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• Focus on Cogent Sector Services
• Introduction to David Doig CSSL Chief Executive
• About the Cogent Emergency Response Standards
• Introduction to Petroleum Open Learning
• Unocal Thailand adopts the OPITO Standards
• Cogent launches Rigging and Lifting Standards
• Petrofac's Competence Assurance Scheme accredited by Cogent
• ERG Training Australia gains OPITO approval
• SQA agreement on qualifications
• Shell E.P. Europe Well Services first to gain competence accolade outside UK
• Petrobras UK Mission leads to Brazil visit
• Step Change in Safety for UK oil and gas
• Cogent's Key Contacts

The product range has a proven track-record in the international market place and can be tailored to meet individual company requirements.

CSSL products and services include:

• Designing and maintaining Emergency Response Standards of Competence
• Designing and maintaining Training Standards associated with undertaking hazardous operations
• Designing Occupational Standards of Competence and other activities associated with workforce development at a technical level - for example apprenticeship frameworks
• Quality Assurance and approval of training delivery against industry standards
• Endorsement of learning products which fulfil critical skills gaps or lead to the attainment of formal qualifications
• Provision of Petroleum Open Learning products (self-learning and development products relating to offshore processing and drilling)
• Management of Industry-wide Apprenticeships schemes
• Provision of Competence Services relating to business development and workforce competence
• Project management services

David Doig, CSSL Chief Executive said: “We understand the importance of meeting the needs and expectations of our customers in both a cost efficient and effective manner.

“Our people are the key to our success and we live by our values which include being responsive, innovative and accountable. We also value difference and diversity is at heart of our operations.”

Cogent Sector Services Ltd is committed to investing in its own people and provides its experienced team with ongoing opportunities for development, David Doig added: “We are in the business of helping organisation to nurture and development their most important assets - and we also place a tremendous emphasis on training and development within CSSL.”

David joined Cogent’s predecessor organisation OPITO in 1999 from Halliburton  (an AOC Brown & Root subsidiary company) when he was appointed as  Business Unit Operations Manager, which involved the management of procurement, supply chain and engineering departments for offshore engineering maintenance contracts.

During the transition from OPITO to Cogent (the UK sector skills council for chemicals, nuclear, oil and gas, petroleum and polymers) David was appointed as Standards and Approvals Project Leader. He was made Products and Services Team Leader in 2003. In March 2005 David was appointed Chief Executive of Cogent Sector Services Ltd.

During his time with Cogent David  has introduced  Emergency Re-Breather training into the Basic offshore Training standard (BOSIET) and he also managed the creation of an international network of OPITO approved training providers who now deliver high quality training, designed to improve workforce competence as well as delivering real value for employers all over the world.

David Doig said: “I am a passionate believer and advocate of life-long learning and personal development, reflected through my ongoing education with the Open University and MBA studies.

“The CSSL organisation is committed to providing opportunity for all and to ensuring that people are making the most of their full potential. We are also committed to providing innovative and bespoke skills solutions to our clients around the globe.”

The OPITO branded standards are competency based and have been designed to ensure all personnel on board an offshore facility and the standby rescue vessels around it have the necessary skills and knowledge required in times of an emergency.

A functional analysis of the tasks that need to be achieved in an emergency situation identified a range of specialist emergency response roles in addition to the basic actions to be taken by all personnel on board.

The range of OPITO standards are delivered to the oil and gas industry via a network of Approved Training Providers. The network is extensive and OPITO standards of training are delivered in many operating areas across the globe such as the USA, UK, Trinidad, Central Europe, Azerbaijan, Abu Dhabi, Qatar, Brunei, Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Australia and New Zealand.

Organisations wishing to become approved must provide objective evidence that they have the ability to deliver the training as specified within the applicable standard and that the organisation is sufficiently resourced and managed.

Audit

In broad terms the audit process which an organisation will undergo to gain approval consists of two elements at the initial approval stage:

1. A desk top audit of all documentation associated with the award being sought, typically, lesson plans, timetables, policies and procedures, training facilities, training aids, instructor/assessor qualifications etc
2. An onsite audit where compliance to the specified criteria of the standard and the submitted documents will be verified and the delivery of a full training event will be witnessed

The critical sub elements of the initial audit are:

1.      Full observation and assessment of training delivery

2.      Management and administration arrangements

3.      Physical resources & facilities maintenance

4.      Learning and assessment material

5.      Personnel resources

Training organisations holding approval status are subject to an ongoing annual on site surveillance audit programme.

The OPITO auditing and approval process is widely recognised and respected by the employing companies and trade associations of the oil and gas industry. 

Using Cogent’s self-contained modules, trainees take responsibility for their own progress, setting their own pace to maximise the programme's effectiveness, choosing when and where to work. For example, opting to learn the skills and techniques at the workface itself helps provide a genuine 'hands-on' education.

The modules are as follows:

Oil and Gas Well Technology Series
Oilwell Drilling Technology
Drilling Calculations
Oilwell Production Technology (Well Completions)

Petroleum Processing Technology Series
Oil and Gas Separation
Gas Dehydration
Petroleum Gas Compression
Natural Gas Liquids Recovery
Oil Pumping and Metering
Injection Water Treatment
Produced Water Treatment
Gas Flow Measurement
Process Flow and Piping & Instrument Diagrams
Oil Treatment (Dehydration)  

Refinery Processing Technology Series
Oil Refining

Other products on offer from CSSL include:

The Helicopter Refuelling Handbook
The Helicopter Landing Officer’s Handbook
The Offshore Installation Manager’s (OIM) Manual

Cogent Project Co-ordinator Corinna McConachie said: “Cogent’s programmes can support training plans, help with career development and guidance, and set candidates on the road to national qualifications.

“They are designed to allow learners to work at their own pace and at a time and place to suit them.”

For more information go to: http://www.petroleumopenlearning.com

Unocal assessed its operational needs and current training activities against the Cogent SSC Upstream Oil and Gas Industry Emergency Response standards more commonly recognised as The OPITO ‘Standards of Competence for Emergency Response'. The standards underpin the United Kingdom Offshore Operators Association (UKOOA) guidelines for ‘The Management of Competence and Training in Emergency Response’ and define the competence requirements and safety training for the UK offshore Oil & Gas Industry.

A course comparison was made of the Unocal Basic courses against the OPITO Tropical Basic Offshore Safety Induction & Emergency Training (T Bosiet) and Tropical Further Offshore Emergency Training (T Foet) Standards.  The company found that the facilities at Unocal Settapat Centre were satisfactory for it to offer almost all OPITO approved courses including advanced training for emergency response teams.

Cogent auditors carried out a thorough and robust audit of the Settapat facilities, equipment, training instructor competence, and management systems. The outcome of the audit was that the centre be recommended for OPITO Approval for the delivery of basic offshore survival training and specialist fire-fighting. This recommendation has been ratified by the Cogent Chief Executive and Chairman.

Advantages

Unocal Thailand feel their employees and the Settapat Centre (in Sonkla) will gain a number of key advantages from obtaining OPITO approval including continued high quality training; compliance with laws/standards/policies; optimised training resources; the ability to train personnel to internationally recognised standards; regular updates (as required) of Unocal Thailand training needs; international recognition for the training program and provision for third party audit.

The new training standards have now been implemented through revision of GPR 07-19 (Guide on Procedures and Requirements for Offshore Safety Orientation and Emergency Response Training Standards). 

Unocal has three decades of successful energy development history in the country and Thailand is the company’s primary gas-producing area outside the United States. Gross natural gas production averages more than 1.0 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd).

The company operates 100 platforms in the central Gulf of Thailand, supplying natural gas to generate 30 percent of the nation’s total power demand. Of the natural gas produced, more than 75 percent is used to generate electricity. The remainder is used for industrial fuel, transportation fuel, cooking gas and petrochemical feedstock.

Recently the company started its first crude oil production from the Gulf of Thailand. Gross oil production Yala-Plamuk complex is nearly more than 16,000 barrels (Unocal, 71.25%) per day (bpd). This equals 25 percent of the current indigenous output of crude oil in Thailand.

Tara Tiradnakorn, Unocal President New Training Standards for Safety and Emergency Response said, “Unocal Thailand continually strives to maintain and improve the safety and efficiency of our operations in support of our goal of providing energy supplies to the Kingdom of Thailand.  Our approach to safety and the training and capabilities of our staff is the foundation of our ability to continue to be the energy supplier of choice in Thailand. 

“Unocal Thailand is pleased to be recognised as a training leader in South East Asia through the OPITO certification process.”

David Doig, Head of Cogent Products & Services said: ” The Settapat Centre is an excellent facility well managed by high calibre staff who recognise the value of OPITO training. We are proud of our association with Unocal Thailand and commend their efforts in gaining OPITO Approval. It was clear from the outset that Unocal is committed to ensuring its workforce is competent to enter the workplace. By taking a standards based approach to workforce development using the OPITO standards this goal will be achieved.

"OPITO standards are now delivered in 17 countries, bringing a commonality to Offshore Emergency Response training which is globally recognised and delivers real value to the industry”

Cogent have recently added to their suite of standards that assist industry in training and assessing staff involved in this type of work. The newly launched Rigger Assessment Standard provides a tool whereby industry can confirm the skills of qualified riggers to allow them to work without direct supervision on their sites and installations. This standard was designed by a workgroup involving representation from various parts of the industry as well as the HSE.

Cogent  Project Lead, Bob Provan said: “The inherent hazards in this kind of working require high standards of management of health and safety. This is another Cogent contribution to enhancing the safety within the industry.”

There are currently five approved training centres which can deliver elements of the above training with others going through the approval process at present.

Cogent’s other standards in this area are already well established. The standard for Slinging and Lifting Operations, covering the training and assessment of individuals on how to prepare loads for movement by crane, how to direct the crane driver to lift, move and set down the load and how to inspect the equipment involved has been well used since its development and implementation in 2000

This important standard was joined in 2003 by the Introduction to Rigging and Lifting Standard. This was designed to give the basic skills and competencies to individuals whose work involves the use of chain blocks, pull lifts, tirfors and so on, so that they can work safely, under supervision, on tasks such as removing valves, spool pieces, motors and other large pieces of plant and equipment.

For more information on the standards contact Bob. Provan [email protected] or click here

In essence, CPP is a competence-based approach to the recruitment, training, development, rewarding and retention of a highly-competent and motivated workforce. It is both a framework of competence, within which other schemes may sit, e.g. VQs and Client competence assurance schemes, as well as a generator of standards for all job roles in the organisation, including the Senior Management Team.

Following a successful pilot programme on one of Petrofac’s major Client’s installations, CPP is being integrated across the whole of the business, both on and offshore. To date, over 500 CPP profiles have been completed and there are a lot more to come.

Ronnie Coull, HR Director, commented on the award: “We are delighted to receive this accreditation as we consider it as industry recognition of the quality of our workforce in terms of their safety, technical skills, knowledge and competence. Indeed the quality of our people has been a significant contributor both to our reputation and the successes achieved over the last couple of years. It has demanded total commitment from the Training and Competence (T&C) team in terms of the design and robust implementation of CPP and they are to be commended for their efforts.”

Learning

Petrofac’s T&C Team worked very closely with the Cogent representatives, Gareth Cooke and Iain Emslie, during the audit process and this was considered to be a successful joint team effort. As Gareth Cooke of Cogent said : “We too have learned much from the process. Our aim is to continuously improve the process and ensure added value and clear benefits are the measures of its success. It has been an interesting and enjoyable journey and we are grateful for the cooperation received from Mike McCulloch, Teresa Shand and Ewen Hay during the process, as well as the help received from both on and offshore operational staff during the audits.”

Petrofac is a surface facilities solutions provider serving the oil production, oil refining, natural gas and petrochemical industries. Petrofac’s capabilities include process design, detailed engineering, project management, worldwide procurement, fabrication and assembly of process modules, construction, commissioning and operation of most types of process plants.

Petrofac has three main operating centres: in the UAE (Sharjah), England (Woking) and Scotland (Aberdeen) and a network of support offices in the Middle East, frmer Soviet Union, Eastern Australia, USA and Latin America. The group employs over 4,500 staff.

Petrofac Facilities Management Europe, based in Aberdeen, employs 2,500 people in the UK and on North Sea installations. It provides complete operation, maintenance and project management services, including the service operation and support of around 32 facilities in the North Sea and onshore UK and the management of 13 operating facilities.

Cogent gave approval for TBOSIET (Tropical Basic Offshore Safety Induction and Emergency Training) and FOSET (Further Offshore Safety and Emergency Training - the “refresher” for TBOSIET). These courses are variants of the UK BOSIET & FOET courses which are basic industry requirements for travelling offshore

Cogent Project Leader Iain Emslie, conducted the audit over a four day period in April, during which he observed a T BOSIET course being delivered. He said:  “ ERG’s major customers had requested that they achieve OPITO approval to provide this “standard” training for their workforce

The ERG staff were highly enthusiastic both over their new facility and the new OPITO approval. This is another excellent example of how the OPITO system is being used increasingly across the globe as a recognised common level of training.”

Realistic

ERG’s newly constructed facility allows integrated self rescue, mustering for TEMPSC (Totally Enclosed Motor Propelled Survival Craft) evacuation and survival first aid scenarios. The facility used during this training is a multi-level structure which can be filled with smoke and includes a realistic accommodation area (see photo). 

Delegates can escape from the accommodation to their TEMPSC muster point where they can then simulate an evacuation by lowering the lifeboat into water. Trainees can also practice passenger actions including first aid treatments inside the actual TEMPSC.

ERG Training has been operating since 1994. With base facilities at Jandakot Airport (Perth WA), the company operates mainly in Western Australia but also services customers throughout Australia and in the South-East Asia. It has recently established an office in Melbourne, Victoria to provide a base from which to develop the Eastern States market.

ERG Training is a leading provider of emergency response and safety services to the mining, oil & gas, chemical processing, maritime and aviation industries. The aim of these services is to assist its clients in preventing and controlling emergencies.

SQA has international experience in offering a full range of qualifications which are fit for purpose for the training and development needs of the Oil and Gas industry. These qualifications are based on competence standards set by Cogent.

They are the first to gain this accolade outside the UK.  

To gain Cogent approval Shell E.P. Europe Well Services demonstrated that they have allocated adequate resources and taken appropriate measures for the Cogent audit criteria to be met and maintained.  It has ensured that:

• There are adequate and sufficient policies, processes and procedures to assure the quality of the competence system
• The concept of a competence system has been communicated and embraced within the organisation at all levels
• The organisation can demonstrate that the competence system improves the business performance
• The approval requirements are internally audited on an ongoing basis
• Assessors are competent in the assessor’s role and their performance is regularly reviewed
• All documentation is controlled
• The assessment sites are fit for purpose
• There are adequate resources allocated to establish and maintain the system
• Internal verifiers are competent in their role and their performance is regularly reviewed

Richard Horlings, Competence/Best Practice Coordinator said: “With this Cogent approval we can prove to our management that our internal competence systems and processes are effective and robust. It helps us demonstrate to our customers and to the public, that our operational staff are competent to carry out safety critical tasks in the field and in our workshops. It’s an important part of our safety culture.”

Gareth Cooke, Competence Assurance Project Leader, added “ we have a long standing relationship with the organisation.  Previously the company was called NAM Well Services and they have always strived for excellence.  It has been a privilege to provide  verification services to them over the years and they were certainly eager to gain approval using this relatively new audit process.”

Petrobras Operational Practices Manager, Francisco Crisostomo, was particularly keen to understand more about Cogent Standards of Competence and how the application of Occupational and Emergency Response Standards could develop the Petrobras workforce.

As a result of the visit, Gareth Cooke, Cogent’s Competence Assurance Project Leader will be visiting Brazil this month to deliver a workshop on Competence Management Systems for Petrobras in Rio de Janeiro and another one for Petrobras and other organisations in Macae.

The invitation was jointly from Petrobras and the British Council in Rio, represented by Cristina Palmeira, Education and Training Manager, who has been instrumental in organising the trip.

Gareth Cooke said:” Occupational competence, which is the ability to perform to the standards expected in employment across a range of circumstances and to meet changing demands, is at the heart of efficient and safe oil and gas operations. I look forward to meeting with the Petrobras team and communicating Cogent’s internationally recognised approach.”

Cristina Palmeira added: "I am very grateful to Gareth, David Doig and John Ramsay for all the support they have given to us in the Brazilian market. In the Petrobras Mission to the UK last March/April, Petrobras representatives were very impressed with the UK's approach to competence standards and accreditation models and Cogent has certainly contributed a lot to it."

Gareth’s workshop will be a comprehensive overview of developing a competence management system and will look at establishing requirements, designing the system, implementation, maintaining competence and audit and review.

Petrobras is Brazil’s leading power company and operates in several areas in the sector, ranging from oil and gas exploration, refining, and supply through to distribution. The company supplies almost the entire demand of the Brazilian market for petroleum byproducts. Petrobras has one of the highest ratios of proven to undeveloped reserves of any company in the world.

Gary Luquette, president and managing director of ChevronTexaco Upstream Europe and chairman of the industry's Step Change in Safety Leadership Team, said: “The UK offshore safety record has improved significantly since the start of the cross-industry Step Change in Safety campaign in 1997. However as long as we continue to experience injuries in our industry, there is more work to do. The purpose today is to engage industry leaders, refocus on our goals and put some “step” back into Step Change, the key vehicle for bringing about measurable change in our industry's safety performance.”

The latest figures released by the International Association of Oil and Gas Producers (OGP) show that the lost time incident rate in the UK oil and gas sector has improved by 69 per cent since 1997 and 22.5 per cent since 2003, suggesting that the industry is now safer in the UK than in the Americas and Europe.

However, the industry sees further opportunity to force the pace of change by targeting three strategic areas:

The recognition and understanding of potential hazards in the offshore work environment and how to deal with them to reduce the risk of accidents;

• Creating personal ownership for safety at all levels in organisations by demonstrating commitment, competence and leadership;
• Ensuring asset integrity by making sure platforms and pipelines are properly-maintained, reliable and efficient.

CSSL Chief Executive David Doig said: “We work with Step Change when we design our standards and other pan-industry initiatives which affect the workforce. The input of the workforce is vital if we are to have standards which reflect their real needs and the hazards in the workplace.”

Taf Powell, head of offshore division at the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), said: “The meeting extends the visibility of and support for the UK continental shelf safety agenda. Step Change needs to move from the incremental delivery of the past years toward securing a real step change improvement in performance. If all three objectives are achieved, then significant and sustainable improvements are attainable.”

The initiative has identified the best practices that support and sustain safe behaviour, such as risk awareness, communication and personal leadership. It aims to harmonise the implementation of these practices across the industry to encourage everyone employed within the sector to develop a shared sense of responsibility for safety.

Step Change in Safety is the UK oil and gas industry initiative set up in 1997 to reduce injuries and dangerous incidents offshore. It is a unique collaborative grouping of the operators of UK offshore oil and gas installations and the supply chain, and has over 130 members. Its affiliates also include all the major industry trade associations, the TUC and the Health and Safety Executive.

Further information from Greg Washington at Step Change in Safety Support Team

Tel. 01224 577 270

http://www.stepchangeinsafety.net

For the Cogent OPITO Standards:

Bob Provan, [email protected]
Gillian Clark, [email protected]
Iain Emslie, [email protected]

For Competence and Competence Management Systems:

Gareth Cooke, [email protected]
Lisa Geddes, [email protected]

For Modern Apprenticeships contact:
Gordon McNeil, [email protected]
Maureen Hunter, [email protected]
Diane Johnston, [email protected]

For  National Occupational Standards contact:
Peter Crowther, [email protected]
Diane Johnston, [email protected]

For Petroleum Open Learning contact:
Corinna McConachie, [email protected]