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TSSB Recognizes Revised Oil and Gas Production Technician Skill Standards

May, 2010 - On May 11, 2010, the Texas Skill Standards Board recognized revised skill standards for the oil and gas production technician occupational area. The Oil and Gas Production Technician Skill Standards were developed in 2005 by the Gulf Coast Process Technology Alliance (GCPTA), an industry-driven alliance of employers and educators of oil and gas production technicians, with the collaboration of the Center for the Advancement of Process Technology and the College of the Mainland as part of a National Science Foundation grant. The TSSB originally recognized the skill standards at its November 1, 2005 meeting.

The GCPTA recruited Texas-based subject matter experts to review the skill standards and provide direction on refining the lists of occupational skills and knowledge associated with each key activity.

Experts from several oil and gas production companies in Texas including Shell Oil, Enbridge, Exco Resources, Stomaco Energy Services, and Goodrich Petroleum reviewed the skill standards with the following considerations:

  • Do the key activities generally reflect what a technician at your company does day to day?
  • Are there any major work activities that are missing from the skill standards?
  • Do the skill standards reflect the skills and knowledge your employees need to conduct the work?
  • Are there any important skills or tools that are missing from the skill standards?
  • Are there any skills or tools included in the skill standards that you don’t typically use?

The experts’ individual suggestions for changes were compiled for review and validation by the entire group and changes were made to reflect updated work practices in the field.

Oil and Gas Production Technicians work as an integral part of a team responsible for monitoring and regulating oil and gas production processes including: assembling or repairing oil field equipment; operating equipment to increase oil flow from wells or to remove stuck pipe, casing, tools, or other obstructions from drilling wells; as well as recover, compress, and transmit gases such as natural gas.

The TSSB recognized the skill standards in accordance with its Guidelines for the Development, Recognition, and Usage of Skill Standards (May 2010). For more information, please contact the TSSB at (512) 936-8100.