Elements and Performance Criteria

Context
This unit of competency includes all such items of equipment and unit operations which form part of the pipeline control system.

For your organisation this may include (select relevant items):
radio communications equipment, email, fax and telephones
heaters, furnaces and exchangers
station instrumentation/metering equipment
condition monitoring equipment
process control equipment
gas quality and analysis equipment
valves, actuators and flanges
piping systems
pressure vessels/filtration equipment
compressors and prime movers
cathodic protection systems.

Typical problems for your plant may include:
communications disruptions
corrosion/hydrate formation
variations in flow temperature and/or pressure
failures of piping, valves or flanges
pipeline leakages.

OHS
The identification and control of hazards and the application of OHS is to be in accordance with current, applicable legislation and regulations and company procedures. All work is carried out at all times in accordance with these requirements

Assessment context and methods
Assessment for this unit of competency will be on an operating plant. 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 timely assessment of parts of this unit of competency (e.g. elements 1 to 4). Simulation should be based on the actual plant and will 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.

This unit of competency requires an application of the knowledge contained in the use of the systems in the pipeline control centre and its integral equipment, to the level needed to maintain control and recognise and resolve problems. This can be assessed through questioning and the use of what if scenarios both on the plant (during demonstration of normal operations and walk throughs of abnormal operations) and off the plant.

Critical aspects
Competence must be demonstrated in the ability to recognise and analyse potential situations requiring action and then in implementing appropriate corrective action. The emphasis should be on the ability to stay out of trouble rather than on recovery from a disaster.

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 and analysed and the most likely cause determined
appropriate action is taken to ensure a timely return to full performance
obvious problems in related plant areas are recognised and an appropriate contribution made to their solution.

These aspects may be best assessed using a range of scenarios/case studies/what ifs as the stimulus with a walk through forming part of the response. These assessment activities should include a range of problems, including new, unusual and improbable situations which may have been generated from the past incident history of the plant, incidents on similar plants around the world, hazard analysis activities and similar sources.

Resource implications
Assessment will require access to an operating plant over an extended period of time, or a suitable method of gathering evidence of operating ability over a range of situations. A bank of scenarios/case studies/what ifs will be required as will a bank of questions, which will be used to probe the reasoning behind the observable actions.

Other assessment advice
In all plants it may be appropriate to assess this unit concurrently with relevant teamwork and communication units. Consider co-assessment with:
PMAPER201B - Monitor and control work permits
PMAOPS230A - Monitor, operate, and maintain pipeline stations and equipment.

Essential knowledge
The knowledge referred to in the evidence guide for this unit includes:
communications systems
pipeline system functions within the design parameters and design philosophy
process information schemata of the pipeline system and associated facilities
pipeline operating principles, parameters and product specifications
relevant workplace documentation
SCADA systems
alarm systems and emergency systems, including fire and shutdown
plant communication systems, including radio, faxes and telephone
the 'permit to work' system
architecture of the pipeline system
pipeline system operating parameters
gas quality/analysis equipment operation
MSDS information.

Competence also includes the ability to isolate the causes of problems to an item of equipment within the compressor system and distinguish between causes of problems/alarm/fault indications such as:
pipeline pressure variations
instrument failure/wrong reading
electrical failure
mechanical failure
operational problems.