Occupational Employment Statistics
51-8093 Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers
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.
Minnesota
| 640 | 8 | $50.83/hr | $38.79/hr | $47.82/hr | $49.39/hr | $57.92/hr | $60.77/hr |
Natural Resources and Mining | N/A | N/A |
Manufacturing | N/A | N/A |
Trade, Transportation and Utilities | 140 | $49.39/hr |
Public Administration | 20 | $32.72/hr |
- Conduct general housekeeping of units, including wiping up oil spills and performing general cleaning duties.
- Maintain and repair equipment, or report malfunctioning equipment to supervisors so that repairs can be scheduled.
- Monitor process indicators, instruments, gauges, and meters to detect and report any possible problems.
- Prepare calculations for receipts and deliveries of oil and oil products.
- Inspect pipelines, tightening connections and lubricating valves as necessary.
- Control or operate manifold and pumping systems to circulate liquids through a petroleum refinery.
- Operate auxiliary equipment and control multiple processing units during distilling or treating operations, moving controls that regulate valves, pumps, compressors, and auxiliary equipment.
- Collect product samples by turning bleeder valves, or by lowering containers into tanks to obtain oil samples.
- Operate control panels to coordinate and regulate process variables such as temperature and pressure, and to direct product flow rate, according to process schedules.
- Perform tests to check the qualities and grades of products, such as assessing levels of bottom sediment, water, and foreign materials in oil samples, using centrifugal testers.