Central Control Room Operator
Saudi Aramco
Total years of experience :15 years, 3 Months
About the Role: As a Control Room Operator at Aramco, I work in the dynamic environment of the Jazan Refinery (JZR), a semi-conversion refinery processing 400 thousand barrels per day (MBD) of crude oil. This facility includes a Petrochemical Complex, housing the Naphtha and Aromatics Complex, and producing essential products such as Reformate, Hydrogen, LPG, Isomerate, Paraxylene, Benzene, and C9+Aromatics.
Key Responsibilities:
• Supporting Commissioning and Startup Activities: I played a crucial role in assisting with the commissioning and startup of critical units, including the JZRC - CCR Reformer, PSA, and ISOM units, ensuring their successful initiation.
• Enhancing DCS Controller Logics: Actively involved in the review of the Distributed Control System (DCS) Controller logics, I identified areas for improvement and proposed changes to enhance operational efficiency and optimize control systems.
• Key Role in Balance Draft Heater Startup: I actively participated in the startup of Balance Draft Heaters for Naphtha Hydrotreating (NHT) and Continuous Catalyst Regeneration (CCR) processes, collaborating closely with engineers and vendors to address critical issues related to pressure regulator settings.
• Mechanical Testing Expertise: I contributed to the initial mechanical test runs of essential equipment, including centrifugal compressors, positive displacement compressors, and Teikoku canned pumps, ensuring their smooth and reliable operation.
• Acting Supervisory Responsibilities: Taking on the role of an acting supervisor, I managed critical tasks such as Job Safety Analysis (JSA), isolation plans, Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) plans, and equipment readiness for maintenance activities, ensuring operational safety and efficiency.
• Notification Management: Responsible for generating M1, M2, and MMT notifications across multiple departments, including maintenance, instrument, digital teams, Gas detection teams, HVAC groups, and more, I maintained clear communication channels and facilitated prompt responses to operational needs.
• Emergency Response and Continuity: In emergency situations, I executed essential steps and operational actions to ensure safety and operational continuity, contributing to a secure working environment and preventing disruptions to critical processes.
• Supporting Commissioning and Startup Activities: During my tenure, I actively assisted in the commissioning and startup of critical units, including the JZRC - CCR Reformer, PSA, and ISOM units. Additionally, I provided mentorship and support to Field Operators, ensuring a smooth transition into operational phases.
• Enhancing DCS Controller Logics: I played a proactive role in reviewing the Distributed Control System (DCS) Controller logics. My contributions extended to proposing comprehensive changes aimed at enhancing operational efficiency and ensuring the seamless operation of vital control systems.
• Critical Role in Balance Draft Heater Startup: In a pivotal capacity, I participated in the startup of Balance Draft Heaters essential for Naphtha Hydrotreating (NHT) and Continuous Catalyst Regeneration (CCR) processes. This required close collaboration with Instrument and Mechanical engineers and vendors to effectively address challenges related to pilot and main burner Pressure Regulator settings, ensuring the safe and efficient operation of these heaters.
• Expertise in Mechanical Testing: My responsibilities encompassed conducting the initial mechanical test runs of essential equipment, including centrifugal compressors, positive displacement compressors, and Teikoku canned pumps. This hands-on involvement was instrumental in ensuring the optimal performance and reliability of these critical components.
• Ensuring Compressor Performance: I actively participated in the inaugural mechanical test runs of various compressor types, such as Centrifugal Compressors, Positive Displacement (PD) Compressors, Steam-driven Compressors, and Screw Compressors. My dedication to these tests aimed to guarantee their peak performance and reliability in operational contexts.
Worked as a Field supervisor for Pre-commissioning, Commissioning, Modifications and Startup of Methyl Amine plant.
My Responsibilities are
Actively involved in startup activities.
Reviews of various P&ID.
Startup activities of 2 Stage Caustic Concentrator and making its detailed PFD with instrumentation.
Review all DCS Controllers working logics, suggestion of changing different controller’s logics for smooth operation.
Making of detail PFD with all instrumentations for DCS.
Monitoring the operation of York YWCL-0302 HE chiller.
Actively monitor and involved in the activities of in-house Research and Development Lab.
Training trainee operators, DCS operators for startup and shutdown activities safely.
Involved in making of Standard Operating Procedure of various scheme. I.e. startup shutdown, steaming, flushing and ammonia charging before startup.
Worked as full-time DCS operator on ABB 800X dcs and part-time process area work supervisor for an Albemarle catalyst based 10 TPD methylamines plant.
My responsibilities are:
• Monitor process parameters for reaction, distillation, recovery unit, and products storage sections.
• Supervise shutdown and start-up activities.
• Troubleshooting assistance to technical services department.
• Material balances including methanol, ammonia and recycle mine feed with produced methylamines.
• 12 hourly report generation for technical services department.
• Developed a process navigation window for a complex +180 control loops in a single DCS screen. The process loops
Arranged in a way for monitoring all parameters without changing DCS screens.
• Successfully optimized by utilizing steam Re-boiler condensate as a extractive water in extraction section.
• Based on feed, proactively control the reactor temperatures for both endothermic and exothermic reactions
• Pressure control using hot vapor by-pass method.
• Vents and recovery operation.
• Recovery of all amines from CDS by controlling the parameters of Absorber and recovery unit.
•DCS to field mounted instrument verifications.
Monitor and take corrective actions for Condensate Distillation Unit via the Emerson’s Process Delta V 5.3 & 9.3 DCS.
· Ensures optimum product yields and maximum feed rate by monitoring, troubleshooting, and optimizing the process.
· Products sample lab results analysis make corrective actions.
· Supervise shutdown and start-up activities; understand the problems and key operating parameters from operations shift finishing their duty.
· Coordinating with field operators where necessary.
· Ensures controllers, alarm summary, and process parameters in the DCS panel, as well as control room mounted instruments and process variables, are in good order.
· Discussions with the Technical Services Department regarding plant problems to improve plant operation.
· Diligent monitoring of process equipment reading sheets.
· Take necessary action in any kind of troubleshooting such as power failure, equipment failure, furnace failure pump failure etc.
· Maintain daily 24 hours stock sheet and other oil movement sheets such as decanting, loading etc.
· Proficient in optimizing plant operating parameters.
Responsible to read processing schedules, operating logs, test results of oil samples, and laboratory recommendations to determine changes in equipment controls required to produce specified quantity and quality of product.
· Read temperature and pressure gauges and flow meters, records readings, and compiles operating records
· Respond to emergency situations by taking necessary shutdown or process adjustment action to restore normal operating conditions
· Draining of water from various product’s filters like H/NAP, L/NAP, SKO and HSD.
· Make regular inspection of plant facilities to ensure the plant’s correct functioning. Correct malfunctions if appropriate or refer situation to the shift Supervisor.
· Cooperate with the maintenance personnel by identifying/locating and demonstrating malfunctioning plant and equipment. Inspect maintenance work as assigned.
· Preparation of chemical solutions such as filming amine, PPD (pour point depressant) and CPD (cloud point Depressant) for maintaining the desired result.
· Actively involved in various Annual Turnaround activities.
· Ensure that safe operating practices and procedures are adhered to all the times.
Startup and Shutdown of fire tubes boiler (Cleaver Brooks).
· Control boiler TDS, performed Intermediate Blow Down.
· Observes pressure, temperature, and draft meters on panel to verify specified operation of automatic combustion control systems, feed water regulators, stoker and burners.
· Turns valves and adjusts controls to set specified fuel feed, draft openings, water level, De-aerator and steam pressure of boiler.
· Observes boiler and auxiliary units to detect malfunctions and makes repairs, such as changing burners and tightening pipes and fittings.
· Monitor all the readings of boiler related equipment.
· Monitor chemical dosing such as
· Maintained chemical inventory.
· Prepare brine solution and maintained the ppm of softeners and Treated water tank.
· Monitor Compressors, Dryer, Chiller, Cooling Tower readings and Cooling Water Basin level on hourly basis.
· Backwashing and checking Delta P Multimedia and micron filters.
· Monitor Levels of Treat Water Tank, Fire Water Tank and Fresh Water tank manually.
· Monitor and control the level of oil recovery system (API).
· Monitor and control the levels of storm pit, Ground well, Pipe alley pits.
Sampling & gauging of All product and Crude oil tanks manually.
· Prepared lineup from component tanks to “petroleum products blending Header” such as Solvent Oil, Jp-8 as a “Blending Operator”.
· Preparation of chemicals and injection to the product i.e. Anti-static, Corrosion inhibitor etc.
· Finished products transfer (Pipeline / truck loading) also performed other activities like tanks switchover operation, inter-tank transfer (ITT) and re-injection system.
· Preparation of tanks and pumps for maintenance job
· Preparation to slope tank lineup for directing all products from rundown tank to slope tank in case of emergency or off specification of Products.
· Actively involved in the loading and decanting tanker inspection and API calculations.