Petroleum Scientist 1, 2, or 3 (Enforcement)

State of Louisiana•Baton Rouge, LA

9d•Onsite

About The Position

The Office of Enforcement (OENF) is dedicated to ensuring regulatory compliance and protecting public and environmental interests through rigorous inspection programs, timely enforcement actions and transparent oversight. The Office emphasizes proactive monitoring, consistent regulatory enforcement and transparent reporting. Its operations are designed to uphold compliance standards, swiftly address violations and maintain trust and accountability within Louisiana’s regulated community. OENF consolidates all inspectors and enforcement staff into one office to maximize efficiency, consistency, and accountability. District inspectors, pipeline safety, UIC, coastal field services, and mining enforcement now operate under a unified structure that emphasizes cross-training, career progression, and consistent enforcement decisions. The office issues compliance orders, oversees damage prevention, and coordinates with Revenue, DEQ, and Wildlife & Fisheries for joint enforcement. Leveraging data analytics, automation, and tools like drones and sensors, OENF implements a proactive, risk-based enforcement model that prioritizes public safety while ensuring fair treatment of good operators. This position is responsible for inspecting and regulating Louisiana's intrastate pipeline facilities to ensure compliance with state and federal safety standards. Pipeline systems regulated by this program include gas distribution, gas transmission, hazardous liquid transmission (including pipelines in Louisiana state offshore waters), underground natural gas storage, and liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities. Depending on operational needs, incumbents may inspect one or multiple pipeline categories throughout the state. The role requires extensive statewide travel, successful completion of the U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) Training and Qualification Program, and participation in random drug testing. Incumbents perform highly technical inspections that evaluate engineering principles related to pipeline construction, operation, maintenance, integrity management, and abandonment to help ensure the safe transportation of energy resources.

Requirements

A bachelor’s degree in a geoscience field or engineering.
Successful completion of the U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) Training and Qualification Program.
Participation in random drug testing.

Nice To Haves

Licensed LAPELS Engineer
Licensed LBOPG Geoscientist

Responsibilities

Performs highly specialized Integrity Management Program (IMP), Control Room Management (CRM), Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), Breatkout Tank (BT), and Underground Natural Gas Storage (UNGS) regulations protocol inspections and assists in enforcement procedures.
These protocol inspections are highly technical and comprehensive inspections which require review of operator’s application of engineering principles and risk analysis methods, specific to the operator’s facilities and product(s) transported, to determine the degree of compliance with these regulations.
Incumbents perform on-site inspections of complex jurisdictional gas and hazardous liquid pipeline systems and related facilities intrastate pipelines facilities such as: 1)review/evaluate procedures for operations & maintenance manuals, emergency plans, and other operational procedures; 2) review/evaluate record keeping procedures and actual records of below/above ground facilities for compliance with federal and state regulations.
Such inspections are performed for transmission/gathering pipelines, bi-directional pipelines, pipelines transporting multiple products, and offshore pipelines and related facilities.
In addition to records review, actual physical facilities inspections are conducted.
These inspections may include: 1) cathodic protection test, 2) atmospheric corrosion inspection, 3) overpressure protection and/or relief test, 4) odorization test, 5) construction inspections, 6) accident/incident investigations, 7) riding the Right-of-Way to verify no hazard of damages from third parties, 8) drug and alcohol inspection of operators programs, 9) integrity management, 10) operator qualifications, 11) control room management, 12) public awareness plans, etc.
These incumbents perform exit interviews to discuss the findings of on-site inspections with representatives of the respective facility and provide guidance to facility personnel in the course of discussions during the inspection and at the exit interview.
These incumbents provide gas pipeline or hazardous liquid pipeline owners/operators safety expertise/assistance, which may include audits of operations and maintenance procedures, emergency procedures, construction procedures, drug and alcohol program procedures to determine accuracy and completeness as required by the most current regulations.
Incumbents of these positions are required to maintain inspector qualification through attendance of OPS training provided by the PHMSA Office of Training and Qualifications, located in Oklahoma City, OK.
Keep abreast of changes to assigned operators physical facilities and operational status.
Provide data and assist in the preparation of reports requested by the department, office, or other agencies; performs non-routine and other job duties, temporary or permanent, as assigned.