February 14, 1997
(Education)

New Petroleum Technology Program will improve job prospects for Newfoundlanders

The federal and Newfoundland governments today announced a $2.6 million joint contribution to the Petroleum Technology Program at the Cabot Region of the Provincial College of Newfoundland and Labrador. The contribution has been made through the Canada-Newfoundland Offshore Development Fund Agreement.

The announcement was made in Seal Cove by Bonnie Hickey, MP - St. John's East, on behalf of Anne McLellan, federal Minister of Natural Resources. She was joined by Roger Grimes, Newfoundland's Minister of Education, who represented Rex Gibbons, Minister of Mines and Energy.

Today's announcement focuses on a project to enhance petroleum training at the Seal Cove Campus. The enhanced program will provide the east coast offshore oil industry with highly skilled workers who will have hands-on practical experience.

"This contribution will improve job opportunities for young Newfoundlanders as we approach the production phase of offshore oil and gas development," Ms. Hickey noted.

The project will include the purchase of a well control simulator and modeling software, the establishment of a laboratory to analyze core samples and the provision of training for instructors.

"This project is important as it will improve training opportunities for students at the post-secondary level and local residents requiring industry-specific training," Mr. Grimes said. "It will also provide post-employment training, certification or re-certification for oil industry personnel. The upgrades will increase international opportunities for drilling and offshore contract training and establish Newfoundland as a centre for research and development in offshore drilling, and production technology."

The enhanced capabilities of the program will strengthen the college's potential for future accreditation. Graduates of accredited programs are recognized by the Canadian petroleum industry and internationally.

Funding for the federal portion of the joint contribution was provided for in the March 1996 federal budget and is therefore built into the existing fiscal framework. This announcement is an example of how the Government of Canada is prioritizing its spending so that it can better serve Canadians by making efficient use of their tax dollars.

Contact:

     Duncan Smith                  Carl Cooper 
     Energy Resources Branch       Director of Communications
     Natural Resources Canada      Department of Education
     (613) 992-1001                Newfoundland and Labrador
                                   (709) 729-5040

___________________________________

BACKGROUNDER

The Cabot District Petroleum Enhancement Project is a $2.6 million initiative funded under the Canada/Newfoundland Offshore Development Fund.

Monies from this project will be utilized for:

• 1. A Drill Rig Rehabilitation Component
  2. Well Control Simulator
  3. Reservoir Analysis Laboratory
  4. Reservoir Modelling Software
  5. Production Process Facility
  6. Instrumentation and Controls System
  7. Train-the-Trainer for Course Delivery
  8. Project Consultation Services and Shop Renovation Work

This project, to be housed primarily at the Seal Cove Campus, is intended to enhance the national accreditation standards for the Petroleum Engineering Diploma program, as well as address the local and national Petroleum Industry Education and Training needs.

The objectives of accreditation are to ensure that programs conform to national standards and that the colleges have the up-to-date curriculum, proper training facilities, and qualified instructional personnel. The acquisition of these capabilities, as part of this enhancement project, ensures that students of the Petroleum Engineering Technology and related programs of Cabot District have greater access to practical skill development, therefore, enhancing their learning. Accreditation of the program will ensure that these graduates are recognized by the petroleum industry across the country and in the global marketplace.

The Petroleum Production Training Capabilities Enhancement Project also allows for improvement of pre and post employment job opportunities for local residents. Local residents who may have gained experience during the exploration phase of offshore projects, or workers displaced from other industries can now, because of this project, receive training here in the province, thus making them more employable. Trained engineers, technicians and technologists in disciplines such as mechanical and electrical who have had no training in the oil industry, can also compete for positions with the petroleum industry, if provided with practical production enhancement courses.

The acquisition of these facilities is also critical to post- employment training, certification and re-certification of oil industry personnel. Offshore petroleum operations require a highly skilled workforce to drill and complete wells, as well as to start up and operate production facilities. While the personnel initially hired will already possess much of the needed qualifications and experience, supplementary training and certification will be required for certain positions before assuming duties offshore. Personnel employed offshore must be re-certified periodically and given opportunities to augment existing training and to upgrade skills for job advancement. Vendor training will also be required by service companies. As a result of the enhancement project, this training can now take place in Newfoundland.

Undeveloped nations have need for assistance in the development of their petroleum resources. This often requires the training of foreign students in Canada, as well as providing training within their country. The International Office at the Provincial College has established linkages in a number of countries such as Libya, Malaysia and China, and are currently involved in a contract providing training to Libyan Nationals. This enhanced petroleum facility will further allow for offshore contract training on a global basis.

The opportunities for research and development has also increased dramatically because of this $2.6 million project. This facility permits Newfoundland to aggressively become involved in research and development in offshore drilling and production technology - often allowing for petroleum companies to test new equipment and procedures. Advanced technology will be used in all aspects of drilling and production operations on the Hibernia platform and other oilfield developments which follow, such as Terra Nova and Whiterose. Research and development undertaken in these areas will have applications to future oilfield projects.

This funding also allows for the potential research and development in the production of interactive operating manuals and training materials that may be produced in this province and utilized by personnel to upgrade and train while they are actually at the workplace of the offshore production platform.

Components of the Cabot District Petroleum Production Training Capability Enhancement Project.

• 1. Drill Rig Rehabilitation Component
  This phase of the project involved the refurbishing and establishment of an oil drill rig at the Seal Cove Campus. This equipment is used extensively in offering the Pre-Employment Floorhand (Roughneck) training program.

  2. Well Control Simulator
  This simulator will be utilized for certifying technical drilling personnel, such as tool pushers and drillers, as well as drilling supervisors. This is a regulatory requirement for first and second line well control and blowout prevention and will be an on-going certification and re-certification process for any onshore and offshore oil production projects. Various programs will be offered specific, to industry demands addressing requirements of land rigs, semi submersible, floating and jack-up platforms.

  3. Reservoir Analysis Laboratory
  The lab allows a Petroleum Technologist to gather all applicable reservoir data necessary to calculate reservoirs, utilize common methods of reservoir simulation and modelling, calculates permeability and perform detailed analysis on fractured reservoirs. The purpose of this lab is to conduct analysis of core samples and reservoir materials and the work will be carried out in collaboration with Memorial University's Earth Science Department and the industrial sector.

  4. Reservoir Modelling Software
  The software is a simulation of reservoir operations and the characteristics and performance of well production operations.

  5. Production Process Facility
  While the Provincial College currently owns some production equipment including two horizontal separators, an in-line heater and a high pressure separator, it is the intention of the college to construct a process loop to tie in the mechanical, electrical and instrumentation systems to simulate the operation of an oil and gas production facility for training students in all offshore related trades and technology programs. As a result, students who graduate from the Petroleum Engineering Technology program will be prepared for employment opportunities in areas such as Production Operators, Control Room Operators, Operation and Maintenance personnel, utility workers, Electrical/Mechanical and Instrumentation Technologists.

  6. Instrumentation and Control System
  Part of the overall Production Process Operation plan is to provide Instrumentation and Control Systems that will link the process loop with a distributed control system, programmable logic controllers and sensing system. This will afford the integration of the total operation as one single scale-down oil and production facility.

  7. Instructor Development
  Upgrading for college instructors is required in order to help them become familiar with the application and proper use of the new capabilities, as well as address the changes in technology related to the offshore drilling and production operations. This upgrading will be conducted in a Train-the-Trainer mode.

  8. Project Consultation Services and Renovation Work
  The Provincial College of Newfoundland and Labrador will utilize the services of external agencies such as PITS (Petroleum Industry Training Service) from Alberta to assist in the establishment of laboratories, the electrical and mechanical hook-up of the well control simulator, process loop, and the development of program materials.

  Renovation work for the electrical, mechanical installation and hook-up of the Well Control simulator and installation of the Production Process Facility and Control Systems are also included as components of this project.

PITS (Petroleum Industry Training Services)
It is important to note that the College has agreements in place with Petroleum Industry Training Service (PITS) of Alberta in the sharing of petroleum programming that is appropriate to the industry. This partnership evolved in 1995 with the establishment of a Pre-Employment Floorhand program implemented at Seal Cove in late 1995 and continues today. This entry level training program is modelled after the only other capability in Canada located at PITS, Nisku, Alberta.

Another example of the Cabot/PITS partnership is the First and Second Level Well Control Training that is ready for delivery to the local petroleum industry. This training incorporates the Series 5 ADS Digitran Well Control Simulator concurrent with the certification training. College personnel will co-instruct under PITS supervision, thus acquiring technology transfer via a Train-the-Trainer model.