Natural Gas Technician Boot Camp Learning Objectives

Natural Gas Technician Boot camp Learning Objectives

After completion of the Natural Gas Technician Boot Camp, the student will be able to:

Science and Technology:  Explain and apply fundamental concepts of Natural Gas  Explain the physical characteristics of Natural Gas  Describe how and where in the system natural gas gets its odor  Define the following terms: o Voltage o Current o Resistance/load o Power o Energy  Use Ohm's Law to calculate voltage, current, resistance and power in series, parallel and combination circuits  Confirm Ohm's Law calculations by selecting and using appropriate meters to accurately measure voltage, current and resistance in series, parallel and combination circuits

Basic Components Knowledge:  Read, interpret and apply knowledge from blueprints, drawings and technical plans to determine where gas mains and services are located  Demonstrate knowledge of hand tools and their appropriate use

Customer Focus:  Clearly explain work being done to others  Listen to questions raised by customers, supervisors others and take appropriate action to address

Installation and maintenance of gas main and service piping General  Describe the safety procedures to ensure a safe and healthy work environment when working with Natural Gas  Identify the potential hazards of gas utility work in accordance with Department of Transportation (DOT) Operator Qualification (OQ) requirements)  Identify Personal Protective Equipment and its use (in accordance with Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) and DOT-OQ requirements)  Conduct inspection of personal protective equipment including hard hat, safety glasses, flame retardant clothing for damage  Demonstrate safe entry into manholes  Describe the preparation required for work area protection setup and flagging

Piping  Identify and explain basic pipe fitting application, material types (steel, cast iron, PE pipe), use of hand tools and general pipefitting methodologies  Apply the principles of pipe fitting o Tightening collars o Unions . Right side up versus upside down . Mark up measurement . Insulated o Ells . Make up measurement . Couplings . Street ells o Meters spuds and nuts o Nipples . Diameter and length o Male and female threads . Pipe threader . Maintenance and cutting oil o Bushings . Reducers . End to center measurement . End to end measurement o Pipe dope . Use and purpose  Assemble and secure pipe  Describe the principles of plastic fusion including: o Properties o Maintenance o Repair o Installation of plastic piping  Cut, thread and hammer pipe to specifications using tools such as saws, cutting torches and pipe threaders and benders  Inspect, examine and test installed systems and pipe lines using pressure gauges, hydrostatic testing, observation and other methods\  Locate and mare the position of pipe installations, connections, passage holes and fixtures in structures using measuring instruments such as rulers and levels  Measure, cut, thread and bend pipe to required angle, using hand and power tools or machines such as pipe cutters, pipe-threading machines and pipe bending machines  Explain the differences in application of copper & plastic pipe & tubing and describe the methods of assembling plastic pipe & tubing, compression & flared fittings, & joining methods for grooved & compression formed fittings

Excavation and Backfilling Will have met the OSHA requirements of Competent Person for excavating  Perform hand excavation to required depth  Operate pneumatic air tools, hydraulic tools and shoring methods.  Operate backhoes and other trenching equipment such as Kubota’s  Demonstrate knowledge of hand tools and their use  Install shoring in trenches in accordance with OSHA and DOT requirements  Demonstrate knowledge of work area protection ( in accordance with OSHA, DOT and Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) requirements)  Define and demonstrate working knowledge about the function of backfilling a trench following pipeline maintenance (in accordance with OSHA, DOT and MUTCD)  Grade and level trench bases using tamping machines or hand tools  Locates existing pipes needing repair or replacement using magnetic or radio indicators  Use pavement breaking equipment, digging bars and hand shovels in regard to gas maintenance and emergency response activities  Understand soil behavior as it relates to trench failures, including common indications of an unstable trench  Explain typical shoring, shielding, and sloping methods  Identify characteristics that may make a trench a confined space and describe the safety measures needed to work in the trench  Describe common methods for preparing the trench for pipe installation, including stabilization, bedding, and initial backfill  Describe effective methods for dewatering a trench and troubleshoot dewatering equipment  Describe trench excavations practices such as: o The use of shoring materials per OSHA standards and covers shorting systems o Installing a hydraulic vertical shore o Determining the overall fall of a gas main or service o Setting the grade and elevation of a trench o Backfilling  Explain pneumatic safety

Valves  Demonstrate basic house service valve installation and mainline valve installation on new construction  Tighten fittings, flanges for maintenance work  Identify components and maintenance of valves  Control the flow of gas  Inspect, test and calibrate pressure limiting devices  Inspect, test and calibrate pressure switches and transmitters  Identify the necessary steps for the manual or remote opening and/or closing of a valve or other equipment

Locating Gas Structures  Conducts a leakage survey of a natural gas pipeline  Use appropriate equipment to locate gas mains and services  Safely perform leak investigations  Demonstrate effective mark and locate procedures  Define proper use of Underground Service Alert (USA) or Call 811 before you dig service

Cathodic Protection/Corrosion  Install field coatings on pipe  Define causes of corrosion on pipe  Explain procedures for inspections of pipeline to ensure safety  Perform flange tightening  Define the function of conducting annual cathodic protection surveys  Explain the requirements of and installations of equipment needed for cathodic protection remediation  Clean corrosives and other deposits from serviceable parts using solvents, wire brushes or sandblaster  Lubricate wearing surfaces of mechanical parts using oils or other lubricants

Other Commercial Drivers License (class A) OSHA safety certificate CPR certificate