Energy Pathway Program

South Bay refineries including BP. Chevron, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil and Valero employ approximately 5,000 workers. Most are in high paying jobs with wages over $75,000 and excellent benefits and retirement packages. In addition, area and national contractors, such as TIMEC employ up to 1500 additional contract employees to assist in refinery operations.

According to both local and national surveys, as much as 25-50% of the refinery workforce will retire within the next five years, creating a new need for trained workers. To fill this gap, refineries are seeking to create a younger, more diverse and better educated workforce. Refineries are also increasingly seeking to fill new jobs from the local communities where they conduct much of their operations. Expected industry need over the next five years is 100-150 workers per year.

South Bay Center for Counseling, in partnership with area refineries and TIMEC has created education and training pathways to train area residents as refinery workers. Training includes:

Process Technician Training

Process technicians are the main entry-level job in refineries, comprising 40-60% of the workforce. Positions pay about $75,000 to start with continuing career advancement. SBCC, in partnership with BP, ConocoPhillips, Tesoro, ExxonMobil and Valero has developed a pilot training program for 75 South Bay residents leading to jobs as process technicians. The program is based on the three stage model:

1. Outreach, Interview and Assessment.
2. Bridge program
3. Process Technician training and internship

Drawing on the industry standard training developed by the Center for Advancement of Process Technology (CAPT), Harbor College will provide a 30 credit training program leading to a certificate. The 500 hour training will include an introduction to equipment; systems; safety; troubleshooting and communications, as well as needed math and physics. Program graduates will move on to internships and placement at BP, Conoco Phillips, Exxon Mobil and Valero.

To meet overall industry need, SBWDC proposes to expand this training to produce 50 additional graduates per year (see below).

Safety Attendant/Mechanical Helper Turnaround Worker Training

South Bay refineries employ 1000-1600 temporary workers to assist in annual
periodic clean-up and maintenance of refinery facilities. Currently, many of these
workers are recruited from outside the area or the state. With at least 25% of
turnaround jobs requiring only low-level skills, yet paying as much as $1200 a
week, turnaround jobs can provide an entry-point to continuing training and full-
time employment. Options include continuing training to meet industry needs for
pipefitters and other craft workers

To realize this potential, SBCC has partned with area refineries, the United Steelworkers and TIMEC, a leading turnaround contract, firm to train and employ up to 300 residents over the next two years in turnaround positions. The program will target community residents and provide training, employment in turnaround related jobs at $1200 per week, and transition to additional refinery-related training or education.

Instrument Technology Training

Industrial instrument technicians and mechanics repair, maintain, calibrate, adjust, and install industrial measuring and controlling instruments. Prospective employers who have provided internships to program participants include Exxonmobil, BP, Valero.  Companies specialized in pulp, paper processing, nuclear, hydro power generating, mining, natural gas, and industrial instrument manufacturing are also seeking Industrial Instrument Technicians for full-term employment.  These high wage earners gross approximately $55,000-$70,000 per year working 8 hour shifts.

The 1000 hours of community college training in industry specific courses cover a range of topics such as Fundamentals of Electronics, Automated Motor Controls and Programmable Logic Controls (PLC).  Upon successful completion of the program, participants will have the opportunity to apply to our partner refineries to obtain full-time employment. Program includes a mandatory Bridge and Internship component.

Please download the Energy Pathway Brochure for Program Qualification Information: