Holdfast Training Services Trial Blog

It is not quite a tropical heaven but it is a change of scenery.

The declining oil price has had a detrimental impact on the Projects and Modifications (P&M) budget.  Unfortunately, one of my major projects has been suspended until the cash flow problems improve and the other projects are starting to culminate.  As such, I decided that I fancied a change of scenery where I would be able to get the most out of my remaining two and a half months.  Consequently, I am now sitting in the discipline engineer (DE) team, as a mechanical engineer.

The way I see it is that P&M is the interface with approved engineering design contractors and ensures that the contractors deliver what it is the client is after.  The role of the DE team is when a project flies close to the limit of the Engineering Technical Practices (BP equivalent of BS), and the contractor’s won’t touch it, then the DE team can conduct detailed calculations and assess the risk and make a judgement call.

I have been sat here for a little under a week and I am already getting stuck into some calculations; Mark would bloody love this place.  I’ve used Bernoulli’s equation, D’Arcy Weisbach, I’ve downloaded some pressure vessel calculation software (yes downloaded only because I’m still scarred from Hevacomp I daren’t attempt it yet).  I might need a crate of Stella Artois before I attempt to wrestle with a software programme.  Obviously for those of you who know my drinking ability, by crate of Stella I mean a can.  I am looking at materials failure of a particular weldless joint offshore and I will probably write a method statement for checking other existing clamps.  There are some other bits and pieces to going on and I expect to receive a steady stream of work until I leave.

I am writing this post for two reasons; the first is to illustrate how versatile the BP PLC placement is.  Even though a PET officer has been on attachment here for the last four years there are still a lot of people who don’t know we are here and what we can offer.  The current attachment works very well and I don’t think I needed to make the move to DE but BP were more than happy to accommodate my request.  Future incumbents may be able to explore options for trying to work in different parts of BP although bear in mind that 16 months is not that long to get settled and stuck in.  I have discussed this with Brendan and we will continue the info ops campaign prior to leaving to ensure the profile of PET officers is lifted once again.  (This is doubly important during a time of redundancies in the North Sea because there will be a large turnover of personnel in key appointments).

The second is to highlight that I expect to be able to add to my A and B competencies prior to taking CPR.