Research Brief: Pipeline Training Centres · 2020-03-24 · The 2014 course catalog describes PETEX’s history and mission thusly: Since 1944, the petroleum industry has endorsed

In the following report, Hanover Research profiles five pipeline training centers in

Australia, England, and the United States, focusing on providers’ course offerings and

facilities.

Research Brief: Pipeline Training Centres

Prepared for Portage College

May 2014

Hanover Research | May 2014

© 2014 Hanover Research | Academy Administration Practice 2

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Executive Summary and Key Findings ................................................................................ 3

INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................... 3

KEY FINDINGS ............................................................................................................................. 4

Pipeline Training Centre Profiles ........................................................................................ 5

THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN ............................................................................................. 5

Courses Offered ................................................................................................................. 7

Facilities ............................................................................................................................. 9

Marketing ......................................................................................................................... 10

FAIRBANKS TRAINING CENTRE ...................................................................................................... 10

Courses Offered ............................................................................................................... 11

Facilities ........................................................................................................................... 11

Marketing ......................................................................................................................... 11

PETROFAC ............................................................................................................................... 13

Courses Offered ............................................................................................................... 13

Facilities ........................................................................................................................... 16

Assessment ...................................................................................................................... 17

Marketing ......................................................................................................................... 17

CENTRAL TECH OKLAHOMA ......................................................................................................... 17

Courses Offered ............................................................................................................... 18

Facilities ........................................................................................................................... 20

Partnerships ..................................................................................................................... 20

ROMEA TRAINING ..................................................................................................................... 21

Courses Offered ............................................................................................................... 21

Partnerships ..................................................................................................................... 23



EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND KEY FINDINGS

INTRODUCTION

In the following research brief, Hanover Research profiles five pipeline training centres in Australia, England, and the United States. This research is designed to assist Portage College as it builds Canada’s first life‐scale Pipeline Processing Loop and develops training programs that meet the needs of the province’s rapidly developing oil production industry. Each profile describes the relevant centre’s program offerings, facilities, and marketing efforts. The following five providers are profiled as part of this report:

University of Texas at Austin (United States)

Fairbanks Training Centre (United States)

Petrofac (England)

Central Tech Oklahoma (United States)

Romea Training (Australia)



KEY FINDINGS

All pipeline training centres profiled for this research brief offer short‐term safety and technical training courses that certify or re‐certify oil and gas workers. This certification training may be ancillary to the providers’ primary goal of training new pipeline workers, though for some providers, like Petrofac, it is their primary business. These trainings tend to last between one and five days, have a fixed pricing structure, and are targeted at oil and gas companies that need to maintain and improve the skills and knowledge base of their workforce.

The most frequently offered courses are introductory courses on the chemistry and physics of oil and gas, techniques for measuring oil and gas, safety procedures when handling and transporting oil and gas, and industry overviews that cover terminology, concepts, and best practices. Most training centres offer a brochure or course catalog describing the content and duration of courses, as well as the types of certifications and qualifications they provide to those who complete certain coursework. Additionally, most courses include both a classroom and hands‐on component, though some jobsite trainings are exclusively offered in a hands‐on model.

The PETEX Program at the University of Texas at Austin, which manages two pipeline training centres, has been a part of the university since its founding, but receives no state or institutional support other than land. PETEX is able to operate as an independent business with a distinct administrative hierarchy on the strength of its program enrollment and tuition fees. This financial independence allows PETEX to adapt to changing industry technologies rapidly and accommodate private business needs independent of the university’s budgetary structure.

Pipeline training centres emphasize local laws, regulations, and standards in their course content, often taught alongside industry‐wide rules and best practices. For example, the Fairbanks Training Centre in Alaska is specifically designed to prepare trainees to work on the Alaskan North Shore by giving them on‐the‐job, on‐site experience with other current workers. This allows for trainees to gather specific information about the minutiae of the job (e.g., job site characteristics, how local companies make hiring decisions, etc.) and an overview of the work in general.

Many pipeline training centres subsidize the cost of building and maintaining their pipeline training facilities by renting them to third parties during the off‐season for private training sessions. This can be financially beneficial while simultaneously improving or expanding upon existing relationships with business partners.



PIPELINE TRAINING CENTRE PROFILES Relatively few colleges and universities in the Australia, England, and the United States operate dedicated pipeline training centres. However, to meet industry needs, many businesses—both energy companies and energy industry training companies—have established pipeline training centres, some of which are private, and others of which are rented by businesses to third parties for training purposes. To date, these facilities are concentrated in areas where the oil and gas industries form a major part of the local economy (e.g. Alaska, Oklahoma, Texas, etc.). The purpose of these facilities is to prepare workers not only for employment in the pipeline industry generally, but also for the specific challenges and conventions they will have to meet in order to work in the pipeline industry in that region. To assist Portage College in the development of the Pipeline Processing Loop and associated training offerings, each of the following subsections profiles a pipeline training centre, focusing on its course content, facilities, and promotional efforts.

THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN

The University of Texas at Austin’s (UT Austin) 3,034 faculty and staff serve 52,186 students at every level between certificate and PhD.1 The institution conferred 115 bachelor’s degrees, 35 master’s degrees, and 21 doctoral degrees in Petroleum Engineering in 2013, more than 7 percent of all Petroleum Engineering degrees conferred nationally, demonstrating the high level of regional interest in the oil and gas industry.2 Some of these newly minted degree holders, along with others who received certificates or degrees in other relevant programs, participated in the institution’s Petroleum Extension Service (PETEX).3 While PETEX is technically a component of the Continuing and Innovative Education division of UT Austin, the program is self‐funded through course enrollment fees and product sales.4 The 2014 course catalog describes PETEX’s history and mission thusly:

Since 1944, the petroleum industry has endorsed PETEX as a trainer of choice, because it delivers quality education and makes sure that the backbone of the industry—its people—are performing their best. PETEX subject‐matter experts help ensure that learning content is current and of high quality. PETEX instructors blend extensive field experience with innovative instruction techniques to provide engaging classroom and hands‐on instruction on topics critical to everyday

1 “College Navigator: The University of Texas at Austin.” NCES.

http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?q=university+of+texas+austin&s=all&id=228778#general 2 [1] Ibid. [2] “Data Center.” IPEDS. http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/datacenter/DataFiles.aspx 3 “PETEX.” UT Austin. https://www.utexas.edu/ce/petex/ 4 “About Us.” UT Austin. http://www.utexas.edu/ce/petex/about_us/



performance. The PETEX team is dedicated to serving clients’ needs with relevant material and superior service.5

While PETEX’s headquarters is located on the UT Austin campus, there are also two other Learning and Assessment Centers in both Houston and Odessa. In addition to its on‐site training and testing, PETEX offers “a complete line of educational publications in print and e‐formats, videos, and a variety of new e‐products to assist and assess learning.”6 PETEX targets these distance learning options to full‐time and part‐time workers wishing to improve their skills, learn about new technologies, or refresh themselves on content they have not used or reviewed lately. The following table shows PETEX’s course content delivery options.

Figure 1.1: PETEX Course Content Delivery Options

PRODUCT CLASSROOM WEBINAR PRINT ONLINE OFFLINE MOBILE DVD

Instructor‐Led Training

Yes Yes No No No No No

e‐Learning No No No Yes Yes No No

e‐Books No No No Yes Yes Yes No

Online Assessments No No No Yes No No No

Distance Learning Certificate Programs

No No Yes Yes No No Yes

Training Videos No No No No No No Yes

Publications No No Yes No No No NoSource: PETEX Course Catalog7

The course catalog describes each of these offerings in extensive detail. For instance, instructor‐led courses are taught by subject‐matter experts in the oil and gas industry with considerable field experiences. These courses are designed to “allow for open discussion and ample interaction with instructors and fellow participants through a combination of “lectures, classroom exercises, hands‐on practice, and field trips.” 8 Further, the instructor‐led courses provide those who complete the course with satisfactory marks with Certificates of Completion from the University of Texas at Austin—PETEX.9 Additionally, students may receive Continuing Education Units (CEUs), standardized units of non‐academic credit that are nationally recognized.10 The following four organizations have approved certain PETEX courses as qualifying for professional development credits for their Texas workforce:

The American Association of Petroleum Landmen

5 “Petroleum Extension Service 2014 Catalog.” UT Austin.

https://ceonline.austin.utexas.edu/petexonline/file.php/1/petex_catalog/2014_PETEX_catalog.pdf 6 Ibid,, p. 2. 7 Ibid., p. 4. 8 Ibid., p. 3. 9 Ibid. 10 “About the CEU.” IACET. http://www.iacet.org/ceus/about‐the‐ceu



The Texas State Board of Public Accountancy

The Texas Department of Insurance

The Texas State Bar11

State law in Texas requires all Professional Engineers (PEs) to demonstrate 15 hours of continuing education annually—including one hour of ethics training—in order to renew their license.12 CEUs are usually used for this purpose in combination with documentation provided by PETEX to the PE’s employer(s).13

COURSES OFFERED

Because of the professional nature of the student body that usually seeks out training at the PETEX, many in‐demand courses are offered in short sessions multiple times per year. Below, Hanover Research has reproduced PETEX’s 2014 schedule, listing each unique course offering as well as the number of times per year each course is offered.

Figure 1.2: 2014 PETEX Courses

COURSE TITLE PROFESSIONAL CREDITS (CEUS)

LENGTH (DAYS)

TUITION (US$)

NUMBER OF TIMES

OFFERED PER YEAR

Fundamentals of Petroleum Measurement 3.3 4.5 $ 2,325.00 4

Pipeline Technology‐‐Pipeline Design 3.8 5.0 $ 2,125.00 1

Petroleum Measurement Tank Calibration Witness Seminar

0.7 1.0 $ 650.00 2

Petroleum Fundamentals 3.3 4.5 $ 2,625.00 3

ValvePro Certified Valve Maintenance 2.3 3.0 $ 1,990.00 4

The Rig School: Introduction to Offshore Operations 3.3 4.5 $ 2,725.00 3

Petroleum Measurement for Professionals 0.7 1.0 $ 750.00 2

Hydraulics for Pipeline Engineers 2.7 3.5 $ 2,225.00 2

Intermediate Petroleum Measurement 3.3 4.5 $ 2,325.00 2

Advanced Petroleum Measurement 3.3 4.5 $ 2,225.00 2

Elementary Drilling‐‐Offshore 3.0 4.0 $ 2,225.00 1

Field Handling of Natural Gas‐‐Operations Emphasis 3.0 4.0 $ 2,125.00 2

Completion and Workover‐‐Session 1 3.8 5.0 $ 2,500.00 1

Valves and Actuators‐‐Operation and Maintenance 3.3 4.5 $ 1,825.00 2

Natural Gas Measurement‐‐Fundamentals 2.3 3.0 $ 1,425.00 1

Natural Gas Measurement‐‐Design/Application/Inspection

1.1 1.5 $ 900.00 1

Natural Gas Measurement‐‐Electronic Flow Measurement

2.3 3.0 $ 1,425.00 1

Natural Gas Measurement‐‐Sampling and Analysis 1.1 1.5 $ 900.00 1

11 Bulleted items adapted from: “Petroleum Extension Service 2014 Catalog,” Op. cit. 12 “Continuing Education Program.” Texas Board of Professional Engineers. http://www.tbpe.state.tx.us/cep_info.htm 13 “Petroleum Extension Service 2014 Catalog,” Op. cit., p. 4.



COURSE TITLE PROFESSIONAL CREDITS (CEUS)

LENGTH (DAYS)

TUITION (US$)

NUMBER OF TIMES

OFFERED PER YEAR

Pipeline Technology‐‐Operations 3.8 5.0 $ 2,100.00 1

Energy Fundamentals 1.4 2.0 $ 1,900.00 2

Plant Processing of Natural Gas‐‐Engineering 3.0 4.0 $ 2,525.00 1

Mass Measurement of Hydrocarbon Fluids 3.3 4.5 $ 2,225.00 1

Completion and Workover‐‐Session 2 3.3 4.5 $ 2,000.00 1

Field Handling of Natural Gas‐‐Engineering Emphasis 3.0 4.0 $ 2,525.00 1

Hydraulics for Pipeline Operators 1.9 2.5 $ 1,500.00 1

Basics of Liquefied Natural Gas 2.2 3.0 $ 2,225.00 1

Plant Processing of Natural Gas‐‐Operations 3.0 4.0 $ 2,125.00 1

Pipeline Technology‐‐Pipeline Design, Operations, Maintenance

10.9 14.5 $ 6,425.00 1

Production Technology‐‐Subsurface 3.8 5.0 $ 2,125.00 1

Production Technology‐‐Surface 3.3 4.5 $ 2,125.00 1

Elementary Drilling‐‐Onshore 3.0 4.0 $ 2,225.00 1

Source: PETEX Course Catalog14

As the table above demonstrates, entry‐level courses and certification opportunities remain in high demand year‐round, while more specialized content (e.g. Natural Gas Measurement—Electronic Flow Measurement) may be offered only once per year. By way of example, Hanover Research has reproduced the program description for Petroleum Fundamentals below. Similarly structured descriptions in PETEX’s course catalog exist for all of the other courses referenced in Figure 1.2.

Figure 1.3: Petroleum Fundamentals Course Content

COURSE PETROLEUM FUNDAMENTALS

Credits Offered 3.3 CEUs

Course Description

Covers petroleum industry terminology, equipment usage, and operating procedures from upstream to downstream. Includes field

trip and course materials.

Course Content

Petroleum geology and exploration

Aspects of leasing

Drilling operations and well control

Production operations

Petroleum transportation—offshore and onshore

Refining and processing

Macroeconomic outlook—upstream oil and gas business

14 Ibid., p. 9‐10.



COURSE PETROLEUM FUNDAMENTALS

Recommended for

New employees

Attorneys

Insurance

Finance

Accounting

Administrative personnel

Those who need an overview of the petroleum industry

Included with course

Catered lunch daily; beverages and snacks provided

Exclusive industry field trip opportunity

Extensive course materials including instructor presentations

Recommended books: Fundamentals of Petroleum, 5th edition. A Dictionary for the Oil and Gas Industry, 2nd edition.

Source: PETEX Course Catalog15

FACILITIES

As mentioned above, PETEX also offers courses at its Learning and Assessment Centers in both Houston and Odessa. Additionally, for business clients who request custom on‐site training, PETEX’s trainers will travel to client sites to teach current or incoming employees. 16 The PETEX Learning and Assessment Center in Odessa is a Production Training Facility that offers “instruction and laboratories and a full‐scale operational lease setup in one large enclosed area” designed to help train “lease operators and technicians, drilling and measurement personnel, and other associated with production operations.”17 Among other features, this facility includes the following hands‐on equipment:

Flowing wells

Well test systems

Pumping wells

Glycol dehydrators

Production three‐phase separators

LACT units

Vertical heater‐treaters

Oil tanks

Free‐water separators

15 Ibid., p. 9. 16 “PETEX: Keeping Pace with Industry Training Needs Since 1944.” UT Austin.

https://www.utexas.edu/ce/petex/about_us/ 17 Bulleted items reproduced verbatim from: “Petroleum Extension Service 2014 Catalog,” Op. cit., p. 16.



Saltwater tanks

Gas meters

Chemical pumps18

Students receive training and hands‐on experience with all of these pieces of equipment, as well as an understanding of the theoretical and practical basis of their functions on‐site.

MARKETING

PETEX promotes its classes and services through UT Austin and its relationships with the following professional organizations in Texas:

The American Association of Petroleum Landmen

The Texas State Board of Public Accountancy

The Texas Department of Insurance

The Texas State Bar19

By leveraging the 15 required annual hours of professional development for Texan professional engineers and providing courses that satisfy those requirements, PETEX is able to operate independently from UT Austin on the strength of its enrollment and tuition fees from practicing professionals, though the site does provide training for new and aspirational workers as well.

FAIRBANKS TRAINING CENTRE

In 2001, the Alaska Works Partnership founded the Fairbanks Pipeline Training Centre (FPTC) to train and support Alaskan workers entering roles associated with the pipelaying trade.20 The FPTC grew enormously between 2005 and 2009, increasing the number of trainees served from 97 to 520.21 In 2009, the program awarded 750 occupational certificates to Alaskan jobholders and jobseekers, with some participants earning multiple certifications in a single session.22 The program emphasizes training specific to pipeline conditions in Alaska in order to prepare participants to begin working on the North Slope immediately following completion of the program. Like UT Austin’s PETEX program, the FPTC focuses on offering its students “quality hands‐on instruction in conditions similar to those they will experience on the job.”23 However, unlike

18 Ibid. 19 Bulleted items adapted from: “Petroleum Extension Service 2014 Catalog,” Op. cit. 20 “Pipeline Training.” Alaska Works Partnership. http://akwp.org/index.php?page=Pipeline‐Training 21 “Grant Proposal.” Alaska Office of Management and Budget.

http://omb.alaska.gov/ombfiles/10_budget/Labor/Proposed/2010proj46926.pdf 22 Alaska Works Partnership, Op. cit. 23 Ibid.



the PETEX centre, which operates year‐round, the FPTC only offers two weeks of training per year.24

COURSES OFFERED

Although the centre does not provide detailed information about its course offerings online, in 2013, the FPTC offered 19 courses for health and safety training, skill development and certification, and upgrading or renewing existing certifications. In addition, the Alaska Works partnership provided occupational safety courses for workers throughout the year.25

FACILITIES

FPTC’s new pipeline training yard opened in 2009 with two 12,500 square foot buildings, including shops, classrooms, and a safety lab. These facilities are housed within the 40 acres of land leased in the Tria Road Industrial Park for this purpose. Funding for this facility was provided by the State of Alaska.26

MARKETING

The FPTC promotes itself through a number of job placement and job development organizations, including the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, the Alaskan and national branches of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL‐CIO), and the Alaska Works Partnership, a non‐profit organization that delivers services in partnership with unions and state and federal agencies.27 The Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development promoted the FPTC by producing a 10‐minute video explaining what the FPTC provides program attendees and how its work benefits Alaska as a whole.28 After showing the skills participants will develop at the FPTC, the video shares interviews with politicians and business stakeholders praising the work done at the FPTC to promote regional and national economic development through fostering energy independence and filling needed Alaskan jobs. Additionally, the Alaska Department of Labor features the FPTC in its “Training Clearinghouse,” a web resource listing all available training programs in the state.29 The clearinghouse listing describes the training as follows:

The annual pipeline training event held in Fairbanks is the only one of its kind in the nation. For two weeks each year, trainees learn the skills and teamwork needed to build a cross‐country, large‐diameter pipeline across Alaska. Training as a combined

24 “Pipeline Training,” Op. cit. 25 Ibid. 26 “New Pipeline Training Yard.” Alaska Works Partnership. http://akwp.org/index.php?page=new‐pipeline‐training‐

yard 27 “Alaska Workshops Partnerships.” Alaska Work Partnerships. http://akwp.org/ 28 “Fairbanks Pipeline Training Center.” Alaska Department of Labor. http://vimeo.com/26448617 29 “Alaska Training Clearing House.” Alaska Department of Labor. http://live.laborstats.alaska.gov/atc/programs.cfm



workforce, students receive quality hands‐on instruction in conditions similar to those they will experience on the job.30

The clearinghouse further notes that the annual two‐week training events held in Fairbanks is relevant to a range of related occupations, including:

Carpenters

Construction and Building Inspectors

Construction Laborers

Construction Managers

Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technicians

Electricians

Engineers, All Other

First‐Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers

Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors

Heavy and Tractor‐Trailer Truck Drivers

Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines

Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators

Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters

Supervisors of Construction and Extraction Workers

Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers31

The AFL‐CIO also promotes the FPTC by encouraging relationships between local unions and the training centre. For example, the Alaska‐based United Association Local 375 of steamfitters, plumbers, pipefitters, service technicians, and sprinklerfitters participates in and contributes their experience to pipeline trainings.32 Other unions in addition to the UA Local 375 contribute to the FPTC in capacities that match their skillsets. However, the details of the relationship between the unions and the FPTC are not publicly available. Finally, the Alaska Works Partnership (AWP) promotes the FPTC by featuring it prominently on the website’s homepage.33 The partnership directs interested individuals and parties referred by one of AWP’s partner organizations to the FPTC if they seek oil and gas industry training. Its partners include:

Denali Commission

Construction Education Foundation

30 “Pipeline Training.” Alaska Department of Labor. http://live.laborstats.alaska.gov/atc/program.cfm?pg=02004097 31 Bulleted items reproduced verbatim from: Ibid. 32 “Welcome to UA Local 375.” United Association Local Union 375. http://www.ualocal375.org/ 33 “Working Together for Jobs.” Alaska Works Partnership. http://akwp.org/



Alaska Apprenticeship Training Coordinators Association

Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development

Building and Construction Trades Department

Alaska AFL‐CIO34

While the nature of the arrangements between the parties is not public, the partners benefit both directly and indirectly since the program increases the number of Alaskans prepared to enter the pipelaying workforce. For example, the FPTC is supported by government funds focused on developing skills for in‐demand job areas, such as welding.35 Skills like welding, even if developed in a pipelaying context, can then be translated to other industries in need of skilled laborers, such as shipping, should there be an unexpected influx of pipeline workers.

PETROFAC

As noted in the introduction, a large number of commercial centres exist to complement the cadre of college‐based and government‐sponsored pipeline training centres. One of the dominant players in the oil and gas training industry, Petrofac, has been providing training services for businesses and individuals worldwide for more than 30 years.36 A British company based in London, Petrofac has international reach and impact, with centres in Aberdeen, Scotland; Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (UAE); Woking, England; Chennai, India; Mumbai, India; Abu Dhabi, UAE; and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, among 24 other countries.37 Its three major workforce service areas are competence consultancy, competence development and assessment, and competence assurance and management.38

COURSES OFFERED

Among the numerous services it provides to the oil and gas industry, those most relevant to the topic of this research brief are Petrofac’s competence development programmes (CDPs). Designed as a business‐to‐business (B2B) service, Petrofac “can design, deliver and evaluate bespoke programmes or modify a standard course to meet specific objectives. [The programmes] also offer an extensive range of pre‐approved, industry‐recognised training.”39 In traditional classroom lessons, purpose‐built training environments, and on‐site, Petrofac’s CDPs provide business partners training in the following areas:

34 Bulleted items reproduced verbatim from: “Partners.” Alaska Works Partnership.

http://akwp.org/index.php?page=more 35 Alaska Office of Management and Budget, Op. cit. 36 “We Have Over 30 Years’ Experience.” Petrofac. http://www.petrofactraining.com/ 37 “About Us.” Petrofac. http://www.petrofactraining.com/about‐us/ 38 “Services.” Petrofac. http://www.petrofactraining.com/services/ 39 “Competence Development Programmes.” Petrofac. http://www.petrofactraining.com/services/competence‐

development‐and‐assessment/competence‐development‐programmes/



Engineering technical training: across all engineering disciplines; including electrical, instrumentation, mechanical, and construction skills

Operations technical training: covering all aspects of operations in both the upstream and downstream sectors

Health, Safety, Security, and Environment training: all elements of health, safety, security and environment (HSSE) training, delivered to the latest standards and current industry best practice

Construction technical training: covering all of the latest design and engineering construction techniques

Drilling technical training: involving every facet of drilling operations, delivered in line with the latest industry standards and best practice

Business skills training: encompassing the full range of business skills, including management, leadership, media skills, public relations, and administration

Emergency response and crisis management (ERCM) training: for individuals and teams, to identify risks, determine appropriate response strategies, and deal with emergency and crisis situations40

In addition these shorter trainings and courses, Petrofac also offers several long‐term programmes in the following areas:

Graduate development programmes: design and delivery of graduate programmes covering operational competency, design and practical construction skills

Assessor and verifier development programmes: to provide the knowledge and tools to assess and verify the competence of a learner in accordance with a competency framework or standard

Advanced development programmes: to enable the most capable learners to take training to the next level

Vendor courses: specialist training delivered by the manufacturer of the equipment or system

English language training: a structured route to learning the English language, with levels progressing from beginner to advanced levels.

Technical English language training: to equip learners with the technical language employed in everyday operations within the oil and gas sector

Leadership and behavioural training: instill in the leaders of tomorrow the skills required to mobilise resources and achieve business goals41

40 Bulleted items reproduced verbatim from: Ibid. 41 Bulleted items reproduced verbatim from: Ibid.



Petrofac’s courses have been designed to meet a wide variety of international standards. As such, its lesson plans have been approved by the following industry bodies and regulatory agencies:

OPITO (Skills for Oil and Gas)

OLF (Oljeindustriens Landsforening)

IWCF (International Well Control Federation)

IMO (International Maritime Organisation)

NEBOSH (The National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health)

IOSH (Institution of Occupational Safety and Health)

IFE (Institute of Fire Engineers)

SQA (Scottish Qualifications Authority)

IATA (International Air Transport Association)

JOIFF (Joint Oil and Industry Fire Forum)

ECITB (Engineering and Construction Industry Training Board)

MCA (Maritime and Coastguard Agency)42

These globally recognized certifications ensure the international applicability of coursework completed with Petrofac. Figure 1.4 is an overview of the kinds of courses Petrofac offers. Full descriptions of each course on offer can be found in the company’s extensive 2014 Course Directory.

Figure 1.4: Petrofac Pipeline Pigging Operations Course Description

COURSE TITLE PIPELINE PIGGING OPERATIONS

Duration 2 days

Overview This course has been designed to provide delegates with the skills and knowledge

required for practical pigging operations in a pipeline.

Structure

The course is a mix of classroom taught theory, lecture and discussion combined with extensive practical demonstration and hands on training in pigging

operations on our custom‐built pipeline facility. Written and observational assessments will be undertaken. A course handbook will be provided for future

reference. Assessment ‐ multiple choice questions.

Prerequisites None

Target Audience Technicians and engineers who are involved in the practical implementation of pigging operations within the pipeline industry. Suitable for new entrants to the

pipeline industry.

Certification Petrofac Training Services/City & Guilds‐approved certification will be issued on

successful completion of the course.

42 Bulleted items reproduced verbatim from: “2014 Course Directory.” Petrofac.

http://www.petrofactraining.com/downloads/1390495061‐2014_PTS_Directory.pdf



COURSE TITLE PIPELINE PIGGING OPERATIONS

Course Content

The syllabus focuses on:

The theory and history of pipeline pigging operations

Safety issues with regard to pigging operations

Delegate hands on operation and instruction in launching/receiving pigs

Principles of pipeline operations

Practical demonstration and hands‐on operation of pigging operations

Design and legislation criteria

Pipeline integrity and safety critical issues

Physical environmental issues

Flow assurance and fluid management

Pre‐commissioning and testing

Network control systems and leak detection

Pigging operations ‐ standard and specialised

Pipeline isolation, repair methods and re‐instatement

Corrosion and inspection techniques Source: 2014 Course Directory43

FACILITIES

In order to provide training services to clients all over the world, Petrofac has built specialized multipurpose training sites in a number of countries, and also builds client‐specific sites upon request.44 The company has training sites in areas with strong oil and gas potential in Europe; the Middle East, Africa and Central Asia; the Americas; and Asia Pacific.45 Petrofac identifies the following training facilities it can design, build and operate on behalf of clients:

Training workshops of all sizes

Training simulators to permit practical training in a classroom environment

Training skids to deliver hands‐on training on small scale pieces of plant and equipment

Training centres to enable training to be applied on larger pieces of plant and equipment

Operations training plants for training on large scale industrial plants46

The company further notes that Petrofac Training Services may also operate the following:

Computer‐based training classrooms

E‐learning suites

43 Ibid., p. 171. 44 “Facilities and Resources.” Petrofac. http://www.petrofactraining.com/services/competence‐development‐and‐

assessment/facilities‐and‐resources/ 45 Ibid. 46 Bulleted items reproduced verbatim from: Ibid.



Major and emergency management suites – to OPITO standards where required

Emergency response centre facilities

Learning management systems – to administer training programmes and courses, content and events and e‐learning47

Although the details regarding equipment kept on‐site at its facilities are not publicly available, Petrofac suggests that training sites must not only have equipment that represents that which is most common to the surrounding work environment, but also forward‐looking equipment to train staff for future upgrades and developments at their site.

ASSESSMENT

In order for Petrofac and its client companies to assess the impact of the trainings, completion of Petrofac’s courses and programs includes a high integrity competence assessment.48 The assessment methods used include:

Competence management system: job descriptions may stipulate the key competencies required in a role. If ongoing performance management uncovers learning gaps, personnel may receive targeted training and assessment

On‐the‐job assessment: to assess an individual’s competence within a specific role. Must be able to competently perform any task relevant to the designated area of responsibility and normal working environment

Off‐the‐job assessment: to assess an individual’s academic knowledge or practical skill level against a competency standard. Normally conducted within a simulated environment49

Additionally, the company uses SkillsXP software to assess workforce knowledge on‐site and develop custom (re)trainings based on workforce results.50

MARKETING

As a B2B service, Petrofac advertises to and negotiates directly with other companies in order to coordinate content delivery and course design.

CENTRAL TECH OKLAHOMA

Central Technology Center (CTO) is a polytechnic institution that serves more than 22,000 students as a member of Oklahoma’s vocational‐technical training program, CareerTech.51

47 Bulleted items reproduced verbatim from: Ibid. 48 “High Integrity Competence Assessment.” Petrofac. http://www.petrofactraining.com/services/competence‐

development‐and‐assessment/high‐integrity‐competence‐assessment/ 49 Bulleted items reproduced verbatim from: Ibid. 50 “SkillsXP.” Petrofac. http://www.petrofactraining.com/services/skillsxp/ 51 “History.” Central Tech. http://www.centraltech.edu/our‐vision‐‐‐mission.html



In 2011, its pipeline and safety training center was completed on the Drumright campus in order to serve a greater number of business and industry needs near Cushing, Oklahoma, the “Pipeline Crossroads of the World.”52

COURSES OFFERED

Among other courses, CTO’s Pipeline and Safety Training Center (PSTC) offers training in:

Corrosion Training

Operator Qualifications

Measurements

Non‐Destructive Testing (NDT)

Polyfusion

Supervisory Control & Data (SCADA)53

These and other courses offered at the site have been developed to serve current employees, students, and employers. Completion of select courses will provide students and employees with the Operator Qualification certifications necessary to work in the oil and gas industry. Additionally, the PSTC offers services to small companies to assist them in obtaining the necessary certifications for operation. Finally, the PSTC’s security and safety training serves to ensure the safety of the state’s work environments. 54 In order to provide students with a high‐quality experience that will help them meet their work goals and industry needs, the site’s training facilities include:

Fully‐simulated oil and gas computer controls

Pipeline maintenance equipment

Monitors

Laboratories

Simulators

Computer systems

Storage facilities necessary for training pipeline maintenance technicians, providing students with a more realistic training experience

State‐of‐the‐art safety training facility, recognized as a Safety Center for Excellence55

52 Dyer, Ron. “Central Tech Pipeline Safety Training Center.” https://www.okcareertech.org/news/press‐

releases/2011/central‐tech2019s‐new‐pipeline‐safety‐training‐center‐will‐meet‐needs‐of‐industry 53 Bulleted items reproduced verbatim from: “Oil & Gas.” Central Tech Business and Industry Service.

http://www.centraltechbis.com/oil‐‐‐gas.html 54 Ibid. 55 Bulleted items reproduced verbatim from: Ibid.



All of these courses have been designed in cooperation with or approved by the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER).56 As an official NCCER training site, the PSTC offers both extended trainings for new hires and “quick turnaround times for oil and gas contractors and their employees who need Operator Qualification (OQ) certification for job sites.” 57 Offering training for existing professionals alongside introductory‐level courses for aspiring professionals increases demand at the site and improves return‐on‐investment for Central Tech. In addition to the technical and mechanical courses described above, Central Tech’s site offers a number of safety courses, all of which meet or exceed the requirements set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). A selection of these courses is as follows:

10 hr OSHA

30 hr OSHA

AAA Driver Improvement Program

Asbestos Awareness

Back Safety

Bloodborne Pathogens

Cadmium Safety

Confined Space Entry

Confined Space Rescue

Defensive Driving

DOT

Electrical Power Generation

Electrical Safety

Emergency Egress

Environmental Awareness I: Air and Water

Environmental Awareness II: Waste and Chemicals

Ergonomics

Excavation Safety

Eye Protection

Fall Protection

Fire Safety

Forklift

Hazmat Awareness

Hazwoper 24 hr

Hazwoper 40 hr

Hazwoper Refresher

Hearing Protection

Heat Stress

Hydrogen Sulfide

Indoor Cranes | Rigging

Industrial First Aid

Lead Safety

Line Breaking

Lockout/Tagout

Machine Guarding

Office Safety

Personal Protective Equipment

Power Tools Safety

Respirator Fit Testing

Respiratory Protection

Scaffolding

Silica Safety

Small Spills & Leaks

Stairways and Ladders

Supervisor Training

Trenching and Shoring

56 “About.” NCCER. http://www.nccer.org/about 57 “NCCER Training and Assessment.” Central Tech. http://www.centraltechbis.com/nccer.html



Hand Protection

Hazcom

Hazmat 49CFR

Walking and Working Surfaces

Welding Safety58

FACILITIES

The Pipeline and Safety Training Center is a 16,000 square foot facility “dedicated to technical training” for the oil and gas industry.59 With regards to the facility’s equipment, the PSTC includes:

fully‐simulated oil and gas computer controls, pipeline maintenance equipment, monitors, laboratories, simulators, computer systems and storage facilities necessary for training pipeline maintenance technicians and providing students with a realistic training experience. The five‐acre site includes three acres designated to outdoor training.60

PARTNERSHIPS

Since 2006, Central Tech has partnered with Plains All American Pipeline, L.P. Plains has provided the PSTC with financial guidance, including support in directing funds toward high‐needs areas as well as technical and industry expertise to help inform curriculum and training development.61 Additionally, according to the press release,

Plains plays a vital role in making Central Tech’s Pipeline and Safety Training Center a state‐of‐the‐art program, providing technicians to assist in building the pipeline simulator and donating thousands of dollars in equipment and parts to use in hands‐on training activities for pipeline student.62

In addition to this partnership, Central Tech has a formalized process by which businesses can set up apprenticeship programs for their students and graduates to gain on‐the‐job work experience in the local economy.63

58 “Safety | Osha.” Central Tech. http://www.centraltechbis.com/safety‐‐‐‐osha.html 59 “Central Tech’s New Pipeline & Safety Training Center Meets Industry Needs.” Oklahoma Career Tech.

https://www.okcareertech.org/news/press‐releases/2011/central‐tech2019s‐new‐pipeline‐safety‐training‐center‐will‐meet‐needs‐of‐industry

60 Ibid. 61 “Welcome!” Plains All American Pipeline. http://www.paalp.com/ 62 “Plains All Ameican Pipeline L.P. Named Central Tech’s Partner for Progress.” Central Tech.

http://www.centraltech.edu/plains‐all‐american‐pipeline.html 63 “Apprenticeship.” Central Tech. http://www.centraltechbis.com/apprenticeship.html



ROMEA TRAINING

Romea Training, which was recently acquired by Site Skills Training, provides specialized oil and gas industry training in Australia.64 According to its homepage, Romea trains a client base that maintains more than 60 percent of the total length of gas pipelines in Australia.65

COURSES OFFERED

Romea offers the following courses, as presented in Figure 1.5.

Figure 1.5: Romea Training Course Catalog

COURSE NAME COST66 DURATION

Introduction to Company Health, Safety & Environment $814 2 days

Introduction to Gas Transmission Pipeline Operations $1,221 3 Days

Introduction to Gas Pipeline Engineering $1,221 3 Days

Introduction to Oil and Gas Industry $1,526 3 Days

High Pressure Gas Receipt Facility Safety Competency $1,221 3 Days

Gas Operations Permit to Work – Hot, Cold, Confined Space & Minor Excavations $1,374 3 Days

Defensive Driving $254 1 Day

Safe Driving in a 4 Wheel Drive Vehicle $315 1 Day

High Voltage Safety Awareness $407 1 Day

Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material Awareness $407 1 Day

Process Plant Basics 1 $2,544 5 Days

Process Plant Basics 2 $2,544 5 days

Process Plant Intermediate $2,544 5 days

Wells & Well Management $1,526 3 days

Process Plant Advanced 1 $2,035 4 days

Process Plant Advanced 2 $2,035 4 days

Pipeline Easement & Integrity Program 1 – MLV, Scraper Stations, Easement & CP $1,374 3 days

Pipeline Easement & Integrity Program 2 – Excavation & Coating Repairs $916 2 days

Pipeline Easement & Integrity Program 3 – Pigging Operation $916 2 days

Pipeline Station Operations Program 1 – Filtration, Heating & Pressure Reduction Operation

$1,374 3 days

Pipeline Station Operations Program 2 – Gas Analysis & Metering System Operation $916 2 days

Pipeline Station Operations Program 3 – Odorant System Operation $458 1 day

Emergency Response Program 1 – Site Emergency Response $1,526 3 days

Instrument/Electrical Program 1 – Report on Integrity of EEHA $509 1 day

Instrument/Electrical Program 2 – Station Power Supplies $458 1 day

Instrument/Electrical Program 3 – Process Control Basics $458 1 day

64 “Romea Training Joins with Site Skills Training to Deliver Australia‐Wide Energy Training.” Romea Training.

http://www.romea.com.au/news/romea‐training‐joins‐with‐site‐skills‐training‐to‐deliver‐australiawide‐energy‐training/

65 “Welcome.” Romea Training. http://www.romea.com.au/ 66 Prices have been converted from Australian Dollars to Canadian Dollars.



COURSE NAME COST66 DURATION

Instrument/Electrical Program 4 – Calibration of Transmitters, Switches & Gauges $458 1 day

Instrument/Electrical Program 5 – Custody Transfer Metering $916 2 days

Pipeline Compression/Rotating Equipment 1 – Fundamentals $814 2 day

Facility Operation Program 1 – Custody Transfer/Meter Stations $814 2 days

Facility Operation Program 2 – Reciprocating/Centrifugal Compressor Stations $1,628 4 days

Certificate III in Process Plant Operations Traineeship $4,579 36

months

Emergency Response Program 1 – Site Emergency Response $1,526 3 days

Gas Pipeline Operation & Maintenance Statutory Obligations $814 1 day

Pipelines Gas & Liquid Petroleum – Onshore Pipelines $3,562 4 days

Pipelines Gas & Liquid Petroleum for Project Managers $814 1 day

Pipelines Gas & Liquid Petroleum for Maintenance Engineers and Professionals $814 1 day

Gas Distribution Start‐up Program 1 – Install, Maintain, Repair Distribution Networks $3,053 5 days

Certificate III in Gas Supply Industry Operations Apprenticeship $4,579 36

months Source: Romea Training67

To provide an example of the available information on Romea’s training offerings, Figure 1.6 below presents a sample extended course description.

Figure 1.6: Introduction to Oil and Gas Industry Course Description

COURSE TITLE INTRODUCTION TO OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY

Course Cost $1,526

Course Duration 3 Days

Course Overview

This is an essential introductory course that provides an overview of the oil and gas industry. This course includes an overview of petroleum geology, reservoir & well equipment, extraction and processing, oil and gas well and processing facilities, hydrocarbon properties, control systems, process and instrumentation diagrams,

pigging, corrosion control and compression.

Intended For This course is suitable for all engineering and technical oil and gas facilities personnel

Learning Outcomes

Explain the principles of petroleum geology, extraction and processing

Describe the functions of typical well and hydrocarbons processing facilities

Describe the properties of hydrocarbons

Explain the principles of operation of typical instruments monitoring and control systems

Explain the principles of pigging

Explain the principles of compression

Explain the principles of rotating equipment, lubrication and bearings

Explain the principles of corrosion control

Interpret process and instrumentation diagrams for a facility

67 “Training Courses.” Romea Training. http://www.romea.com.au/courses/



COURSE TITLE INTRODUCTION TO OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY

Core Units

Explain the principles of petroleum geology, extraction and processing

Describe the functions of typical well and hydrocarbons processing facilities

Describe the properties of hydrocarbons

Explain the principles of operation of typical instruments, monitoring and control systems

Explain the principles of pigging

Explain the principles of compression

Explain the principles of rotating equipment, lubrication and bearings

Explain the principles of corrosion control

Interpret process and instrumentation diagrams for a facility

Source: Romea Training68

Lastly, Romea offers custom module designs to meet companies’ group training needs. The following list represents the discrete module areas that the company currently offers:

1. Occupational Health, Safety & Environment Modules These modules cover general occupational health, safety, and environment learning resources common across various industries and include permit systems, hazard management, emergency response and environmental protection. 2. Generic Hydrocarbons Industry Modules These modules provide learning resources common to the hydrocarbons industry and include learning about operational obligations, contractor management, hydrocarbons technology and generic process operations. 3. Hydrocarbons Transmission Modules These series of modules provide learning resources related to the operation and maintenance of hydrocarbons transmission pipelines. 4. Hydrocarbons Processing Modules These modules cover learning resources related to operating and maintaining upstream hydrocarbons processing facilities, including well management, oil and gas processing and ship loading operations. 5. Power Generation Modules These modules cover learning resources related to power generation, including basic generation theory, protection monitoring, governors, paralleling, switching safety and switching programs.69

PARTNERSHIPS

Romea Training has partnerships with the following companies:

APA Group, Australia’s largest natural gas infrastructure business

68 “Introduction to Oil and Gas Industry.” Romea Training. http://www.romea.com.au/course/introduction‐to‐oil‐and‐

gas‐industry/ 69 Numbered items reproduced verbatim from: “Resources Overview.” Romea Training.

http://www.romea.com.au/resources/



ATIVO, a leading provider of specialist maintenance and project services to the mining, industrial, and energy resources industries

Dampier to Bunbury Natural Gas Pipeline (DBP), the owner and operator of the Dampier to Bunbury Natural Gas Pipeline

Energy Infrastructure Management (EIM), a specialist company which operates and maintains high pressure gas transmission pipelines in Queensland

Jemena, an infrastructure company that builds, owns, and manages a combination of major electricity, gas, and water assets

Kleenheat, a retailer and distributor of Liquefied Petroleum Gas70

While the details of these partnerships are not public, Romea Training provides on‐site and training‐site education for these companies’ employees. Additionally, Romea has relationships with the following training service directories:

Australian Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR)

VETinfoNet, a project run by the Western Australia Department of Training and Workforce Development

eoz Energy Skills Australia

Australian Skills Quality Authority

The National Training Registry, a joint initiative of the Australian and State Territory governments71

Having these strong ties to a variety of government‐run training programs provides Romea with a competitive edge when attracting new trainees to its programs.

70 Bulleted items adapted from: “Our Clients and Partners.” Romea Training. http://www.romea.com.au/ Company descriptions reproduced verbatim from the relevant company’s websites. 71 “Training Sites.” Romea Training. http://www.romea.com.au/



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Research Brief: Pipeline Training Centres · 2020-03-24 · The 2014 course catalog describes PETEX’s history and mission thusly: Since 1944, the petroleum industry has endorsed