Unit of Competency Mapping – Information for Teachers/Assessors – Information for Learners

PMAOPS333A Mapping and Delivery Guide
Operate wells and gathering systems

Version 1.0
Issue Date: May 2024


Qualification -
Unit of Competency PMAOPS333A - Operate wells and gathering systems
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.
Employability Skills This unit contains employability skills.
Learning Outcomes and Application This unit of competency applies to field operators who are responsible for a number of wells and their associated systems. In a typical scenario, the operator will be driving alone, on and off roads between wells and also to and from the base site or plant. While at a site, they will be operating and monitoring well and equipment performance by taking readings, making checks of and adjustments to plant and equipment. They will record and report their findings in accordance with procedures. They will also be expected to identify hazards and actual and potential process and plant problems and take appropriate action.This competency is typically performed by operators working independently while in communication with a senior operator or plant operator with whom they would work as part of a team. At all times they would be liaising and cooperating with other members of the team.
Duration and Setting X weeks, nominally xx hours, delivered in a classroom/online/blended learning setting.
Prerequisites/co-requisites
Competency Field
Development and validation strategy and guide for assessors and learners Student Learning Resources Handouts
Activities
Slides
PPT
Assessment 1 Assessment 2 Assessment 3 Assessment 4
Elements of Competency Performance Criteria              
Element: Prepare for work
  • Identify work requirements
  • Identify and control hazards
  • Coordinate with appropriate personnel
  • Determine appropriate route/schedule for day's work
       
Element: Monitor site, plant and equipment
  • Complete site checks
  • Use well control systems
  • Take required readings
  • Complete required lease maintenance
       
Element: Operate well/system
  • Take appropriate action based on checks/readings made
  • Read and interpret well fluid levels
  • Adjust pump speed as required
  • Check meter readings validity as required
  • Complete required process related calculations
  • Recognise equipment/system faults and report as required
  • Adjust well/system as required by operational or other requirements
  • Complete logs and reports as required
       
Element: Start up well/system
  • Perform pre-start up checks
  • Correctly sequence all required equipment/plant/systems
  • Bring equipment/plant/systems into operation as required
  • Monitor critical variables during start-up and make adjustments as required
  • Bring to required steady operating conditions smoothly and in an appropriate time
       
Element: Shut down well/ system
  • Determine type of shutdown required
  • Give advanced warning of shutdown where possible
  • Shut down individual items and/or the entire well/system
  • Shut down to standby condition if required
  • Shut down in an emergency if required
  • Reset trips and alarms after shutdown
  • Leave plant in the required condition after shutdown
       
Element: Isolate and de-isolate an item of, or an entire system
  • Isolate system in accordance with procedures
  • Make system safe as required
  • Check system is ready to be returned to service
  • Prepare system for return to service
       
Element: Finalise shift activities
  • Complete shift tasks as appropriate
  • Ensure identified faults are correctly logged/reported for action
  • Ensure incomplete tasks are scheduled for follow up
  • Ensure all logs and reporting are complete and understood
       


Evidence Required

List the assessment methods to be used and the context and resources required for assessment. Copy and paste the relevant sections from the evidence guide below and then re-write these in plain English.

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.


Submission Requirements

List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assignment, checklist) and due date here

Assessment task 1: [title]      Due date:

(add new lines for each of the assessment tasks)


Assessment Tasks

Copy and paste from the following data to produce each assessment task. Write these in plain English and spell out how, when and where the task is to be carried out, under what conditions, and what resources are needed. Include guidelines about how well the candidate has to perform a task for it to be judged satisfactory.

Required skills

Required skills include:

recognising conditions which will lead to out of specification operation

implementing enterprise procedures within time constraints and in a manner relevant to the correct use of the equipment

conveying information relevant to the operation clearly and effectively

maintaining appropriate levels of quality assurance

reading and numeracy to interpret workplace documents and technical information

mathematics to the level of calculating volumetric flow rates and other process/equipment conditions (e.g. efficiency)

Required knowledge

Required knowledge includes:

coal seam gas (CSG) formation, structure and completions

coal type and structure

well design and construction

hydrate formation

free flow and pumped wells

pumping principles

gas flow principles

gas/water separation principles

draining and venting requirements

typical issues causing problems and the resolution of those problems

lease requirements

process parameters and limits (e.g. temperature, pressure, flow and pH)

duty of care obligations

hierarchy of control

static electricity and earthing

corrosion control and chemical handling and material safety data sheets (MSDS)

communication protocols (e.g. radio, phone, computer, paper and permissions/authorities)

routine problems, faults and their symptoms and the corrective action to be taken

relevant alarms and actions

plant process idiosyncrasies

all items on a schematic of the plant item and the function/principles of operation, problem solving of each

physics and chemistry relevant to each unit and the processes used

flange pressure and temperature ratings (basic)

cathodic protection (basic)

relevant environmental and heritage requirements

protective systems

control systems

remote terminal unit, functions, operation and problems

downhole drawings (DHDs) and their application to plant/well operation

mathematical formulae and their application to well flow rates and plant operation/efficiency

pump, drivehead, fuel gas systems operations and principles

fluid dynamics and statics as relevant to the system

natural gas and oil characteristics

reservoir management

environmental aspects and conditions

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

Copy and paste from the following performance criteria to create an observation checklist for each task. When you have finished writing your assessment tool every one of these must have been addressed, preferably several times in a variety of contexts. To ensure this occurs download the assessment matrix for the unit; enter each assessment task as a column header and place check marks against each performance criteria that task addresses.

Observation Checklist

Tasks to be observed according to workplace/college/TAFE policy and procedures, relevant legislation and Codes of Practice Yes No Comments/feedback
Identify work requirements 
Identify and control hazards 
Coordinate with appropriate personnel 
Determine appropriate route/schedule for day's work 
Complete site checks 
Use well control systems 
Take required readings 
Complete required lease maintenance 
Take appropriate action based on checks/readings made 
Read and interpret well fluid levels 
Adjust pump speed as required 
Check meter readings validity as required 
Complete required process related calculations 
Recognise equipment/system faults and report as required 
Adjust well/system as required by operational or other requirements 
Complete logs and reports as required 
Perform pre-start up checks 
Correctly sequence all required equipment/plant/systems 
Bring equipment/plant/systems into operation as required 
Monitor critical variables during start-up and make adjustments as required 
Bring to required steady operating conditions smoothly and in an appropriate time 
Determine type of shutdown required 
Give advanced warning of shutdown where possible 
Shut down individual items and/or the entire well/system 
Shut down to standby condition if required 
Shut down in an emergency if required 
Reset trips and alarms after shutdown 
Leave plant in the required condition after shutdown 
Isolate system in accordance with procedures 
Make system safe as required 
Check system is ready to be returned to service 
Prepare system for return to service 
Complete shift tasks as appropriate 
Ensure identified faults are correctly logged/reported for action 
Ensure incomplete tasks are scheduled for follow up 
Ensure all logs and reporting are complete and understood 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

PMAOPS333A - Operate wells and gathering systems
Assessment task 1: [title]

Student name:

Student ID:

I declare that the assessment tasks submitted for this unit are my own work.

Student signature:

Result: Competent Not yet competent

Feedback to student

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:


Assessment Record Sheet

PMAOPS333A - Operate wells and gathering systems

Student name:

Student ID:

Assessment task 1: [title] Result: Competent Not yet competent

(add lines for each task)

Feedback to student:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall assessment result: Competent Not yet competent

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Student signature:

Date: