Location: Spring, TX
Schedule: 14/14 (Rotation)
Type: W2 Contract (12 months with possibility for extension)
Benefits: Dental, Healthcare, Vision & 401(k)
Role Overview
The Artificial Lift Control Room Operator (ALCRO) is a mission-critical operations role responsible for delivering scalable, real-time artificial lift surveillance and remote operational control across a large portfolio of producing assets.
This position exists to protect production, extend equipment run life, reduce HSE exposure, and improve the speed and quality of operational decisions by applying experienced operator judgment in a centralized control room environment.
ALCROs function as remote operators, not passive monitors. They independently evaluate live operating conditions, diagnose equipment behavior, and take corrective action within defined operating envelopes across hundreds to thousands of wells and compression units spanning multiple fields and lift types. Decisions made in this role directly impact production continuity, asset integrity, and field safety, often before engineering or supervisory resources are involved.
This role consolidates traditional field-based artificial lift decision-making into an enterprise-scale operating model, performing work functionally equivalent to Tier 1 Field Operator responsibilities, executed remotely with significantly higher complexity, volume, and cognitive demand.
Key Responsibilities
- Monitor and control large populations of artificial lift wells and compression units across multiple assets and fields
- Perform real-time surveillance to identify early indicators of abnormal or degrading equipment performance
- Independently adjust operating parameters (e.g., speed, cycles, control setpoints) to balance:
- Production optimization
- Equipment protection and run life
- Operating limits and safety constraints
- Diagnose equipment performance issues using live and trended data
- Execute predefined alarm response actions and determine appropriate escalation paths
- Make rapid, risk-based operational decisions regarding:
- Immediate intervention
- Continued monitoring
- Field dispatch or engineering notification
- Prevent high-cost equipment failures through early detection and proactive intervention
- Reduce unnecessary field callouts, minimizing driving exposure and location-based hazards
- Maintain accurate documentation, event logging, and detailed shift handovers
- Coordinate effectively with field operations, production, engineering, automation, and maintenance teams
Functional Skills
Operational & Cognitive Skills
- Strong situational awareness and real-time decision-making under pressure
- Effective alarm management and prioritization
- Advanced troubleshooting and pattern recognition based on operational experience
- High level of operational discipline and adherence to procedures and escalation protocols
- Ability to manage high equipment counts and frequent condition changes
- Clear, concise communication with internal stakeholders
- Strong attention to detail and documentation accuracy
Technical Competencies
Artificial Lift Systems
- ESP, Gas Lift, Gas-Assisted Plunger Lift (GAPL), Plunger Lift
- Surface and downhole equipment, controllers, VSDs
- Understanding of surface-to-subsurface interaction (compression - distribution - wells)
Compression & Rotating Equipment
- Suction and discharge conditions
- Staging and interstage cooling
- Lube oil and seal systems
Control Systems & SCADA
- Confident use of SCADA platforms, remote control systems, and surveillance dashboards
Data Interpretation
- Electrical: amps, volts, torque, power quality indicators
- Mechanical: load, speed, vibration
- Production: pressure, fluid levels, pump fillage
Production & Equipment Protection
- Inflow behavior, drawdown, gas interference, pump-off dynamics
- Safe operating envelopes and shutdown thresholds
- Basic production optimization without compromising equipment integrity
Electrical & Safety Awareness
- Electrical hazards, interlocks, emergency shutdown logic, and restart risks
Required Work Experience
- 2-5 years of direct artificial lift and/or compression operations experience
Relevant backgrounds may include:
- Artificial Lift Technician or Compression Operator
- Production Operator with artificial lift or compression responsibility
- ESP or Gas Lift Field Specialist
- Lease Operator managing artificially-lifted wells
- Automation or Electrical Technician supporting artificial lift systems
Hands?on experience must include:
- Starting, stopping, and troubleshooting ESPs, gas lift systems, or compressor units
- Operating equipment through abnormal conditions such as trips, pump-off, or gas interference
- Responding to real equipment failures, not limited to steady-state operations
Preferred Experience
- Prior field operational experience in unconventional or high-density asset environments (e.g., Permian Basin)
- Familiarity with local equipment behaviors, power constraints, and common failure modes
- 1–3 years of SCADA or remote surveillance experience, including:
- Alarm response
- Remote decision-making
- Event documentation and coordination with field crews
Experience Typically Insufficient Alone
- Engineering or analytical roles without field exposure
- Surveillance or monitoring positions without operational authority
- New graduates or non-oil-and-gas control room experience
- Field operators limited to flowing wells with no artificial lift responsibility
Ideal Candidate Profile
- 3–7 years total oil & gas experience
- 2–5 years directly supporting artificial lift wells and/or compression units
- Demonstrated accountability for:
- Equipment uptime
- Production impact
- Safety-critical operational decisions
- Proven comfort making independent, real-time operational decisions