Training in Oil & Gas Production for BP Technical Interns Section 10 – Handling production Handling production is a very important part, even critical.

Training in Oil & Gas Production for BP Technical InternsTraining in Oil & Gas Production for BP Technical Interns

Section 10 – Handling production

Handling production is a very important part, even critical part, of any production technicians job.


Production handling duties 1

1.1. Gauge tanks. (Some companies also have Gauge tanks. (Some companies also have automatic gauging and report systems.)automatic gauging and report systems.)

2.2. Thief tanks.Thief tanks.3.3. Document calls to oil transport dispatcher Document calls to oil transport dispatcher

or oil purchaser concerning a tank that is or oil purchaser concerning a tank that is ready to run.ready to run.

4.4. Report any gauge discrepancies with oil Report any gauge discrepancies with oil purchaser/transporter. purchaser/transporter.



5.5. Document the rejection (turn down) and Document the rejection (turn down) and reason by the transporter/purchaser of any reason by the transporter/purchaser of any tank that has been reported ready to run.tank that has been reported ready to run.

6.6. Report any irregularities with seals on Report any irregularities with seals on tanks, pipelines, valves, or stops.tanks, pipelines, valves, or stops.

7.7. Document all calls to produced water Document all calls to produced water transport dispatcher.transport dispatcher.



8.8. Report any produced water gauge Report any produced water gauge discrepancies to production foreman.discrepancies to production foreman.

9.9. Report any irregularities concerning seals Report any irregularities concerning seals for water production storage.for water production storage.

10.10. Report any gauge discrepancies with oil Report any gauge discrepancies with oil purchaser/transporter. purchaser/transporter.

11.11. Monitor compressor system.Monitor compressor system.



12.12. Document suction and discharge pressures Document suction and discharge pressures daily or periodically according to policy.daily or periodically according to policy.

13.13. Check and document fluid levels of Check and document fluid levels of compressor’s prime movers.compressor’s prime movers.

14.14. Examine drive belts according to schedule Examine drive belts according to schedule and document condition. and document condition.

15.15. Report any compressor problems, down Report any compressor problems, down time or repairs to production foreman.time or repairs to production foreman.


Gauging a tank

1.1. Production technician Production technician grounds self before grounds self before beginning to gauge beginning to gauge the tank. the tank.


Gauging a tank

2.2. Standing back and to Standing back and to the side, technician the side, technician opens the thief opens the thief hatch.hatch.


Gauging a tank

3.3. Technician lowers Technician lowers gauge tape into gauge tape into tank with the line tank with the line grounded at the grounded at the thief hatch portal.thief hatch portal.


Gauging a tank

4.4. Having determined Having determined the level of the oil the level of the oil in the stock tank in in the stock tank in feet and inches, the feet and inches, the technician wipes technician wipes the oil coated tape the oil coated tape while removing it while removing it from the tank.from the tank.


Making an accurate gauge

1.1. Lower the plumb bob and gauge line into Lower the plumb bob and gauge line into fluid slowly. Avoid splashing.fluid slowly. Avoid splashing.

2.2. When the point of the plumb bob first When the point of the plumb bob first touches the bottom of the tank, stop touches the bottom of the tank, stop immediately.immediately.

3.3. Raise the gauge tape slightly and then Raise the gauge tape slightly and then retrieve the tape to the point where you can retrieve the tape to the point where you can see the oil line by turning the handle.see the oil line by turning the handle.

4.4. Read the gauge and document.Read the gauge and document.


Purpose of a thief

A thief is used to extract a A thief is used to extract a sample of fluid from the sample of fluid from the bottom of a tank to test bottom of a tank to test for basic sediment and for basic sediment and water.water.


Using a thief

1.1. Using a thief rope, a spring Using a thief rope, a spring loaded door closes when the loaded door closes when the thief touches the bottom of the thief touches the bottom of the tank.tank.

2.2. The thief is removed from the The thief is removed from the tank and the fluid sample is tank and the fluid sample is tested for water cut and solids.tested for water cut and solids.


This product was funded by a grant awarded under the President’s High Growth Job Training Initiative as implemented by the US Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration. The Information contained in this product was created by a grantee organization and does not necessarily reflect the official position of the US Department of Labor. All references to non-governmental companies or organizations, their services, products, or resources are offered for informational purposes and should not be construed as an endorsement by the Department of Labor. This product is copyrighted by the institution that created it and is intended for individual organizational, non-commercial use only.

Training in Oil & Gas Production for BP Technical Interns Section 10 – Handling production Handling production is a very important part, even critical.

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