Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Upstream Worker

🎯 Role Definition

An Upstream Worker (field/operator level) is responsible for safe, efficient hands-on execution of oil & gas upstream activities at wellsites, production facilities, and drilling locations. This role executes wellsite operations, performs production and well intervention tasks, monitors equipment and process performance via SCADA and field instrumentation, implements and enforces HSE and well control protocols, and collaborates with engineering and operations teams to maximize hydrocarbon recovery. The Upstream Worker ensures regulatory compliance, conducts routine and preventive maintenance, supports well testing and workover campaigns, and documents field data for operational decision-making and continuous improvement.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Roustabout / Field Labourer with basic wellsite training
Trainee Production Operator or wellsite assistant
Technical diploma graduate (drilling, mechanical, instrumentation)

Advancement To:

Lead Production Operator / Wellsite Supervisor
Well Intervention Technician / Well Testing Specialist
Senior Field Technician or Operations Coordinator

Lateral Moves:

HSE Advisor / Permit-to-Work Coordinator
Asset Integrity Technician / Facilities Technician

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Execute daily wellsite and production facility operations including start-up, shutdown, choke and valve manipulation, and routine monitoring to ensure continuous hydrocarbon production in accordance with company standards.
Carry out well intervention and workover support activities: rig up/rig down, casing/tubing handling, rig floor tasks, and assist with fishing, milling, and completion operations under direct supervision.
Operate and maintain surface production equipment (separators, test tanks, choke manifolds, gas handling units, pumps and compressors) and perform hands-on troubleshooting and minor repairs.
Monitor and operate SCADA, distributed control systems (DCS), and wellsite instrumentation to log production, pressures, temperatures, and flow rates; escalate anomalies to engineers and supervisors.
Perform routine inspections and preventive maintenance on pumps, valves, meters, artificial lift systems (ESP, gas lift, rod pumps), and surface safety systems to avoid unplanned downtime.
Conduct well testing and flowback operations—setup test separators, configure meters and gauges, record test data, and prepare accurate test reports for reservoir and production engineers.
Ensure well integrity by performing pressure testing, BOP and wellhead checks, tubing/casing inspections, and assist with cementing and logging operations as required.
Apply well control procedures and emergency response protocols: perform blowout prevention checks, participate in live well drills, use well control equipment, and maintain IWCF/Well Control competencies.
Implement safety-critical permits and permit-to-work systems, verify isolation, lockout/tagout, and confirm H2S and confined space precautions before starting tasks.
Record and transfer accurate daily production and operations data — well logs, shift handover reports, equipment run sheets, and regulatory reporting documentation.
Support pad construction, flowline and pipeline tie-ins, and equipment rigging while maintaining safe lifting and rigging practices and verifying mechanical integrity of connections.
Carry out sampling, basic laboratory tests (oil/water/gas samples), and collect formation evaluation samples for geoscience and production analysis.
Coordinate with contractors and third-party service providers onsite—supervise their activities, ensure compliance with safety and quality standards, and verify scope execution.
Execute mechanical integrity and corrosion monitoring activities: inspect anodes, pigging operations, inhibitors, and gather data for corrosion engineers.
Participate in planned shutdowns, turnarounds, and routine maintenance campaigns—execute assigned tasks, document repairs, and assist in root cause analysis after outages.
Troubleshoot production losses and unplanned events: isolate causes, perform temporary fixes, and collaborate with production and reservoir engineers on corrective actions.
Implement environmental controls onsite: manage produced water handling, flaring minimization, spill prevention, and waste segregation as per permit and regulatory requirements.
Maintain and update field maintenance records, calibration logs, equipment histories and contribute to CMMS entries to ensure traceability and audit readiness.
Support well start-up, commissioning, and debottlenecking projects by executing field-level commissioning checks, verifying pipeline integrity and validating instrumentation.
Conduct competency checks and mentor junior field staff—provide on-the-job training for safe procedures, equipment operations and company best practices.
Enforce quality assurance and operational standards by conducting pre-job briefs, Job Hazard Analyses (JHAs), and post-job reviews to capture lessons learned and improve procedures.
Participate in reservoir surveillance and production optimization activities by providing high-quality operational data, supporting nodal analysis, artificial lift selection and production enhancement campaigns.
Ensure compliance with relevant local regulations and company policies—prepare documents for regulatory inspections, support audits, and implement corrective action plans as needed.
Maintain emergency response equipment and participate in fire, H2S, and spill response drills, ensuring readiness and immediate response capability for onsite incidents.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis.
Contribute to the organization's data strategy and roadmap.
Collaborate with business units to translate data needs into engineering requirements.
Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies within the data engineering team.
Assist in field trials for new production technologies and upstream digitalization pilots (e.g., edge sensors, remote monitoring).
Provide feedback on standard operating procedures (SOPs) and help create step-by-step operational checklists for new processes.
Support logistics and inventory control by tracking spare parts usage, advising on reorder levels for critical equipment, and verifying delivery of materials.
Assist environmental & regulatory teams with sample collection, chain-of-custody documentation and permit compliance checks.
Participate in continuous improvement initiatives to reduce operating costs, improve uptime and increase recovery through small-scale field modifications.
Liaise with reservoir and production engineers during production testing and incremental production campaigns to ensure alignment on operational constraints.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Wellsite Operations: well testing, flowback, choke management, and surface equipment operation experience for oil and gas wells.
Well Control & Safety: IWCF/Well Control certification, blowout prevention procedures, BOP handling and emergency response competency.
Production Equipment: hands-on experience with separators, test tanks, compressors, pumps (ESP, gas lift, rod pump), and artificial lift systems.
Pressure Systems & Integrity: pressure testing, wellhead maintenance, flange and valve work, tubing and casing inspection techniques.
SCADA / DCS & Telemetry: ability to operate and interpret SCADA dashboards, PLC inputs/outputs, field instrumentation and remote telemetry alarms.
Mechanical & Electrical Troubleshooting: basic pump, motor, gearbox repairs and electrical isolation, identification of electrical faults and basic instrumentation checks.
Well Intervention Support: rigging up/down, coiled tubing, snubbing, wireline awareness, and completion support practices.
Regulatory & Environmental Compliance: knowledge of local upstream regulations, waste handling, flaring restrictions and environmental monitoring.
Permit-to-Work & Lockout/Tagout: safe execution of PTW systems, confined space entry, hot work permits and isolation procedures.
Sample Collection & Testing: oil/water/gas sampling, field lab testing fundamentals and chain-of-custody procedures.
Nodal Analysis & Production Data: ability to collect and interpret well test data, rate information and provide input for production optimization.
Asset Management Systems: familiarity with CMMS/EAM platforms for maintenance planning, spares tracking and work order management.
H2S and Gas Safety Competency: gas detection, PPE selection, respiratory protection, and H2S emergency procedures.
Basic Data Literacy: ability to enter and interpret operational metrics, use Excel and common data entry tools; familiarity with SQL/Python is a plus for digitalization initiatives.

Soft Skills

Safety-first mindset with proven ability to apply HSE procedures and cultivate a culture of incident prevention.
Strong communication skills: clear handovers, concise incident reports, and effective contractor coordination.
Problem-solving and troubleshooting under pressure with practical, hands-on bias for action.
Team player: collaborates with engineers, supervisors and third-party technicians to deliver targets.
Attention to detail: accurate data recording, adherence to SOPs, and meticulous evidence of completed work.
Adaptability: comfortable working in remote locations, shift work, and changing operational priorities.
Time management and task prioritization during concurrent field activities and maintenance windows.
Leadership potential: ability to mentor junior technicians and lead small field crews during operations.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or technical/vocational certificate in drilling, mechanical, instrumentation or related trade. Valid safety courses and site-specific inductions required.

Preferred Education:

Diploma or Bachelor's degree in Petroleum Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Process Technology, or related technical discipline.
Additional certifications (Well Control/IWCF, H2S, First Aid, Forklift, Confined Space, Rigging & Lifting) are highly desirable.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Petroleum Engineering
Mechanical Engineering / Technicians (Mechanical, Electrical)
Process Technology / Chemical Engineering Technology
Instrumentation & Control Technology
Health, Safety & Environmental Studies

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 1–7 years of upstream field or production operations experience (entry-level to mid-level roles). Many employers expect 2–4 years for standard operator roles and 4–7 years for senior/lead operator roles.

Preferred:

3+ years of direct upstream operations experience (wellsite operations, production facilities, or rig support).
Demonstrated experience with artificial lift systems, well testing campaigns, or production optimization projects.
Proven track record of strict HSE adherence and incident-free performance; prior work on remote pads or offshore environments is an advantage.