Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post

Shagg · 03-17-2010, 10:43 AM

I am a refinery operator. I work in a sulfuric acid alkylation plant. The plant takes low value, reactive light hydrocarbons (propylene, butene, and pentene) and makes a high value product known as alkylate. Alkylate is an additive that will make just about any other refining end product better, pretty much the refining equivalent of bacon.

Most of what I actually do is observation. Looking at gauges, level indications, checking for leaks, listening for unusual sounds which could signal equipment failure, touching motors/pumps/piping to check for unusual vibration, checking for leaks using my nose, SO2 is noticeable in very low concentrations and if I smell it, there might be an acid leak.

The physical part of my job is climbing lots of stairs and ladders (I have a columns in my plant ranging for 40ft to 220ft tall), turning valves (some of which take 30-45 minutes to open or close), and riding my bike from one end of the plant to the other (on a busy day I'll probably ride 7 or 8 miles).

The job can be very hazardous, I've got about 500,000 gallons of sulfuric acid in the plant at any given time and if you are not careful (really even if you are), it is pretty easy to get acid on you. I've got quite a few holes in my coveralls from tiny bits of acid spray I wasn't aware of. The rest of the plant is packed with liquid propane, butane and pentane which tend to be a wee bit explosive. Injuries are pretty rare though.

Probably the roughest aspect of the job is that I work rotating 12 hour shifts and I go from days to nights every set of shifts. My schedule is day day off off night night night off off day day off off off etc. etc. My body clock is always fucked up.

03-17-2010, 10:43 AM	#28 (permalink)
Shagg What day is it? Location: Downey, CA	I am a refinery operator. I work in a sulfuric acid alkylation plant. The plant takes low value, reactive light hydrocarbons (propylene, butene, and pentene) and makes a high value product known as alkylate. Alkylate is an additive that will make just about any other refining end product better, pretty much the refining equivalent of bacon. Most of what I actually do is observation. Looking at gauges, level indications, checking for leaks, listening for unusual sounds which could signal equipment failure, touching motors/pumps/piping to check for unusual vibration, checking for leaks using my nose, SO2 is noticeable in very low concentrations and if I smell it, there might be an acid leak. The physical part of my job is climbing lots of stairs and ladders (I have a columns in my plant ranging for 40ft to 220ft tall), turning valves (some of which take 30-45 minutes to open or close), and riding my bike from one end of the plant to the other (on a busy day I'll probably ride 7 or 8 miles). The job can be very hazardous, I've got about 500,000 gallons of sulfuric acid in the plant at any given time and if you are not careful (really even if you are), it is pretty easy to get acid on you. I've got quite a few holes in my coveralls from tiny bits of acid spray I wasn't aware of. The rest of the plant is packed with liquid propane, butane and pentane which tend to be a wee bit explosive. Injuries are pretty rare though. Probably the roughest aspect of the job is that I work rotating 12 hour shifts and I go from days to nights every set of shifts. My schedule is day day off off night night night off off day day off off off etc. etc. My body clock is always fucked up. Last edited by Shagg; 03-17-2010 at 10:48 AM..