Description
Operate and monitor gas compressors driven by steam, gas, electric motor, or internal combustion engines. Compress, transmit, or recover gases such as natural gas, nitrogen, hydrogen, and butane while ensuring safety, quality, and equipment performance.
- • Monitor gauges, meters, and control panels to track pressures, temperatures, flows, and vibration.
- • Adjust valves, setpoints, and control devices to meet specified suction and discharge pressures and flow rates.
- • Read flow and gas meters, and record volumes compressed, received, and delivered.
- • Operate compressor units and auxiliary systems such as cooling, lube oil, and seal gas.
- • Record instrument readings and operational changes in operating logs.
- • Start up and shut down compressors, drivers, and auxiliary equipment using local and control room controls.
- • Use knobs, switches, and control screens to regulate pressures within specified limits.
- • Respond to alarms and operating problems by adjusting equipment or coordinating with field personnel.
- • Take gas samples and test for quality, moisture, and sulfur content, or send samples for laboratory analysis.
- • Clean, lubricate, and adjust equipment, and replace filters and gaskets using hand tools.
- • Submit daily reports on compressor operations and equipment status.
- • Connect and disconnect hoses or lines to suction and discharge manifolds for transfers, blowdowns, or isolation.
- • Perform housekeeping, leak checks, and safety inspections, and verify gas detectors and emergency shutdown devices.
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Supply Chain & Transportation
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Tasks & skills:
O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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Sources & Standards:
This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
