Will AI replace Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers?
Estimated risk score: 30 out of 100
Lower replacement risk
Estimate from published task research, not reviewed by a person · how we estimate
Within about 19 points for 4 in 5 of the jobs we checked (11 to 49).
For the occupation as a whole, from ratings of its 24 O*NET tasks published in 2023 and calibrated to our hand scores. A specialty inside it can sit higher or lower.
O*NET-SOC 51-8093.00 · Production
Tasks rated in 2023 as ones AI could do or speed up
Tasks a GPT-4-class model could do, or do in half the time or less: 4 of its 24 rated tasks. In O*NET’s words.
- Calculate test result values, using standard formulas.
- Prepare calculations for receipts and deliveries of oil and oil products.
- Read automatic gauges at specified intervals to determine the flow rate of oil into or from tanks, and the amount of oil in tanks.
- Record and compile operating data, instrument readings, documentation, and results of laboratory analyses.
Tasks rated in 2023 as not sped up by AI
Tasks such a model was rated as not speeding up or taking over: 15 of its 24 rated tasks; the first 6 are shown. In O*NET’s words.
- Collect product samples by turning bleeder valves, or by lowering containers into tanks to obtain oil samples.
- Conduct general housekeeping of units, including wiping up oil spills and performing general cleaning duties.
- Control or operate manifold and pumping systems to circulate liquids through a petroleum refinery.
- Inspect pipelines, tightening connections and lubricating valves as necessary.
- Operate auxiliary equipment and control multiple processing units during distilling or treating operations, moving controls that regulate valves, pumps, compressors, and auxiliary equipment.
- Start pumps and open valves or use automated equipment to regulate the flow of oil in pipelines and into and out of tanks.
What the job is
Operate or control petroleum refining or processing units. May specialize in controlling manifold and pumping systems, gauging or testing oil in storage tanks, or regulating the flow of oil into pipelines.
Also called: Refinery Operator, Stillman, Oil Gauger, Oil Refiner, Dock Operator, In-House Tech, Gas House Tech, Panel Operator.
Source. This site includes information from the O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. (O*NET, CC BY 4.0.) Task ratings: Eloundou, Manning, Mishkin and Rock (2023), “GPTs are GPTs: An Early Look at the Labor Market Impact Potential of Large Language Models”, data used under the MIT licence (licence texts). Our change: we averaged the ratings over this occupation’s tasks and calibrated them to our 0–100 scale. It is not a prediction about any one person and not career advice. Disagree? Write to hello@yourstopwashit.com. How we estimate