A new full scale oil well, drilled to a depth of 1700 ft, for training oil rig workers was officially opened today at Gulf Technical and Safety Training Centre (GTSC) in Abu Dhabi.
The $1.5 million training well is the only one of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and it gives trainee oil workers the opportunity to improve their rig skills in a safe, structured environment.
GTSC corporate general manager, Mario Nahas welcomed the arrival of the training well and believes that it is an excellent addition to the current facilities.
“Opening our training well will bring many benefits to the regional oil and gas industry. Having the opportunity to experience operational working conditions means delegates will be far greater prepared for when they work on a ‘live’ rig,” Nahas said.
“Building the training well is an indication of how seriously we take training here [GTSC]. There is definitely nothing else like it in the MENA region and I firmly believe that there are not many others like it anywhere in the world,” he added.
The investment consists of a 1,700 ft well with seven-inch casing drilled and three-inch completion, complete with a 19m derrick and a 16m working platform. A 30 tonne hoisting device will enable completion strings to be run in and out the well ensuring the training disseminated is as accurate to real operations as possible.
The well will provide course participants with hands on experience in drilling, completion, well intervention and workover situations.
The opening ceremony was attended by senior officials from numerous oilfield services companies whose employees will be receiving training on the well.
