Terminal Operator I

plains; Pecos (TX); On-site; USD 32,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Plains, a leading transportation and midstream provider, seeks a Pipeline / Terminal Operator I to operate and maintain pipeline facilities and terminals, ensuring safe transportation and storage of petroleum products. This field‑based role involves tanks, pumping stations, LACTs, and gathering systems.

You will perform facility checks, log readings, support product movements, and monitor equipment. Work takes place outdoors in extreme heat or cold, with safety gear required and occasional

Responsibilities

• Performs maintenance, upkeep and cleaning of station, pipeline and terminal facilities including tanks, valves, engines, motors, mixers, piping, control panels, fencing, office, shop, and storage buildings.
• Monitors and maintains station activity reporting and related documentation including readings, over/short documentation, and oil movement orders.
• Completes pipeline and facility checks, reporting abnormal conditions and troubleshooting as necessary.
• Safely operates all facility rotating equipment and valves, LACT and metering systems, and hydrocarbon drain systems.
• Operates electrical heart tracking systems, flare systems, instrument air systems, truck loading/unloading systems, and related equipment.
• Inspects and maintains pipeline security in the field and monitors ROW activity.
• Performs damage prevention activities and verifies status of work for expired agreements.
• Inspects perimeter fencing and locks to maintain facility security.
• Inspects and gauges tanks and inspects pumps for proper operation.
• Performs tank inspections, checks H2S monitors, and maintains equipment readings.
• Maintains routine maintenance on mixers, motors, gearboxes, valves, generators, and records readings.
• Performs product movements from pipelines, rail cars, vessels, and tank trucks; conducts tank-to-tank transfers as needed.
• Conducts measurement activities and records balances, tickets, inventories, and metered volumes.
• Conducts pigging activities and prepares pipeline for pigging.
• Maintains communications with Pipeline Control Center and handles start-up/shutdown operations.
• Detects leaks, notifies appropriately, and assists in repairs.
• Manages balancing systems and daily/monthly balancing.
• Supports Product Quality Management with field tests, lab equipment maintenance, sample records, and product testing.

Job description

Job Type: Regular

Plains is an industry-leading transportation and midstream provider specializing in transportation, storage, processing and marketing solutions for crude oil. We own an extensive network of pipeline transportation, terminalling, storage and gathering assets in key oil producing basins and transportation corridors and at major market hubs in the United States and Canada. The company is headquartered in Houston, Texas.

We're on the lookout for passionate self‑starters who thrive in fast‑moving, collaborative, and innovative environments.

The Pipeline / Terminal Operator I role operates and maintains pipeline facilities and / or terminals including tanks, pipeline pumping stations, LACTs, and gathering facilities to ensure the accurate and safe transportation and storage of petroleum products. Terminal Operators work within terminal facilities while Pipeline Operators normally work at facilities up and down pipeline and gathering systems. They will assist with petroleum product movements in and out of pipeline terminals and/or pump stations and are responsible for the storage of products and custody transfers activities with connecting carriers and customers. They will accurately assess the quantity and quality of crude oil and/or refined products and perform general facility maintenance in accordance with company mandates.

This is a field-based role with frequent work in open environments with extremes of heat and cold, often in proximity to high voltage and/or chemicals, which requires safety accommodations such as protective clothing and equipment. This role is subject to callouts for work associated with Plains field operations and/or emergency response.

Job Responsibilities:

• Performs maintenance, upkeep and cleaning of station, pipeline and terminal facilities including include but not limited to painting, weed control, and general housekeeping as required to tanks, valves, engines, motors, mixers, piping, control panels, fencing, office, shop, and storage buildings associated with pipeline, trucking, barge and ship terminals, and related facilities.
• Monitors and maintains station activity reporting and related documentation to include a variety of reports and records covering readings, over/short documentation, and oil movement orders.
• Completes pipeline and facility checks, reporting abnormal conditions and troubleshooting as necessary.
• Safely operates all facility rotating equipment and valves, LACT and metering systems, and hydrocarbon drain systems, reporting abnormal conditions and troubleshooting as necessary.
• Operates electrical heart tracking systems, flare systems, instrument air systems, truck loading and unloading systems, and related equipment.
• Inspects and maintains pipeline security in the field, and monitors Rights of Way (ROW) for activity (e.g., digging, plowing, etc.) on or near the ROW.
• Performs damage prevention activities, reports unauthorized activity or contact with the pipe, and verifies the status of work for expired agreements.
• Inspects perimeter fencing, locks, etc. to maintain proper facility security.
• Inspects and gauges tanks and inspects pumps for proper operation.
• Performs tank inspections, checks H2S monitors, tank roof drains, oil levels in mixers, compressors, pumps, booster, motors, valves and piping.
• Inspects and ensures that routine maintenance is performed on mixers, motors, gearboxes, valves, clock charts, emergency generators, and maintains associated records such as temperature average readings as required.
• Performs product movements to include receipts and deliveries from pipelines, rail cars, vessels, tank trucks and perform tank-to- tank transfers on an as needed basis.
• Conducts measurement activities (e.g., enters estimated fuel, flare and vent volumes into an FFV log, enters reference temperature and density into electronic flow devices, performs BSW tests, reviews daily and monthly balances, and verifies tickets, tank inventories, and metered volumes).
• Conducts pigging activities (e.g., prepares pipeline for pigging activity, sends pipeline pig, receives pipeline pig, puts pipeline back into service).
• Maintains communications with Pipeline Control Center and performs start-up and shutdown of pipelines.
• Detects and responds to leaks, ensuring timely notifications and proper documentation, and assists in leak repairs.
• Manages and maintains balancing systems, conducting daily and monthly balancing.
• Conducts measurement activities, including completing logs, gauging tanks, performing BSW tests, and verifying tickets, tank inventories, and metered volumes.
• Supports Product Quality Management through conducting field tests, maintaining lab equipment, maintaining sample records, and performing product testing and analysis. Performs quality and quantity testing, checks sulfur content, calibrates basic sediment and water (BS&W) meters, and witnesses meter proving where requested.
• Documents meter readings and completes daily inventory reports.