Unit of competency Outline

Date retreived
22/07/2026 9:20 AM AWST

Whilst all efforts are made to provide accurate and timely information from the relevant source/documentation, please be aware that the information supplied may not be the most current version. The accuracy of the detail has not been confirmed by the Department and therefore should not be relied upon without first confirming the contents.

Undertake well management

Undertake well management

Unit of competency
National Code
PMAOPS321B
State Code
W8876
TGA Status
Replaced
DTWD Status
Replaced
Current Release Number
1.00
Current Release Date
11/11/2010
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
18/12/2008
Field of Education
030303 - Mining Engineering
Original Release Date
18/12/2008
Nominal Hours
40
Description
In a typical scenario an operations technician operates, monitors and manages wells and ancillary equipment. The activity includes operating and monitoring the performance of well equipment, making adjustments to and reporting on product flows, identifying and reporting operational problems, being aware of and contributing to a safe working environment, and the safe and productive operation of the system.
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Produce oil and gas.
  • 1.1. Control and direct flows to meet demand requirements
  • 1.2. Utilise process control instrumentation to produce oil/gas
  • 1.3. Liaise with other services and contractors during the production phase
  • 1.4. Collect, interpret, correlate and report or communicate selected data.
2. Conduct flow measurement.
  • 2.1. Apply appropriate mathematical formulae and formats to determine product volumes
  • 2.2. Collect and utilise appropriate production data to determine product flows
  • 2.3. Analyse historical data and records to monitor and determine well performance
  • 2.4. Calculate production figures and targets, and apply this data to all functions related to this competency
  • 2.5. Take appropriate action.
3. Monitor well and associated production equipment.
  • 3.1. Monitor operational condition and efficiencies of equipment
  • 3.2. Implement corrosion control procedures for all equipment to maintain its operating integrity
  • 3.3. Conduct inspections of instrumentation equipment
  • 3.4. Take appropriate action
  • 3.5. Liaise with maintenance operations to determine and prioritise any required maintenance.
4. Transfer product.
  • 4.1. Separate products into their respective product groupings
  • 4.2. Treat all excess separation process waste water, utilising the appropriate chemical and disposal techniques
  • 4.3. Transfer product to appropriate location for future processing or sale
  • 4.4. Maintain all well logs and records as required
  • 4.5. Monitor transfer and take appropriate action.
5. Isolate and de-isolate plant.
  • 5.1. Isolate plant
  • 5.2. Make safe for required work
  • 5.3. Check plant is ready to be returned to service
  • 5.4. Prepare plant for return to service.
RANGE STATEMENT
The Range Statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the Performance Criteria, is detailed below. Add any essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment depending on the work situation, needs if the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts.
Codes of practice/ standards
Where reference is made to industry codes of practice, and/or Australian/international standards, the latest version must be used.
Context
This unit of competency includes all such items of equipment and unit operations which form part of the production/processing system. For your plant this may include (select relevant items):
valves including non-return valves
pumps
prime movers
product separation units
instrumentation
testing equipment
hydraulic power units.
Typical problems
Typical problems for your plant may include:
leakage
vibration
loss of control of pressure and/or flow
hydrates/blockages
liquid slugging
corrosion
scale formation
erosion.
Appropriate action
Appropriate action includes:
determining problems needing action
determining possible fault causes
rectifying problem using appropriate solution within area of responsibility
following through items initiated until final resolution has occurred
reporting problems outside area of responsibility to designated person.
Procedures
Procedures may be written, verbal, computer-based or in some other form. They include:
all work instructions
standard operating procedures
formulas/recipes
batch sheets
temporary instructions
any similar instructions provided for the smooth running of the plant.
For the purposes of this Training Package, 'procedures' also includes good operating practice as may be defined by industry codes of practice (eg Responsible Care) and government regulations.
Health, safety and environment (HSE)
All operations to which this unit applies are subject to stringent health, safety and environment requirements, which may be imposed through State or Federal legislation, and these must not be compromised at any time. Where there is an apparent conflict between Performance Criteria and HSE requirements, the HSE requirements take precedence.
EVIDENCE GUIDE
The Evidence Guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, Required Skills and Knowledge, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment
Assessment of this unit should include demonstrated competence on actual plant and equipment in a work environment. 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 assessment of parts of this unit. 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 well operation and the equipment integral to its use, 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 for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
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.

Context of and specific resources for assessment
Assessment will require access to an operating well 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.

Method of assessment
In all plants it may be appropriate to assess this unit concurrently with relevant teamwork and communication units. Consider co-assessment with
PMAOPS320B Conduct artificial lift.

Guidance information for assessment
Assessment processes and techniques must be culturally appropriate and appropriate to the oracy, language and literacy capacity of the assessee and the work being performed.
Replaces
State Code National Code Title Type
C5972 PMAOPS321A Undertake well management Unit of competency
Replaced By
State Code National Code Title Type
AXN05 PMAOPS321 Undertake well management Unit of competency