Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Upstream Technician

🎯 Role Definition

The Upstream Technician is a field-focused technical specialist responsible for safe, efficient operation, maintenance and troubleshooting of wellsite and production equipment. Work spans well testing, completion and intervention support, wellhead and pressure-control systems (BOP), fluid/gas sampling, routine mechanical and instrumentation maintenance, and strict adherence to HSE and permit-to-work systems. The role requires practical mechanical and electrical aptitude, strong HSE awareness, experience with wellsite tools and pressure equipment, and the ability to document test data and hand over accurate reports to engineers, operations and HSE teams. Keywords: Upstream Technician, wellsite technician, production technician, completion technician, well testing, BOP, pressure control, oil and gas operations, SCADA, preventive maintenance.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Roustabout / Production Operator with 1–2 years of field experience
Rig Hand or Floorhand transitioning into wellsite services
Instrumentation or Mechanical Technician from processing facilities

Advancement To:

Senior Upstream Technician / Lead Technician
Wellsite Supervisor or Completions Supervisor
Well Test Engineer or Completions Engineer
Production Operations Manager

Lateral Moves:

Wireline Operator / Well Intervention Specialist
Field Service Engineer (equipment OEM)
HSE Advisor or Permit-to-Work Coordinator

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Operate, set up and maintain wellsite pressure-control equipment (including BOPs, annulars, rams, choke and kill manifolds), ensuring assembly, pressure testing, and function checks are performed in accordance with procedures and regulatory requirements.
Conduct well testing operations: rig up/rig down test skids, install chokes, monitor pressures and temperatures, operate test separators and flowmeters, and accurately record and deliver test data and interpretive notes to engineers.
Perform routine and corrective mechanical maintenance on pumps, compressors, separators, heat exchangers, wellheads and surface production equipment to maximize uptime and reliability.
Carry out well intervention and completion support tasks such as running tubulars, setting packers, deploying wireline/coiled-tubing tools, and assisting with slickline and stimulation operations under the direction of leads and engineers.
Execute confined-space entry, lockout/tagout, hot work and permit-to-work activities in accordance with company HSE standards, ensuring all pre-entry checks and supervision are documented.
Conduct pressure testing (hydrostatic and pneumatic) of piping, vessels and pressure-control systems; log test pressures, hold times and accept/reject outcomes per procedure.
Install, calibrate and troubleshoot instrumentation and control devices (pressure transducers, temperature sensors, flow meters) and interface with SCADA or local control panels to ensure accurate data collection and alarm response.
Sample hydrocarbons, produced water and formation fluids using standard custody and chain-of-custody practices; preserve and label samples for laboratory analysis and input results into tracking systems.
Carry out routine inspections and preventative maintenance schedules (PMs), maintain detailed maintenance logs, parts usage records and provide recommendations for spares and replacement items.
Rig up and rig down surface production and test systems, including safe lifting, slinging and rigging of heavy equipment in compliance with crane and rigging procedures.
Monitor well integrity indicators, perform basic wellhead leak checks, report anomalies immediately and support immediate corrective actions to contain and remediate leaks.
Support well start-up and commissioning activities, following startup checklists, coordinating with operations and engineering, and validating mechanical and instrumentation functionality.
Troubleshoot hydraulic, pneumatic and electrical problems on pumps, valves, actuators and control panels, performing repairs or coordinating with specialists when required.
Maintain cleanliness and organization of the worksite, tool crib and vehicle; manage secure storage of hazardous materials and ensure spill kits and PPE are available and serviceable.
Respond to wellsite incidents and emergency situations (surface releases, well control events), assist with emergency shutdowns, and perform post-incident documentation and lessons-learned inputs.
Maintain and operate flow control equipment during routine production operations including choke management, well flow adjustments, and coordination of pigging or solids-control activities.
Assist in the installation, maintenance and testing of chemical injection systems and metering pumps used for corrosion control, paraffin/asphaltene mitigation and hydrate suppression.
Perform basic non-destructive testing (visual, magnetic particle or dye-penetrant as trained) and carrier out pre-use inspections of pressure-containing components and lifting gear.
Ensure compliance with environmental and regulatory requirements: monitor emissions, manage produced water handling, disposal and reporting, and document waste streams and transfers.
Prepare and review daily activity reports, wellsite logs, equipment condition reports and handover packs for shift changes and for operations/engineering teams.
Support equipment procurement and spare part recommendations by providing fit-for-purpose feedback to purchasing based on field performance and failure modes.
Train and mentor junior technicians, contractors and new hires on company standards, safe work practices, equipment operation and routine maintenance procedures.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc engineering and operations requests by providing field data, photographs, wellsite measurements and first-hand observations.
Participate in root-cause investigations and continuous improvement projects aimed at improving reliability, reducing downtime and optimizing well performance.
Maintain inventory of consumables and coordinate replenishment to ensure critical spares and tooling are available for scheduled operations.
Assist with vendor and OEM coordination during complex equipment repairs or warranty-related actions and oversee workmanship to company standards.
Contribute to field-level risk assessments, toolbox talks and post-job reviews to capture operational improvements and safety observations.
Keep electronic and paper records up to date (maintenance logs, calibration certificates, certificates of conformity) and ensure traceability for audits.
Participate in cross-functional meetings with production, subsurface and engineering teams to plan interventions, well tests and maintenance windows.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Wellsite pressure-control equipment assembly, BOP operation and maintenance (experience with BOP stacks, rams, annulars and choke/kill manifolds).
Well testing operations and test separator / flow meter setup, operation and data recording.
Mechanical maintenance of rotating equipment (pumps, compressors), valves, actuators and hydraulic systems.
Familiarity with SCADA/HMI basics, field instrumentation (pressure/temperature/flow sensors), and calibration procedures.
Strong competency in pressure testing (hydrostatic and pneumatic) and interpretation of pressure test records.
Safe rigging and lifting practices; certified crane/rigging experience preferred.
Sample collection and chain-of-custody for hydrocarbons, produced water and formation fluids.
Basic electrical and control troubleshooting (starter panels, motor controls, PLC reading).
Preventative maintenance planning and execution, spare parts identification and inventory management.
Practical knowledge of HSE systems: permit-to-work, confined space entry, LOTO, H2S monitoring and gas detection.
Experience with completion and intervention support tools (coiled tubing, wireline, slickline, packers) — ability to assist in tool deployment and recovery.
Familiarity with production chemical systems and injection equipment monitoring.
Ability to perform basic NDT inspections and pre-use checks on pressure equipment and lifting gear.

Soft Skills

Strong verbal and written communication for clear handovers, incident reporting and coordination with engineers and contractors.
High situational awareness and disciplined adherence to safety procedures and checklists.
Problem-solving aptitude with the ability to triage faults and escalate appropriately.
Team player mindset and ability to work in multi-discipline crews in remote or offshore environments.
Time-management skills and ability to prioritize tasks during concurrent operations or emergencies.
Attention to detail for accurate data logging, sample labeling and report generation.
Adaptability to shift rotations, travel and variable environmental conditions.
Coaching and mentoring capability to onboard junior personnel and contractors.
Professionalism under pressure during wellsite incidents or tight operational schedules.
Cultural awareness and ability to work with diverse teams and contractors.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or GED plus technical trade certification or demonstrated field experience in oil & gas or heavy industrial environments.

Preferred Education:

Associate degree or diploma in Petroleum Technology, Mechanical Technology, Instrumentation, or related technical discipline.
Vocational or trade qualifications in welding, hydraulics or electrical technology are advantageous.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Petroleum Engineering Technology
Mechanical Engineering Technology
Instrumentation & Control Technology
Industrial Maintenance / Heavy Equipment Technology
Process Technology

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

2–7 years of hands-on experience in upstream oil and gas field operations, well testing, completions, or production maintenance.

Preferred:

3–5+ years of progressive experience as a field technician or wellsite technician with documented experience in BOP systems, pressure testing, well testing operations and intervention support.
Offshore experience or prior exposure to onshore wellsite operations depending on role location.

Certifications (commonly required/requested)

IWCF or WellCAP (well control) certification or equivalent
H2S Alive / H2S Basic Awareness
Confined Space Entry & Rescue
First Aid / CPR and Basic Life Support
Permit-to-Work training and LOTO competency
Crane & Rigging / Slinging certification (as required)
Offshore Survival (BOSIET/FOET) if offshore role
Driver’s license and any required local operator licenses