Engineering Technician (Petroleum)

Summary Explore a new career with the BLM – where our people are our most precious resource. This position is located in Pinedale, WY. Information about Pinedale, WY and the surrounding area can be found at: Sublette County Chamber We expect to fill three vacancies at this time; however, additional positions may be filled from this announcement if they become available. Responsibilities The PET performs inspections of oil and gas operations and enforces all appropriate laws, rules, and regulations as well as the terms and conditions specified in the various approvals. Performs on-site compliance inspections for all phases of oil and gas operations, specifically: drilling and work-over, production, environmental, and plugging and abandonment. Prepares documentation after compliance inspection(s) are complete and issues Written Orders and Incidents of Non-Compliance (INC) when problems or violations are noted during inspection(s). Completes follow-up inspections to determine if compliance was met by operators and recommends further action as necessary. If required, prepares documents for evidence in legal contests. Regularly utilizes applicable government databases to document inspections and completes enforcement actions as applicable within the database. Requires a considerable amount of mathematics at the high school algebra level to verify volumes of drilling fluids and oil/gas volumes to account for production from federal oil and gas leases. The PET must be able to safely operate a 4-wheel drive vehicle on unimproved roads and two-tracks to access remote oil and gas facilities. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications After 90 days of fully successful performance the applicant will be eligible for a bi-weekly 7.5% retention incentive. BASIC REQUIREMENT: Specialized Experience (for positions at GS-4 or equivalent and above): Examples of qualifying specialized experience include technical work in drafting, surveying construction estimating, physical science, mathematics, aerospace, architecture, chemicals, electrical or mechanical systems, mining, petroleum, or nuclear systems. Experience in a trade or craft may be credited as specialized experience when the work provided intensive knowledge of engineering principles, techniques, methods, and precedents. Examples are trade positions with substantial developmental, test, or design responsibilities such as: Planner and estimator who analyzed designs for production purposes. Instrument maker or model maker who performed design or development work on devices fabricated. You must successfully complete the BLM Petroleum Engineering Technician (PET) Certification Program and continue service in the Federal Government for 2 years from the date of obtaining PET certification. Certification: Engineering technicians may be certified by the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies, an organization sponsored by the National Society of Professional Engineers. Certification by the Institute will be helpful as a measure of the technicians quality of experience. In order to be rated as qualified for this position, we must be able to determine that you meet the qualification requirements – please be sure to include this information in your resume. No assumptions will be made about your experience. FOR GS-07: In addition to meeting the basic requirements you must possess one (1) full year of general experience or education that equips the applicant with a knowledge of the petroleum industry, skills gained through education or experience with the petroleum industry and abilities to apply them at a general level. Examples of specialized experience include: Knowledge of drilling and plugging wells. Production of oil and gas, and/or processes, methods, and equipment utilized by the petroleum industry. Skill in written and oral communication used to gather and report information. -OR- Education: one year of GRADUATE education directly related to the work of this position (i.e., major study in petroleum engineering or a related field). -OR- Combination of Education and Specialized Experience: Total qualifying education and experience as listed above when combined must total to 100 percent to qualify. FOR GS-08: In addition to meeting the basic requirements you must possess one (1) full year of practical experience and/or education that equips the applicant with a working knowledge of the petroleum industry, skills gained through education or experience with the petroleum industry and abilities to apply them practically. Examples of specialized experience include: Knowledge of drilling and plugging wells. Production of oil and gas, and/or processes, methods, and equipment utilized by the petroleum industry. Knowledge of regulations related to the petroleum industry. Skill in written and oral communication used to gather and report information. -OR- Education: Two full years of graduate education or a masters degree; education must be directly related to the work of a petroleum engineering technician (i.e., major study in petroleum engineering or a related field). -OR- Combination of Education and Specialized Experience: Total qualifying education and experience as listed above when combined must total to 100 percent to qualify. FOR GS-09: In addition to meeting the basic requirements you must possess one (1) full year of expanded experience and/or education that equips the applicant with a thorough knowledge of the petroleum industry, skills gained through education or experience with the petroleum industry and abilities to apply them thoroughly. Examples of specialized experience include: Knowledge of drilling and plugging wells. Production of oil and gas, and/or processes, methods, and equipment utilized by the petroleum industry. Knowledge of regulations related to the petroleum industry. Skill in written and oral communication used to gather and report information. Knowledge of Inspection and Enforcement actions related the petroleum industry. -OR- Education: Two full years of graduate education or a masters degree; education must be directly related to the work of a petroleum engineering technician (i.e., major study in petroleum engineering or a related field). -OR- Combination of Education and Specialized Experience: Total qualifying education and experience as listed above when combined must total to 100 percent to qualify. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. You must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement. Physical Demands: On-site inspection work requires almost continuous physical activity. Most of the on-site inspection time is spent walking, standing, crouching, and climbing. In climbing up and down ladders and steep stairways, the PET is protected from falls only by firmly grasping on ladder rungs and hand railings. The PET may be required to hike into unusually rugged areas to inspect abandoned sites. PETs are subject to call 24 hours a day and may be required to work long non-stop tours-of-duty, occasionally in excess of thirty (30) hours. Some work is sedentary, although much of the job requires overnight field trips which involve physical activity on irregular terrains and work at physically demanding job sites. Office work consists predominantly of working at a desk and using a computer, including using a palm pilot to record measurements. Work Environment: Much of the work is at field locations where it is necessary to wear appropriate safety equipment. The incumbent must walk under and around heavy derrick and hoisting equipment and piping and around other potentially hazardous operating equipment. Work environment involves exposure to extreme weather conditions, hostile flora and fauna, hazardous explosive fumes, poisonous gasses, toxic chemicals, high frequency noises, high-pressure and high temperature equipment, detonating devices, and moving machinery. Work involves climbing up and down ladders and steep stairways. A large part of the time is spent driving to work sites that are located in isolated areas. This work environment requires the use of hard hats, hard-toe boots, safety glasses, ear protection equipment, poisonous gas detection equipment, and cold weather gear and/or a respirator may also be required. The position requires operating a motor vehicle, often in isolated areas, on unimproved roads and in potentially dangerous weather conditions. Education If using education to qualify, you must submit copies of all transcripts or a list of college courses that include hours and grades from an accredited U.S. college/university. See Required Documents section for more information. This position requires a considerable amount of math at the high school algebra level to verify volume and height of cement and other drilling fluids and oil and gas volumes to account for production from Federal oil and gas leases, and other assignments in order to be rated as qualified for this position, we must be able to determine that you meet the qualification requirements – please be sure to include this information in your resume. No assumptions will be made about your experience. Additional Information DOI uses E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit E-Verify Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)/lnteragency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority, you must: 1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; 2) be rated well qualified for the position with a score of 90 or above; and 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. For more information: CTAP or ICTAP Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered for Selective Service Travel and relocation expenses will not be paid by the Department of the Interior. Any travel, transportation and relocation expenses associated with reporting for duty in this position will be the responsibility of the selected employee. The official worksite for the selectee is the duty station identified in this vacancy announcement. The selectee will typically report to this duty location on a regular and recurring weekly basis. The selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval. Certain incentives (such as Recruitment, Relocation or Student Loan Repayment) may be authorized to eligible selectees. If eligible and qualified, you may be offered a recruitment or relocation incentive. The decision to offer an incentive will be made on a case-by-case basis and is neither promised nor guaranteed. For information visit: Recruitment Incentive or Relocation Incentive or Student Loan Repayment. This position is considered a career ladder opportunity, with a full performance level of GS-11. If selected at a lower grade level, you may be non-competitively promoted to the next grade level at the discretion of your supervisor and is contingent upon meeting regulatory and legal requirements for promotion, satisfactory performance, and the availability of higher-level work. Promotion is not guaranteed, and no promise of promotion is implied.