Pipeline Engineer

The Pipeline Controller is responsible for monitoring and controlling the movement of natural gas and hazardous liquid materials through facilities and pipelines in accordance with contractual requirements, regulations, system capabilities and operating conditions.

Primary Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Executes the daily operating plan as directed to ensure daily scheduled receipts and deliveries are met within DOT and tariff standards, while optimizing compression/pump equipment usage and maintaining safe operations.
• Operates and controls the flow of natural gas/ hazardous liquids through pipelines from the Operations Control Center (OCC) utilizing a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system.
• Starts/stops pumps/compressors, operates valves remotely, analyzes changing conditions and alarms and makes necessary adjustments.
• Monitors pipeline and facility integrity, tank storage levels and system pressures to maximize efficiency, safety, and quality.
• Participates in planning, scheduling, and implementing facility operations, shutdowns, and start-ups pursuant to PHMSA Control Room Management (CRM) 49 CFR Part 192 Transportation of Natural Gas by Pipeline and Part 195 Transportation of Hazardous Liquids by Pipeline.
• Documents all relevant operational information in the Controller Event Logger during the shift.
• Communicates operating plan and briefing of system status as part of shift change protocol per CRM guidelines.
• Reacts to abnormal and emergency operating conditions, dispatches field personnel and/or takes necessary action to resolve condition.
• Monitors flows, pressures, and material qualities across the system and responds to SCADA system alarms to provide safe and reliable service.
• Monitors all alarms and responds to such alarms following established procedures, documentation, callouts, and any associated action(s).
• Perform adjustments to pipeline flows, compression, pumps and storage to best meet current and anticipated customer demands.
• Assists in managing imbalances with customers while delivering a high level of customer service in a non-discriminatory manner per FERC guidelines.
• Assists in the validation of SCADA, communications and electronic measurement systems utilizing various Control Room applications, methods and procedures.
• Mitigates impacts of planned and unplanned facility outages.
• Interfaces with schedulers, operations and third parties to maintain collaborative inter-departmental and cross-functional working relationships with company office and field employees.
• Maintains proactive communication with OCC Management to keep them informed of the operational status of pipeline and facility systems, for which they have assumed operation per CRM definition.

Education and Qualifications

• High School Diploma or G.E.D. required.
• Control room experience preferred.
• Working knowledge of oil and gas hydraulics is preferred.
• Related experience in oil and gas industry is preferred.
• Strong work ethic, detail-orientation with ability to work productively, follow directions and processes, and make decisions responsibly without direct supervision.
• Reliable, punctual and available for call-in work nights and weekends as needed.
• Professional written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills.
• Proficient computer skills including Microsoft Office product suite.

Working Conditions

• Must complete CRM training and successfully pass OCC preparatory assessment no later than 90 days from employment start date to continue employment with Company.
• Must pass DOT and PHMSA Operator Qualification certification no later than six months from employment start date to continue employment with Company.
• Must live within a 60-minute normal commute to and from the Control Center.
• Work schedule of 12-hour shifts alternating day and night on a four-week rotation schedule, for example, an industry-standard DuPont shift schedule, or other schedule as assigned.
• Physical activities of the position include reaching, standing, walking, talking, hearing, repetitive motion.
• Perform sedentary work in an office Control Room environment. Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body.
• Visual acuity requirements including color, depth perception and field of vision: worker is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as viewing and scanning multiple SCADA screens.