9 June 2015

PDO OPENS WELL ENGINEERING AND PROCESS SAFETY TRAINING

FACILITIES TO OTHER OPERATORS
Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) today (9 June) officially opened its state-of-the-art well
engineering and process safety training facilities to other operators and contractors to enhance
operational excellence in Omans oil and gas industry.
The Company signed a partnership and service level agreement which will mean staff from local
oil and gas firms will be able to receive expert tuition on a variety of internationally recognised
courses. Training will be delivered at cost to them on a non-profit basis.
Some of the companies that have expressed an interest in using the training facilities so far
include OOCEP, Occidental Oman, Oman LNG, Abraj, Daleel, Petrogas, Oman Gas, Special
Oilfield Services, Ensign Energy, Medco, NDSCO and PTTEP.
The new agreement covers the Wells Learning Centre at Mina Al Fahal which was inaugurated
last November by His Excellency Dr Mohammed bin Hamad Al Rumhy, the Minister of Oil and
Gas, and marks a step change in the level of training for well control and certification for both
experienced wells professionals and newcomers.
The complex boasts a range of facilities, including seven classrooms and four simulator rooms,
which teach trainees how to virtually and safely tackle difficult well scenarios that they could
face in the field.
The centre is accredited by the independent International Well Control Forum (IWCF) and offers
IWCF level three and four training for well engineering and completion and well intervention
supervisors. It also provides the Shell round 1 training programme, including a course covering
the fundamentals of wells working, and the round 1 examination and certification.
PDO is also to host external staff for process safety training in Explosion Proof Equipment
Maintenance (CompEX) and Inspection and Control Room Operators (CRO) Emergency
Response.
The CompEX programme, which is accredited by top UK-based learning providers JTL, coaches
electrical and instrument technicians in the use of electrical equipment in hazardous areas. The
CompEX facility, also based at the Mina Al Fahal Learning and Development Centre, is the first
of its kind licensed in Oman and the second in the Gulf region.
The CRO programme, another first for the Sultanates oil and gas industry, is accredited by the
Offshore Petroleum Industry Training Organisation (OPITO). It is aimed at building and
assessing the aptitude of operators and technicians to deal with different types of emergencies
that can occur during plant operations, by teaching them through simulated exercises in the

model control room.

PDO Managing Director Raoul Restucci said: As part of PDOs drive to build local capability
and boost In-Country Value, we are delighted to open the doors of our world-class training
facilities to other players in the Sultanates oil and gas sector.
Through the power of partnership, we want to build up a cadre of expert Well Engineering and
Process Safety professionals in Oman who are fully versed in dealing competently and
confidently with any issue they are faced with in the field so that production can be carried out
safely, efficiently and sustainably.
However, the ultimate goal is to develop and support best-in-class technical and operational
capability and process safety not only here but also in the wider region.
PDO Learning and Development Centre Manager Hamed Al Hadhrami said: Since the Wells
Learning Centre opened, we have progressed steadily and have delivered nine IWCF courses so
far this year for both Well Engineering and Completion and Well Intervention and four Shell
Advanced Well Control trainings to PDO employees.
A pilot Shell W100 Well Engineering Fundamentals training session was conducted for PDO
graduates. A human factors pilot for mature staff was also introduced which refers to
environmental, organisational and job factors, and human and individual characteristics which
influence behaviour at work in a way that can affect health and safety.
In addition, several educational tours of the model room and simulators have been given to both
employees and students and visitors ranging from colleges, boy scouts, to the Royal Oman Police
for familiarisation in emergency response situations.
The success so far fully underlines our belief that we can develop a regional hub of excellence
for Well Engineering and Process Safety competence and awareness building for both internal
and external stakeholders.
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Note to editors: Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) is the major exploration and production company in the
Sultanate. It accounts for about 70% of the country's crude-oil production and nearly all of its natural-gas supply.
The Company is owned by the Government of Oman (which has a 60% interest), the Shell Group (which has a 34%
interest), Total (which has a 4% interest) and Partex (which has a 2% interest). Gas fields and processing plants are
operated by PDO exclusively on behalf of the Government.
For further information please contact the PDO External Affairs Directorate: Ian Ford, Tel: 2467-4246; E-mail:
ian.IF.ford@pdo.co.om.