What Are the Different Field Operator Jobs?

Field operator jobs are prevalent throughout the energy industry, particularly in oil and gas drilling. There are different levels of seniority that can be attained, and also the individual tasks are likely to vary depending on the nature of the drilling project. Certain companies hire field operators for local, daytime shifts, while other opportunities might be for evening hours or projects located overseas. There may be an element of heavy lifting in field operator jobs, and individuals are expected to operate drilling machinery as well.

The job of a field operator in the energy industry might involve some travel to remote oil and gas drilling sites in order to check the progress of projects. For instance, if there are problems with the equipment used for drilling activity, it may be the job of the field operator to assess the issue and assign a solution. Energy professionals in field operator jobs may also be responsible for monitoring the drilling activity that takes place at individual job sites.

Professionals in energy field operator jobs must be familiar with the different gauges used to display drilling activity. These workers are expected to check the amount of oil and gas that might be accessed by drillers at a location and make sure the equipment is running properly and is sufficient to handle the output. If there is any contamination in the oil and gas fluids, the individuals in field operator jobs may need to coordinate the cleanup of those reserves before the resources are put through the refining process.

It is likely that field operator jobs are involved with the exploration and production (E&P) of oil and gas. Companies that are hiring for evening shifts might require that these professionals check the performance of drilling equipment used throughout the day. Depending on the level of drilling activity that is performed in relation to a project's capacity, field operators may be expected to work long shifts, including opportunities for overtime.

When an overseas field operator job opportunity arises, it may be most essential that industry professionals are able to work independently under little supervision. With primary company operations somewhere else, field operators may be expected to take charge of projects without the standard reporting procedures used on local projects. These professionals may need to have several years of industry experience and strong communication skills in order to keep other personnel aware of the status of a project.