Exam Bulletin - Associate Oil and Gas Engineer

Department of Conservation

Exam Code: EX-1568

Examination Plans Included:

  • ASSOCIATE OIL AND GAS ENGINEER - Open

Final Filing Date: Applications are accepted on a continuous basis.

Bulletin Updates

  • Salary section on the Exam Bulletin has been updated.

Classification Details

ASSOCIATE OIL AND GAS ENGINEER: $11,094.00 - $13,882.00 per Month

View the ASSOCIATE OIL AND GAS ENGINEER classification specification.

Application Instructions

This is not a timed examination. If you request a Reasonable Accommodation, your account will be locked and you will not be able to proceed with the examination until the request is processed.

Applications are accepted on a continuous basis.

Who Should Apply:

The information below will help you determine which classification(s) is(are) appropriate for you. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications as stated on this bulletin to compete in this examination.

Open and Open, Non-Promotional Examination(s):

  • ASSOCIATE OIL AND GAS ENGINEER - Open

For all Classifications, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 12 months:

Exam Code(s):

    1568

For ASSOCIATE OIL AND GAS ENGINEER, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 12 months:

Exam Code(s):

  • EX-01568

How To Apply:

Submit an Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) to apply for this examination.

Electronic applications can be submitted through your account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov.

Special Testing Arrangements:

If you require assistance or alternative testing arrangements due to a disability, indicate on your application that you need reasonable accommodation. You will be contacted by a representative of the testing department to make the necessary arrangements. If you have not been contacted by the time you receive notification of testing, please contact the testing department listed in the Contact section of this bulletin.

If you are unable to submit your application or complete the test due to a disability, please contact the testing department listed in the Contact section of this bulletin.

Minimum Qualifications

All applicants must meet the education and/or experience requirements as stated on this exam bulletin to be accepted to the examination.

Unless otherwise stated in the Minimum Qualifications, qualifying experience may be combined on a proportionate basis if the requirements stated below include more than one pattern and are distinguished as "Either" 1, "or" 2, "or" 3, etc. For example, applicants possessing qualifying experience amounting to 50% of the required time of Pattern 1 and additional experience amounting to 50% of the required time of Pattern 2 may be accepted to an examination as meeting 100% of the overall experience requirement.

00103783 - ASSOCIATE OIL AND GAS ENGINEER

Possession of a valid driver license of the appropriate class issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles. (Applicants who do not possess the license will be admitted into the examination but must secure the license prior to appointment.) And

Either 1

Experience: One year of experience in the California state service performing the duties of an Energy and Mineral Resources Engineer, Range C. (Applicants who have completed six months of service performing the duties of an Energy and Mineral Resources Engineer, Range C, will be admitted to the examination, but they must satisfactorily complete one year of this experience before they can be eligible for appointment.)

Or 2

Experience: Four years of progressively responsible experience as a professional engineer or geologist in oil, gas, or geothermal resource drilling or production operations, or in the technical inspection of such operations, exploration, or development work. (A graduate degree in petroleum engineering, geology, or a closely related field of engineering may be substituted for two years of required nonspecialized experience.) and

Education: Equivalent to graduation from college with major work in petroleum engineering, geology, or a closely related field. (Registration as a senior in a recognized college will admit applicants to the examination, but they must produce evidence of graduation before they can be appointed.)

Position Description

00103783 - ASSOCIATE OIL AND GAS ENGINEER

This is the journey level. Incumbents independently perform assignments that require a high degree of skill in hydrocarbon or geothermal technology, difficult engineering work, including the technical evaluation of proposed oil, gas, and geothermal projects, and well operations to determine possible hazards to life, health, property, and natural resources; monitor and investigate the legality and advisability of proposed operations; prepare technical and legal directives, and advise operators of preventive or corrective actions required for compliance with protection or conservation laws and sound engineering practices; prepare permits documenting technical requirements for operation; conduct complex studies of operations and reservoirs; make complex calculations, such as oil and gas reserve calculations; prepare and interpret complex technical data, maps, and statistics; write reports on investigations and studies for publication or regulatory use; may direct and review the work of other engineers and technicians in a lead capacity; may witness well tests and perform field inspections; and may make presentations on division programs before various groups.

For information regarding position location(s), please refer to the Eligible List Information section.

Examination Information

We recommend using Chrome, Firefox, or Edge for optimal performance when accessing the examination.

This examination consists of the following component(s):

Component OrderComponent TypeComponent DuePercentage of Final Score
1CalHR Online ExamN/A100%

A final score of 70% must be attained to be placed on the eligible list.

In addition to evaluating the applicant's relative knowledge, skill and ability as demonstrated by quality and breadth of education/experience, emphasis in each test component will be on measuring competitively, relative to job demands, each applicant's:

Knowledge of:
  1. Principles, methods, equipment, and terminology of petroleum engineering and geology
  2. Methods and equipment used in drilling, maintaining, and operating oil, gas, and geothermal wells
  3. California laws and regulations concerning the drilling, maintenance, operations, and abandonment of oil, gas, and geothermal wells
  4. Well operations
  5. Principles of effective supervision and safety practices
  6. The organization, policies, and objectives of the division and its operating units
  7. Advanced engineering technologies and trends in hydrocarbon or geothermal resources management problems in California
  8. Principles of research, design, and analytical techniques used in hydrocarbon and geothermal resources studies
  9. Principles of electronic data processing
  10. Principles of program planning and evaluation
  11. Social and economic aspects of hydrocarbon or geothermal resources development
  12. Principles of environmental planning and impact assessment
  13. Principles, practices, and trends in public policy development and evaluation
  14. Formal and informal aspects of the legislative and administrative regulation processes
  15. Federal, State, local government, and private agencies involved in hydrocarbon or geothermal resource development and regulation
  16. Recent research projects and literature on hydrocarbon or geothermal resources
  17. Principles of effective communication
Ability to:
  1. Reason logically and creatively in solving complicated hydrocarbon or geothermal resources problems
  2. Interpret and analyze scientific and engineering data
  3. Perceive impacts of findings and present ideas and information effectively
  4. Develop and utilize a variety of analytical and technological research techniques to resolve complex resource management and conservation problems
  5. Develop and evaluate alternatives and make recommendations
  6. Consult with and advise management, staff, and high-level government and industry personnel on hydrocarbon or geothermal issues, problems, and needs
  7. Gain and maintain the confidence and cooperation of others
  8. Represent the division before the Legislature and professional groups, at hearings, and at meetings with government and private agencies
  9. Analyze situations accurately and take effective action
  10. Act as a team or conference leader
  11. Utilize interdisciplinary teams in the conduct of studies and projects
  12. Establish and maintain project priorities

Eligible List Information

A Departmental Open eligible list for the ASSOCIATE OIL AND GAS ENGINEER Classification will be established for:

  • Department of Conservation

The names of successful competitors will be merged onto the eligible list(s) in order of final score regardless of test date. Eligibility expires 12 months after it is established. Applicants must then retake the examination to reestablish eligibility.

Resulting Eligibility List(s) will be used to fill vacancies throughout the State of California.

Veterans' Preference will be granted for this examination. Veterans' Preference is an assistance program for veterans, veteran widows and widowers, and spouses of 100% disabled veterans who seek employment with the state. Veterans' Preference is also extended to currently serving military members nearing their retirement or separation date.

You are not eligible for Veteran's Preference if you are:

  • A veteran who has been dishonorably discharged or released.
  • A veteran, widow or widower of a veteran, or spouse of a 100 percent disabled veteran who currently has permanent civil service status. (Permanent civil service status is the status of an employee who is lawfully retained in his/her position after completion of the applicable probationary period. This does not include limited term).

Veterans' Preference is codified in Government Code Sections 18973 – 18979.

Veteran status is verified by the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR). Directions to apply for Veterans' Preference are on the Veterans' Preference Application (Std. Form 1093), which is available at www.CalCareers.ca.gov, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Career Credits are not granted for examination(s) administered on an Open basis or a Promotional basis.

Associate Oil and Gas Engineer Training and Experience Examination Preview

Instructions:
Rate your experience performing specific job-related tasks.

Respond to each of the following task statements by indicating how the statement applies to you. You are required to respond to every question and provide relevant examples. Also, indicate the references who can verify the information provided.

In responding to each statement, you may refer to your WORK EXPERIENCE, whether paid or volunteer, your EDUCATION, and/or FORMAL TRAINING COURSES you have completed.

PLEASE NOTE: This examination is designed to gain an overall assessment of your education, training, and experience as it directly relates to the duties and the knowledge, skills and abilities required for this position. Possession of specific education is not required to be successful in this examination; however, such achievements may substitute for desirable levels of experience. All components of this examination have been carefully validated by tying them directly to job requirements and documenting their relevance to the position.

Tasks
  1. Evaluating well operations to determine if testing and maintenance are in compliance with applicable laws, regulations and/or permit conditions.
  2. Analyzing well and/or underground injection applications to determine if they are in compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
  3. Performing reservoir and/or engineering calculations to determine if operations are in compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
  4. Analyzing well test data to verify compliance with applicable laws, regulations and/or permit conditions.
  5. Reviewing well records to verify completeness and ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations and/or permit conditions.
  6. Conducting and documenting field investigations or inspections to determine if operations are in compliance with applicable laws, regulations and/or permit conditions.

Testing Departments

  • Department of Conservation

Contact Information

Technical questions regarding this examination should be directed to:

California Department of Human Resources
CalCareer Service Center
1810 16th Street
Sacramento, CA 95811
Phone: (866) 844-8671
CalCareer@calhr.ca.gov

Administrative questions regarding this examination should be directed to:

Department of Conservation
715 P Street, MS 1806
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 858-9023

California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice). TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

Drug Free Statement

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free State work place. Any applicant for State employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective, because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing civil service, and the special trust placed in public servants.

General Information

Examination and/or Employment Application (STD 678) forms are available at the California Department of Human Resources, local offices of the Employment Development Department, and through your CalCareer Account (www.CalCareers.ca.gov).

If you meet the requirements stated on this examination bulletin, you may take this examination, which is competitive. Possession of the entrance requirements does not assure a place on the eligible list. Your performance in the examination described in this bulletin will be rated against a predetermined job-related rating, and all applicants who pass will be ranked according to their scores.

Department of Conservation reserves the right to revise the examination plan to better meet the needs of the service, if the circumstances under which this examination was planned change. Such revision will be in accordance with civil service laws and rules and all applicants will be notified.

General Qualifications: Applicants must possess essential personal qualifications including integrity, initiative, dependability, good judgment, the ability to work cooperatively with others, and a state of health consistent with the ability to perform the assigned duties of the class. A medical examination may be required. In open examinations, investigation may be made of employment records and personal history and fingerprinting may be required.

Eligible Lists: Eligible lists established by competitive examination, regardless of date, must be used in the following order: 1) sub-divisional promotional, 2) departmental promotional, 3) multi-departmental promotional, 4) service-wide promotional, 5) departmental open, 6) open. When there are two lists of the same kind, the older must be used first. Eligible lists will expire in one to four years unless otherwise stated on the bulletin.

High School Equivalence: Equivalence to completion of the 12th grade may be demonstrated in any one of the following ways: 1) passing the General Education Development (GED) Test; 2) completion of 12 semester units of college-level work; 3) certification from the State Department of Education, a local school board, or high school authorities that the competitor is considered to have education equivalent to graduation from high school; or 4) for clerical and accounting classes, substitution of business college work in place of high school on a year-for-year basis.

Accepted applicants must provide proof of identification at each in-person test session. Acceptable identification consists of a photo identification card or two forms of signed identification.
Application Methods:
Electronic (Your CalCareer Account)