In an initiative to develop Omani talent, BP Oman and Oman Oil Company Exploration and Production (OOCEP), an Oman Oil subsidiary, have joined together to train and develop BP Oman’s technicians at a facility of OOCEP.
This collaboration was sealed at a signing ceremony between the two companies at OOCEP’s office, the Times of Oman reported.
BP Oman’s technicians enrol in a multi-year training programme to become well-trained technicians working at the Khazzan project. The final term of BP’s Oman Technician Training Programme is to complete 15 months of field experience some of which will be provided by OOCEP at its Block 60 site.
The trainees from BP will join OOCEP’s technical teams to finalise their training programme, and up-skill and develop their capabilities further in a live operational environment. Additionally, OOCEP will also benefit from this training by developing its own technicians in parallel to the BP technicians.
Launched in 2012, the BP Oman Technician Training Programme has so far recruited more than 80 technicians to become qualified instrument, mechanical, electrical and production technicians over a four-year programme.
The programme consists of a 15-month foundation training and delivering an NVQ Level 2 followed by a live site operational experience locally and internationally mixed with technical assessments at an operational site to achieve an internationally-recognised competence qualification.
Oman Oil Company Exploration and Production acting VP Operations, Suleiman Al Zakwani, said: “This agreement marks another important stage in our progress as OOCEP whereby we are able utilise one of our operated facilities in Oman (Block-60) for operational training purposes that will benefit our partnership with BP in Block 61 (Khazzan Field).”
“The exposure, experience and skills obtained at the end of this program will enable BP technicians to play a big role in the commissioning and operation of the Khazzan facilities once it is ready in 2017,” he added.
BP Oman president Yousuf Al Ojaili also commented, “This programme is a great example of how we are trying to develop Omanis to become world-class technicians in the long term. It also demonstrates the collaboration happening across the oil and gas industry in Oman where different companies are working together for the benefit of Oman.”
Once completed, the technicians will be equipped with the skills and expertise to work on the Khazzan Project once operation starts in 2017.
