Unit of competency Outline

Date retreived
22/07/2026 11:20 PM AWST

Whilst all efforts are made to provide accurate and timely information from the relevant source/documentation, please be aware that the information supplied may not be the most current version. The accuracy of the detail has not been confirmed by the Department and therefore should not be relied upon without first confirming the contents.

Operate wells and gathering systems

Operate wells and gathering systems

Unit of competency
National Code
PMAOPS333A
State Code
WC256
TGA Status
Replaced
DTWD Status
Replaced
Current Release Number
1.00
Current Release Date
11/11/2010
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
12/03/2012
Field of Education
030717 - Plant And Machine Operations
Original Release Date
12/03/2012
Nominal Hours
40
Description
This unit of competency would be expected to be achieved by a field operator. It covers the skills required to monitor and operate wells and associated equipment in the field and to recognise, report and resolve problems and make adjustments.
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Prepare for work
  • 1.1. Identify work requirements
  • 1.2. Identify and control hazards
  • 1.3. Coordinate with appropriate personnel
  • 1.4. Determine appropriate route/schedule for day's work
2. Monitor site, plant and equipment
  • 2.1. Complete site checks
  • 2.2. Use well control systems
  • 2.3. Take required readings
  • 2.4. Complete required lease maintenance
3. Operate well/system
  • 3.1. Take appropriate action based on checks/readings made
  • 3.2. Read and interpret well fluid levels
  • 3.3. Adjust pump speed as required
  • 3.4. Check meter readings validity as required
  • 3.5. Complete required process related calculations
  • 3.6. Recognise equipment/system faults and report as required
  • 3.7. Adjust well/system as required by operational or other requirements
  • 3.8. Complete logs and reports as required
4. Start up well/system
  • 4.1. Perform pre-start up checks
  • 4.2. Correctly sequence all required equipment/plant/systems
  • 4.3. Bring equipment/plant/systems into operation as required
  • 4.4. Monitor critical variables during start-up and make adjustments as required
  • 4.5. Bring to required steady operating conditions smoothly and in an appropriate time
5. Shut down well/ system
  • 5.1. Determine type of shutdown required
  • 5.2. Give advanced warning of shutdown where possible
  • 5.3. Shut down individual items and/or the entire well/system
  • 5.4. Shut down to standby condition if required
  • 5.5. Shut down in an emergency if required
  • 5.6. Reset trips and alarms after shutdown
  • 5.7. Leave plant in the required condition after shutdown
6. Isolate and de-isolate an item of, or an entire system
  • 6.1. Isolate system in accordance with procedures
  • 6.2. Make system safe as required
  • 6.3. Check system is ready to be returned to service
  • 6.4. Prepare system for return to service
7. Finalise shift activities
  • 7.1. Complete shift tasks as appropriate
  • 7.2. Ensure identified faults are correctly logged/reported for action
  • 7.3. Ensure incomplete tasks are scheduled for follow up
  • 7.4. Ensure all logs and reporting are complete and understood
RANGE STATEMENT
The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.
Procedures
Procedures may be written, verbal, computer-based or in some other form. They include:
all work instructions
standard operating procedures
formulas/recipes
batch sheets
temporary instructions
any similar instructions provided for the smooth running of the plant
For the purposes of this Training Package, 'procedures' also includes good operating practice as may be defined by industry codes of practice (e.g. Responsible Care) and government regulations

All work will comply with procedures
Site
Site may be:
a well
a nominated area in the gathering system
another location where the operator is required to work
Equipment
Typical items of plant and equipment included in this unit of competency are:
wellheads
chokes and control valves
meters
flow lines
high point vents
low point drains
valves including non-return and pressure/vacuum relief
pumps and their prime movers
product separation units
instrumentation and control systems (variable speed drive (VSD) and proportional integral derivative (PID))
testing equipment
power units
drive heads
flares
Equipment condition and operation checks and adjustments
Equipment condition and operation checks and adjustments may include:
chemical injection equipment
field flares
storage tanks
pumps and pump speed
autodumps
drains and drain points
vents and high points
leaks
other items
valve operation
strainers (pump, line or other)
drive head power units, belt tension and hydraulic oil levels
fuel gas system/desiccant
corrosion control system/cathodic protection
control/float valves
Levels
Levels may include:
chemical storage levels
lubricating oil levels
water and gas levels
battery levels
drain levels
other levels
Required calculations
Required calculations may include:
production figures
comparison of figures to targets
equipment efficiencies
Logs and reports
Logs and reports may be paper or electronic based and may also include verbal/radio reports

Reports include reporting items found which require action
Appropriate action
Appropriate action includes:
determining problems needing action
determining possible fault causes
rectifying problems using appropriate solution within area of responsibility
following through items initiated until final resolution has occurred
reporting problems outside area of responsibility to designated person
Lease maintenance areas requiring action
Lease maintenance areas requiring action may include:
land erosion
fence and gate integrity
weeds and other growth
actions of feral or other fauna
other required items
Identified faults
Identified faults may include:
instrumentation failure/malfunction
electrical failure/malfunction
mechanical failure/malfunction
control system failure/malfunction
mismatch between flow rates and system requirements
wear, tear and corrosion of plant and equipment
quality measurement inaccuracy (e.g. analyser or sampling deficiency)
Typical problems
Typical problems may include:
leakage
solids (formation fines)
vibration
loss of control of pressure and/or flow
hydrate formation and blockages
liquid slugging
corrosion
erosion
sulphate reducing bacteria
scale formation
equipment failure
change in product parameters (e.g. temperature, flow, pressure and level)
fouling or contamination
Health, safety and environment (HSE)
All operations to which this unit applies are subject to stringent HSE requirements, which may be imposed through state, territory or federal legislation, and these must not be compromised at any time. Where there is an apparent conflict between Performance Criteria and HSE requirements, the HSE requirements take precedence
EVIDENCE GUIDE
The Evidence Guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment
This unit of competency requires an application of the knowledge contained in the use of the equipment, to the level needed to maintain control and recognise and resolve problems.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
Assessment for this unit of competency will be on a plant.
It is essential that the equipment be understood and that the importance of critical material properties, settings and readings is known. Competence must be demonstrated in the ability to recognise and analyse potential situations requiring action and then in implementing appropriate corrective action.
Consistent performance should be demonstrated. In particular look to see that:
early warning signs of equipment processes needing attention or with potential problems are recognised
the range of possible causes can be identified, analysed and the most likely cause determined
appropriate action is taken to ensure a timely return to full performance
obvious problems in related plant/system areas are recognised and an appropriate contribution made to their solution.
Competence must be demonstrated in the operation of all ancillary equipment to the level required for this unit of competency.

Context of and specific resources for assessment
Assessment of this unit should include demonstrated competence on actual plant and equipment in a work environment. The unit will be assessed in as holistic a manner as is practical and may be integrated with the assessment of other relevant units of competency. Assessment will occur over a range of situations, which will include disruptions to normal, smooth operation.

Simulation may be required to allow for assessment of parts of this unit. Simulation should be based on the actual plant and include walk-throughs of the relevant competency components. Simulations may also include the use of case studies/scenarios, role plays and 3D virtual reality interactive systems. In the case of evacuation training or training for competencies practised in life-threatening situations, simulation may be used for the bulk of the training.

A bank of scenarios/case studies/what-ifs and questions will be required to probe the reasoning behind observable actions.

Method of assessment
In all plants it may be appropriate to assess this unit concurrently with relevant teamwork and communication units.
Individual enterprises may choose to add prerequisites and co-requisites relevant to their processes.

Guidance information for assessment
Assessment processes and techniques must be culturally appropriate and appropriate to the language and literacy capacity of the candidate and the work being performed.
Replaced By
State Code National Code Title Type
AXM97 PMAOPS333 Operate wells and gathering systems Unit of competency