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Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of a pipeline engineer. Feel free to use our pipeline engineer job description template to produce your own. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as a pipeline engineer.

 

Who is a Pipeline Engineer?

Pipeline engineers design and build pipe systems for carrying a number of materials, including gas and oil. They conduct site surveys, produce pipeline system designs, and construct and install commercial and industrial infrastructure. They also maintain and repair pipes and pump systems, as well as conduct quality control testing. A pipeline engineer works on the systems that transport oil and gas. Although some may be employed by government organizations in regulatory positions or private corporations that do research without actually handling such items, such employees work mostly for oil and gas industries. A Bachelor of Science (BS) in engineering is normally required for this position. Some colleges and universities offer an oil and gas engineering emphasis, which might be beneficial. Pipeline engineers are typically significantly involved in planning. Engineers are used by companies developing pipelines to establish routes and technical standards, such as pipe size and placement. They can also talk about where maintenance stations, depots, and other supporting infrastructure will be located. Regulatory limits and environmental challenges, such as the inability to run a pipeline through a seismically active area due to concerns about damage during earthquakes, may be factors for a pipeline engineer to consider.

 

Pipeline engineering is the study and practice of pipeline building, operations, and repair. The majority of the pipeline engineers I spoke with were primarily concerned with maintaining a safe operating pressure in their lines. They’re also curious about the validity of pipeline inspection reports. Pipeline engineers develop and design oil and gas pipelines that transfer fuel to various towns around the United States. Some pipeline engineers work on offshore drilling operations, which necessitates further education. Quality control for the pipelines that are currently in operation is also an issue for pipeline engineers. They may also be required to perform fieldwork while troubleshooting pipeline issues. The majority of pipeline engineers work for oil and gas firms, although some work for government agencies and specialize in regulatory issues. Pipeline engineering projects can be broken down into various stages, each with its own set of costs. Pre-engineering, conceptual engineering, detailed engineering, fabrication, construction, operation, and abandonment are among these stages. Despite the fact that all cost factors are evaluated, this is done in a segmented fashion. All expenditures associated with conceptual engineering, fabrication, and installation are regarded separately, addressed at different periods in the pipeline life cycle, and not evaluated as a whole.

A pipeline engineer engages in the quality control process as the installation of a pipeline begins. These individuals may evaluate installations, conduct tests, and compare components to specifications and designs. If issues arise during development, the engineer may need to build field-based real-time solutions. With huge construction projects, delays can be costly, therefore it’s critical to handle problems creatively when under pressure. Engineers are also concerned about completed pipes. They create maintenance schedules and may oversee more complex maintenance tasks to ensure they are completed appropriately. A pipeline engineer responds to problems, determines the reason, and devises a plan of action. This could include anything from replacing a section of a broken pipeline to upgrading a pumping unit to meet new regulatory requirements. Troubleshooting is essential for keeping a pipeline operational or responding quickly to a spill to minimize environmental harm and financial losses. Oil and gas businesses often keep a full-time engineering team on standby to manage ongoing needs, with additional personnel brought on as needed for specific projects or catastrophes. A pipeline engineer may be eligible for benefits such as paid travel to installations. Employees who are required to stay in remote regions for extended periods of time may be eligible for paid vacation benefits, in which their employers pay for their airfare and lodging. Some companies also pay for family travel expenses so that employees can spend their vacations with their families in a location halfway between home and work.

 

Pipeline Engineer Job Description

Below are the pipeline engineer job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write a pipeline engineer job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.

The duties and responsibilities of a pipeline engineer include the following:

• Meet with clients to define pipeline requirements.
• Determine pipeline specs and placement, as well as pump sizes, through site investigations and research.
• Present technical documents such as cost estimates, pipeline design, and flow simulations.
• Calculate the project’s material, financial, and time needs.
• Produce digital designs like pipeline maps, blueprints, and mechanical diagrams.
• Oversee the pipeline infrastructure and system building and installation process.
• Maintain control over the project’s timeline and budget.
• Conduct quality assurance checks and ensure that the pipelines meet all technical and safety requirements.
• Maintain, repair, and upgrade pipelines as needed.
• Keep up with the most recent developments in design tools, technical standards, and construction methods.
• Examine the technical documentation and requirements provided by the client.
• Assist in the update of Company standards by ensuring a sufficient standard of technical documentation.
• Review the Client’s technical documentation during the bid phase.
• Prepare the pipeline design’s design basis/CTRs and interface with the related process, structures, and installation.
• Prepare data sheets for purchasing materials.
• Examine the outcomes of surveys conducted by subcontractors.
• Make the laying route as efficient as possible.
• Assist with the selection of laying spreads/methods and perform/review the pipeline system’s installation design analysis.
• Oversee the phases of bid evaluation and procurement.
• Put the alignment sheets and the design handbook together.
• Verify and act on the Client/Certifying Body’s comments.
• Assist the pipeline lead or project engineering manager in resolving technical issues that arise during the development of the project, as well as interacting with and supporting the procurement department.
• Perform/verify all discipline analyses and calculation notes required for the pipes system’s design, including third-party/subcontractor engineering tasks.
• Define engineering standards and methods, as well as assist to software reviews.

 

Qualifications

• Civil, mechanical, or structural engineering bachelor’s degree.
• E. (Professional Engineer) certification.
• A minimum of four years of experience as a pipeline engineer or a related position is required.
• AutoCAD and Pipeline Studio are examples of mechanical design software required.
• PHSMA requirements are well-understood.
• Pipeline building procedures such as welding, excavation, and assembly are all skills you’ll need.
• Exceptional project management and organizing skills.
• Strong leadership and communication skills.
• Willingness to travel and work in inclement weather.

 

Essential Skills

• Effective Communication: Engineers sometimes place a higher priority on technical skills than communication skills, although communication is a crucial ability for pipeline engineers. Pipeline engineers can’t do their work well unless they can communicate, write, and listen well. Interaction with people, whether internal or external, can lead to misconceptions if there isn’t always a clear channel of communication.
• Innovation and Creativity: Creativity fuels invention, and innovation fuels success. There will always be a demand for people with creative skills in technical occupations because it is an innovation that leads to pioneering thinking and the development of new goods and services. In the realm of pipeline engineering, creativity is equally as important as technical expertise in identifying and correcting mistakes.
• Facilitation: Making jobs or life easier for others while guaranteeing the smooth running of successful meetings, workshops, or businesses, in general, is what facilitation is all about. A Pipeline Engineer must utilize facilitation to process and arrange a system that matches the needs of a person or a group in order to assist them in achieving their goals and adding value to their lives by ensuring that everyone participates.
• Adapt accordingly: The ability to adapt to obstacles that are presented their way benefits top pipeline engineers immensely. Leading pipeline engineers distinguish themselves from mediocre ones by their aptitude and understanding to adapt to various surroundings and scenarios. Pipeline engineers that can think on their feet, assess challenges shrewdly and identify solutions display adaptability.
• Project and Goal Oriented: Project and goal-orientedness is the process of focusing your thoughts and heart on the things that matter and provide value to your life rather than the things that add no or little worth. A Pipeline Engineer should be aware of any early problems that may cause distraction and should be able to inspire personnel early enough to ensure that the projects are completed on time and in good shape.
• Show leadership: Showing leadership in the context of pipeline engineering entails taking risks and making decisions in the face of uncertainty, as well as completing projects on time despite impediments. A pipeline engineer, for example, could be working on a project in Alaska or another offshore drilling operation that requires further training. A pipeline engineer with good leadership abilities would be able to analyze any potential dangers and take action.
• Listening Skills: Listening Skills are the ability to effectively receive and analyze messages during the communication process in order to preserve flow and accuracy. A Pipeline Engineer should have excellent listening skills, which will lead to a better understanding between management and employees at work, as well as increased customer satisfaction, which will result in increased productivity, fewer errors, and increased information sharing in a more creative and innovative manner.
• Teamwork Skills: Teamwork is the practice of working cooperatively with a group of individuals to achieve a common goal inside a company, ensuring that employees and management collaborate and provide constructive feedback. In order to increase productivity, higher morale, and a fulfilled workforce, a Pipeline Engineer must exercise effectiveness and understanding in creating teamwork using the right techniques in an environment of trust and cooperation.
• Technology Trend Awareness: Technology Trend Awareness means keeping up with the latest and most relevant forthcoming trends that will help you run your organization more efficiently and effectively. A Pipeline Engineer must be able to look back on the company’s losses and successes and examine new options for the future by utilizing technology to find a better, faster, more practical way that will increase productivity.

 

How to Become a Pipeline Engineer

1. Enroll in High School

A scientific and math-rich high school curriculum will prepare you for rigorous collegiate engineering programs. The Society of Petroleum Engineers’ “energy4me” website suggests two years of algebra, plus geometry, trigonometry, and calculus for the math portion. Take physics, biology, and chemistry classes, as well as other science subjects like ecology and earth sciences. To improve your communication skills, take classes in English, a foreign language, composition, and social sciences.

2. Earn a Bachelor’s Degree

A bachelor’s degree in petroleum engineering takes four years to complete and involves coursework, labs, and fieldwork. Basic sciences such as chemistry, calculus, differential equations, and physics are usually required for the program. Rock characteristics, introduction to petroleum engineering, computer applications, natural gas engineering, and well building are all topics covered in petroleum engineering courses.

3. Optional Master’s Degree

Some engineering schools offer a five-year program that includes both a bachelor’s and master’s degree, while others offer a six-year program that includes job experience. Petroleum engineers with a master’s degree may be able to work in research or as university professors.

4. Obtain a State Licensing

Although many jurisdictions require self-employed engineers to be licensed, if you work under a professional engineer, a license may be optional. State boards typically demand a bachelor’s degree in engineering from a school accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, though requirements vary. In addition, you must pass the introductory Fundamentals of Engineering exam and work for at least four years to qualify. Finally, you must pass the Engineering Principles and Practices exam. To preserve your license in some places, you must complete continuing education.

5. Optional Certification

The Society of Petroleum Engineers offers alternative certification to petroleum engineers. The criteria for education, work, and testing are similar to those for state licensure. To be qualified, you must join the society and complete 16 hours of professional education each year.

 

Where to Work as a Pipeline Engineer

Pipeline engineers are mostly hired by the gas and oil industries, and they operate primarily from corporate headquarters, though they may be needed to go to job sites on occasion. They are in charge of gas and oil pipeline network planning, design, and implementation. Because pipes are found all over the world, pipeline engineers come in a variety of shapes and sizes. You could focus on corrosion control, underwater engineering, or even facility design. The majority of pipeline engineers work for oil and gas firms, although some work for government agencies and specialize in regulatory issues.

 

Pipeline Engineer Salary Scale

In the United States, the average compensation for a pipeline engineer is $87,258 per year. In Nigeria, a Pipeline Engineer’s annual salary is reported to be 6,500,000NGN

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