teams by collecting field data, logging failure modes and participating in root cause analysis (RCA) exercises to drive long-term asset improvements.
Assist in audits, regulatory inspections and third-party assessments by preparing documentation, guiding inspectors during site walks and addressing non-conformances.
Contribute to work-pack creation, job planning and labor estimate development for planned maintenance and capital projects.
Help implement and maintain predictive maintenance technologies such as vibration monitoring, acoustic leak detection and oil analysis programs.
Participate in continuous professional development initiatives, safety campaigns and toolbox talks to promote a culture of safety and operational excellence.
Support logistics and scheduling for vendor visits, rig moves and site mobilization/demobilization activities.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Mechanical troubleshooting and repair of rotating equipment (pumps, compressors, gearboxes)
Hydraulic and pneumatic system maintenance and diagnostics
Field instrumentation: pressure, temperature, level and flow transmitter calibration
Basic electrical skills: motor control, starters, VFDs and electrical wiring repairs
SCADA/PLC fundamentals and interfacing with field instruments for commissioning and troubleshooting
Rigging and crane-assisted lifts, heavy equipment handling and lifting plan execution
Welding and fabrication (SMAW/GMAW) for piping and structural repairs
Pressure testing, leak detection, NDT familiarity (ultrasonic, magnetic particle) and flange/gasket assembly
Valve repair and actuation systems (manual and automated valves)
Use of CMMS (e.g., Maximo, SAP PM) for work order management and maintenance documentation
Confined space entry procedures, gas detection and atmospheric monitoring
Knowledge of wellhead equipment, choke maintenance and basic wellsite production systems
Basic chemical handling and sampling procedures for produced fluids and corrosion control

Soft Skills

Strong commitment to health, safety and environmental compliance with a proactive safety mindset
Clear verbal and written communication for shift handovers, incident reporting and documentation
Problem solving and analytical thinking to isolate faults and propose practical repairs
Team player capable of coordinating with operations, engineering and contractors in dynamic field environments
Attention to detail for inspection, measurement and quality assurance tasks
Time management and ability to prioritize work under pressure during outages or emergency responses
Adaptability and resilience working in remote locations, variable shifts and changing weather conditions
Mentoring and coaching junior technicians to improve team capability
Continuous improvement orientation with a drive to reduce downtime and optimize processes
Customer-focused approach when liaising with internal stakeholders and external vendors

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:
High school diploma or GED with documented field experience in oil & gas, mechanical or industrial environments.

Preferred Education:
Technical diploma or associate degree in Mechanical Technology, Petroleum Technology, Industrial Maintenance, Instrumentation or a related trade school qualification.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Mechanical or Industrial Maintenance Technology
Petroleum Technology / Oil & Gas Operations
Instrumentation & Control Technology
Welding and Fabrication
Electrical/Electromechanical Technology

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 2–6 years of direct field experience in upstream or midstream oil & gas operations, or equivalent industrial maintenance experience.

Preferred:
3–5+ years experience maintaining wellsite and production equipment, rotating machinery, and instrumentation in oil & gas environments with documented safety and performance track record. Experience with CMMS, PLC/SCADA troubleshooting and participation in turnarounds/shutdowns is strongly preferred.

Certifications & Training (preferred/required where applicable):

H2S Alive or equivalent gas safety certification
Confined Space Entry & Rescue
First Aid/CPR and Emergency Response
Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG) / Hazmat awareness
Forklift and mobile equipment operation certification
Welding certifications (SMAW/GMAW) and pressure testing qualifications
Crane & Rigging / Lifting Awareness
Relevant vendor-specific equipment training (compressors, pump manufacturers)