Becoming a Gas Engineer

Gas engineers are employed in the gas industry and those manufacturing industries that utilize gas. They are involved in the production and processing of gas, its distribution and its use as a supply of energy.

The Job:

Gas is one of the major sources of energy for industry, the generation of electrical power, and domestic heating. In some countries, gas is produced from oil and gas wells drilled deep into the earth's surface. In others, different methods of production are used, including the processing of coal. Odorants are added to the gas where necessary so that people can detect its presence should it leak. Water and hydrocarbons are removed from the gas so that it does not corrode the pipeline during distribution. All of these activities provide employment for gas engineers.

A few gas engineers are involved in managing the production process, extracting the gas from other products or from the oil and water that emerges from wells. Others work at the terminals that receive natural gas, and remove from it all liquids and corrosive substances that could cause difficulties during its distribution or use. Gas pipes are often made of iron, although plastic is now being more commonly used.

Many of these engineers are concerned with the storage and distribution of gas. Where pipelines are not available, gas is liquefied and transported in tankers. Gas engineers are responsible for the design and implementation of this process and for the safe storage of gas at low temperatures.

The installation of pipelines across the land and under the sea for the distribution of gas is important work. Unlike water pipes, gas pipes must be leak proof, and all joints are carefully tested. Continuous inspection of them for faults are carried out using pigs - remote-controlled equipment that is sent along the pipe to detect thinning or damaged walls or materials causing blockages.

Gas engineers are also active in the design, installation, and checking of equipment that uses gas. In many countries, it is a requirement that such installations are inspected by a gas engineer before use; of they have not been installed by one. Such equipment includes large industrial heating, which may be part of a production process, and the conversion of gas into electrical energy at gas-fired power stations. Obtaining the right conditions for safe combustion, adequate ventilation, and control of pollution are among the responsibilities of gas engineers.

Much of the work these engineers are engaged in involves moving around within a plant or from one site to another. They install, inspect, and investigate safety matters. A few, however, are employed in research and development laboratories, design departments, and consultancies, where their expertise is more theoretical and less practical.

Training Involved:

It takes 4 years, in addition to the periods of academic study, to become a professional gas engineer, though less to reach technician status. Safety is paramount in all aspects of the production, distribution, and use of gas.

Trainee gas engineers learn the legal framework under which gas is supplied and the practical problems that arise in maintaining gas pressure in the system. Other important areas are the different types of pipe work and methods of laying and inspecting them; the use of different materials and their resistance to corrosion, the extraction of unwanted content from gases, and the control of quality.

Useful Qualifications to Have:

Useful subjects include: chemistry, science, and mathematics.

Salary Expectations:

The base salary range of a Gas Engineer ranges from $42,383 to $64,106 annually, while the median salary for most Gas Engineers is $53,500 annually. (US Base Pay)

Future Prospects:

In many countries, particularly those that have their own indigenous gas and oil supply, gas has become the prime source of energy replacing or reducing the use of coal and nuclear power Gas has benefited from the increased concern for the environment, since it causes less pollution than many of its competitors.

New gas wells have been drilled, more ships built to transport gas, and new distribution pipelines laid. In addition, many modern gas-fired power stations are currently under construction.

All these developments work in the favor of gas engineers. These engineers are not required in such large numbers as those of many other engineering disciplines, but there is a steady demand for their services that is being promoted by an increased reliance on gas in many different countries of the world.

A few gas engineers are employed by insurance companies and loss adjusters to examine and help determine the causes of disasters in which gas is involved.

For further information, contact national professional bodies representing the interests of gas or chemical engineers. Also, contact the large, international companies that are involved in the gas industry.