An oil refinery is a type of factory where crude oil is broken down into various components, and then recombined into new products…such as gasoline and jet fuel. A team of refinery technicians oversees this process. Refinery operators direct and control the continuous processes in petroleum refining. They're alert to any glitches in the system that might require immediate repairs to avoid damage to the quality and quantity of the product. Regulating temperature, pressure, flow rate and tank levels in the refining units is done from within highly automated control rooms. The operator keeps detailed records of readings, test results and adjustments. Petroleum pump system operators control the manifold and pumping systems that circulate the liquids through the refinery. This operator monitors and maintains the system to keep the fluid products moving through this massive maze of pipelines and chambers. Gaugers measure and test the oil in storage tanks at refineries and other petroleum company facilities. They monitor controls to regulate the flow of oil into pipelines. The work in a refinery is not necessarily physically demanding, but it is exacting and extremely detail-oriented. Many refinery employers prefer job applicants to have some college or other experience in areas such as industrial machinery operation, engineering or chemistry and math, especially for those on track to become refinery operators. There's also a great deal of on-the-job training required for any of these positions. Increasing automation is shrinking the number of available jobs in this field. A ready supply of oil is crucial to our economy and our lifestyle. Refineries operate round the clock, every day of the year, to keep us fueled.