Holdfast Training Services Trial Blog

Well then, sat in the KLM lounge at Schipol, supping on Bombay Sapphires, I thought that now was a perfect time to update you on my goings on.  Generally I’m in a bit of a three-way: on Tuesdays I’m in Etten-Leur, progressing the 3^rd PWRI pump, while the rest of the week is roughly an 80/20 split between WGPSN’s mechanical team and BP’s Projects and Mods team.  Life is good and busy as ever, and since I’ve been talking specifics recently I’ve added a few figures to this month’s blog!

1. Flowserve.  As BP/WGPSN’s technical expeditor I’m the interface that has been credited with getting the £3.5m 3^rd PWRI Pump project up and running again.  Most of this is done by ensuring that conversations are “more friendly” and that all parties are aware of the others’ issues.  I am projecting my personality to get the best out of all involved and as such the project is progressing much better.  This gives me a great insight into relationships and all that management stuff, but also the intricacies of a project and the little things that make a big difference and delay projects.  This includes:
   1. Documents not being signed off in a timely manner – when I started the project there were 44 outstanding documents for review (by WGPSN); today there are only 6.
   2. People (BP management) getting angry as they’re not in the loop on what’s going on.
   3. The WGPSN package engineer and Flowserve project manager having a pissing contest and looking for faults rather than workable solutions.
   4. Technical Authorities (TAs) getting “overly” involved (maybe – see below).

It’s also been good to see the parts coming in from the supplier and getting fabricated – although I’m sure I could tick this box by visiting a fabrication shop (as indeed I have done!)

2. WGPSN Mechanical Team.  Based in the same office as BP (part of the Focus contract), I’m now working as a [mechanical] discipline engineer alongside two CEngs and a lad on a graduate scheme.  My work is primarily based on the 3^rd PWRI pump and has included/      includes the following:
   1. Checking valve spec for the lube oil skid for the 3^rd PWRI Pump.  This was good as it allowed me to get stuck into BP’s Engineering Technical Practices (ETPs) and other documents – mostly ASME and API, that are the industry standard.
   2. Writing the specification for pickling and passivation processes that must be followed after a test fit between the super duplex shaft and a carbon steel replica of the housing (for the PWRI pump).  This was good as I had to research exotic steels, the natural passivation of stainless materials, the pickling process that allows the surface microstructure to be “cleansed” and then methods for testing the purity afterwards.  I then submitted this to WGPSN’s Quality Assurance (QA) for approval and it will be used in the future.
   3. Looking at the NDE for the super duplex components.  This is interesting but I’m still trying to find the line between getting overly and unnecessarily involved because the TA is mad-keen on it (everyone needs a hobby and his is metal) and ensuring the right QA is met and the super duplex components are the right spec.
   4. Working on the most-hated project (by both me and the new SPA) that I was SPA for, the “compressor mods” project (currently valued at £2.3m).  I’m now responsible for the mechanical work on the degassers – vessels that “bubble” nitrogen through a sparge pipe to remove hydrocarbon gasses from the seal oil that is recycled through the system (Figures 1&2).  This is good as includes me researching sealing methods, cutting, confined spaces, and working with the supplier, Swift.  It is also good to be a small part of a project that I was running a few months ago, as I can now see the frustrations the mechy had!

Figure 1. Degasser internals

Figure 2. Identical Degasser

I’ve also got some good CPD done: a trip to Exona materials lab to see their testing methods (very similar to what I saw at uni a decade ago) and a Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) of a pig launcher that’s being installed at the end of the Magnus TAR.  There’s an IMechE lecture in town tomorrow night about the Pelamis Wave Generator – I can’t wait!!!

3. BP Projects and Mods.  Here I’m carrying on with the two remaining projects that I have sole responsibility for: the insertion of a glycol balance line (£67k) and the replacement of single isolation valves with a double block and bleed system (£250k).  This has included some risk management meetings relating to the management of change – essentially making sure that there’s full agreement (from the Asset) on all the changes that I’m making to the plant so that if it goes tits up in the future then my decisions have some higher-level sign off.  No problems so far, I’m pleased to say.

I’ve also been I’m also been advising on some of the projects that I’ve handed over, including the decommissioning of various gas trains (£550k) and the automated relief of the cold boot (£670k) that are being executed this summer, and the exchange of the B Crane (c£8m) and the installation of additional living quarters on ETAP (c£10-15m) that are still in development.

4. Other news (the interesting bit):
   1. As I’m getting thinner (now at 68kg in prep for the Edinburgh marathon this Sunday) Dougal is getting bigger and now weighs over half what I do.  To Liz’s delight he is also learning how to leopard crawl through the dirtiest of ditches (Figure 3) and frequently finds tadpole-filled ponds to swim in.  He’s amazing.
      

      Figure 3. Dougal aged 9 months

   2. Liz and I both raced around Balmoral in various trail races a few weeks back – Liz finished in the top half of the 10k race and I was 12^th (from 297) in the 15 mile race.
   3. I did some climbing instructing in Wales this weekend on the REMEC meet, really good to be out and about with sappers again and surprisingly good weather.
   4. We ticked off another idyllic island a few weeks back: Lewis and Harris, with some beautiful white sand/ blue sea beaches (and drizzle).  Off to Orkney for a long weekend at the end of the month too – see if I can get Liz up the Old Man of Hoy?
   5. Looking further forwards, we’ll be moving to a quarter in Kinloss in July.  After Phase 4 I’ll be based around Aldershot whilst I do my PDT/MST and then deploying on HERRICK 19 as SO2 Infra from November (subject to the SO2 board – otherwise I’m jobless!)
   6. And finally – I got a business card from someone last week and it listed MInstRE with his post-nominals.  Turned out he’s in The TAs and was a thoroughly nice chap.  However, I was a little bit sick in my mouth when later on I saw the reverse of the card: a ¾ profile mug shot of the said engineer!  Have any readers of this blog had similar suprises with business cards?