Posts tagged ‘e-learning’
PetroSkills Announces New O&M JV
PetroSkills announced the startup of PetroSkills O&M, a new joint venture with the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT). Focusing on both operations and maintenance (O&M) technicians employed in upstream, midstream and downstream roles, PetroSkills O&M offers companies a full slate of both instructor-led training and e-learning content.
Ron Hinn, Managing Director of PetroSkills O&M, described the new offering as PetroSkills’ response to “the bigger crew change” that will be occurring across operator ranks over the next decade. “The demographic changes impacting the engineering ranks within E&P represent a small percentage of the numbers that will be impacted in the operations and maintenance ranks,” Hinn said.
PetroSkills O&M currently offers competency development and competency management resources for Production Field Operations, Gas Process Operations and Drilling Operations, and efforts are now underway to build out capabilities within the Pipeline, Refinery and PetroChemical operations and maintenance disciplines.
O&M represents the fourth discipline “vertical” for PetroSkills to enter. The rigor and processes utilized to build PetroSkills’ offerings within the E&P, Facilities and HSE sectors will also be applied to O&M. This includes the use of member company subject matter experts to direct and maintain detailed competency profiles for each technician discipline. The result is an “industry shared viewpoint” of the skills or competencies required to perform successfully at a given level. Training offerings are subsequently aligned to deliver the necessary competencies.
What Is PetroSkills?
PetroSkills provides unique, competency-based training programs – not just a collection of courses. Course content is based on detailed skill and competency maps developed with input from member companies. Each discipline is fully described through these competency skill maps to ensure that professionals can identify the competencies needed at their individual level.
Competency maps are available to both individuals and companies via a Web-based Competency Analysis Tool called CAT Enterprise, which allows professionals to track their development, determine what skills they need, and create a customized plan to close learning gaps.
The member curriculum advisors and the PetroSkills Board must approve each course, ensuring practical, up-to-date, relevant training. After attending a PetroSkills course, professionals will return to their workplace and immediately apply the skills learned to create value. Both the PetroSkills coursework and the instructors are reviewed approved by the PetroSkills Board and member curriculum advisors.
Subsea UK, OPITO Team Up for Subsea e-Learning Modules
Alistair Birnie, chief executive of SubsSubsea UK, and OPITO, The Oil & Gas Academy are working together to develop a series of subsea modules within the Academy’s successful Petroleum Open Learning (POL) program.
A flexible self-learning tool aimed at increasing technical knowledge, POL allows learners to take responsibility for their own training and study at their own pace. Learners complete a set of program modules, eventually gaining a recognized National Certificate accredited by City & Guilds. Employers benefit by being able to develop the capabilities of their current and future workforces easily.
The new subsea modules are targeted at a wide audience that includes technicians and engineers. The curriculum will focus on subsea controls, valves and process components, subsea hardware, pipelines, flexible pipelines, risers and umbilicals, ROV systems, subsea operations and subsea intervention operations. The six-module course will be completed by spring 2011.
“The UK Subsea sector has a dominant position in a global market, having strong connections with major projects ongoing all over the world,” said Birnie. “To retain this position and beat off worldwide competition, we must keep investing in people and in developing new capabilities to ensure we maintain our key differentiators. This partnership with the Academy and its POL program offers a significant step towards that goal.”
David Doig, CEO of OPITO Group, said: “Developing and nurturing skills of the oil and gas employees will not only serve to enhance the industry but also extend the timeframe of activity in the North Sea. It’s vital the industry invests in the skills of our existing workforce to allow them to reach their personal potential, but also to ensure we have a flexible and accessible route into the energy sector for the next generation.”
Oilennium Expands to Keep Up with Demand
Oilennium Ltd., provider of oil and gas training programs, announced that Samantha May has been appointed to the position of Commercial Manager. May will be responsible for financial management and will oversee marketing communications, new business and client development initiatives. With 12 years experience in the oil and gas industry, she brings an in-depth knowledge of marketing, operations and facilities management.
Before joining Oilennium, May worked for six years for Specialised Management Services Ltd. (SMS) in Great Yarmouth, where she served as Business Development Manager in charge of marketing and sales activities, including marketing communications. She also represented the company at major conferences and exhibitions in Abu Dhabi, Houston and Aberdeen. Most recently, she served as Business Development and Facilities Manager, with responsibility for managing the company’s base in Aberdeen, in addition to driving new business and development efforts. Previously, she worked for Weatherford’s eProduction Solutions arm for six years in a marketing communications capacity, with responsibility for producing effective sales literature and marketing outreach events in Dubai, Egypt, Doha, Aberdeen and Houston.
“With demand for our training and eLearning development services escalating, it was important to strengthen our customer support and operations at our headquarters in Loddon. With the addition of Sam May, the pace at which we are able to progress projects and operate the business will be greatly enhanced,” said Kevin Keable, Managing Director of Oilennium. “Samantha will help us to cultivate long-term relationships with existing customers, and to further expand market share globally. Her experience, knowledge of the industry, and high energy will greatly contribute to our continuing growth and success.”
Three Training Companies Launch Plato Alliance
Three leading E&P learning companies, IHRDC, Nautilus and NExT, announced the creation of Plato Alliance, a new venture delivering an unprecedented range of integrated learning solutions to the E&P industry.
“Plato Alliance combines the talents of the most experienced learning providers in the business to offer programs worldwide – customized to client needs and managed from start to finish,” said Henry Edmundson, founder of the Plato Alliance. “We are offering a one-stop shop for the complete planning, implementation and management of a client’s professional development program.”
Plato Alliance brings a unique, integrated portfolio of complementary learning products to the industry including:
- Over 500 courses and programs in all geoscience and petroleum engineering domains taught by more than 300 instructors;
- More than 80 geology field seminars in a wide variety of geological environments;
- The industry’s largest e-learning library, including 1,000 hours of technical learning in all geoscience and engineering domains, an overview of the entire value chain of oil and gas industry, and key business essentials for energy professionals;
- Management programs covering all aspects of the oil and gas industry, including digital business simulations; and
- Competency management consultation and systems.
Plato Alliance combines these products in programs specifically tailored to client needs. The programs are designed to accelerate the development of professionals at all levels through blended learning, “learning by doing” and mentoring. Customized programs vary in length from weeks to several years.
With clients, Plato Alliance will help design and build customized programs using 20 years’ experience in competency management – a robust process for assessing competency development needs and identifying learning solutions – and by providing the Web-based competency management system, CMS Online.
The three alliance companies also will continue to operate as independent learning providers outside of the alliance.
About IHRDC
For over 40 years, International Human Resources Development Corporation has been a leader in training and competency development for the global oil and gas industry. IHRDC offers instructional programs that teach management and petroleum business essentials using challenging business games and digital workshops. Their e-learning products, Petroleum Online, IPIMS and Business Essentials, offer a wide range of on-demand learning worldwide. They also provide competency management services and the competency management system, CMS Online.
About Nautilus
For over nine years, Nautilus has provided the industry with geoscience training through its unique GTA membership concept. In 2009, Nautilus will deliver over 300 courses worldwide, of which more than 80 will be conducted in the field in a large variety of geological environments. More than 140 Nautilus instructors have an active technical involvement in the AAPG and SEG. Classroom courses are currently held in North America, Europe, South East Asia and Libya, while field venues include the USA, Mexico, Belize, Canada, France, England, Scotland, Ireland, Spain, Turkey, Egypt, Libya, South Africa and Borneo.
About NExT
For over 10 years, NExT has delivered tailored training programs in more than 50 countries. Its faculty includes over 250 instructors with a wide variety of technical and regional experience. A hallmark of NExT programs is “learning by doing.” Customized programs vary from weeks to two or more years. Through its global presence and experience in most oil and gas fields, NExT can fill these programs with relevant examples and case studies that make each course unique, specific and practical. NExT was founded by Schlumberger with strong affiliations to three leading universities: Texas A&M, University of Oklahoma and Heriot-Watt.
PetroComputing 