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Breaking into O&G planning

10 replies [Last post]
Mon, 2008-09-29 15:50
Bill OBrien
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I have been working in the pharmaceutical industry for the past four years. I have worked as a project controls engineer and planner through concept, design and construction stages. I am currently coming to the end of my contract as the lead construction planner for a 150million Euro pharma project. I am looking at working in oil & gas but without any previous O&G experience I am being told it is not possible - classic chicken or egg scenario - how can you get experience if you can’t get work in the first place? I was hoping somebody may have been in a similar situation and could offer some advice?
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Replies

Sat, 2008-10-04 12:56
#1
Charleston-Joseph...
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HI Bill,

You do need to have empathy with your colleagues or project team.

Piping is quite complicated depending on the project. The pipe running from the tank farm to the plant is very easy to plan and monitor.

The complication start when the pipe start to enter the plant. The project may have a pipe racks wherein all and different process pipes will converged. There are lots of techniques to achieve piping works. This will all depends upon the site people experience on which one to use. So it is very important to know the strategy in piping works inside the near and inside the plant.

The point here is that it is very important to coordinate the planning with site construction team with regards to their strategy in piping works.

Cheers,
Charlie
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Fri, 2008-10-03 04:53
#2
Samer Zawaydeh
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Dear Bill,

With your experience in Pharma, it would be a good idea to become a specialist in one area. You will have a higher demand on ur knowledge.

Instead of spending 2 years adapting to a new field, you will spend it specializing and adding to your experience. That is, if the compensation and interest are acceptable to you.

Good luck,

Samer
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Fri, 2008-10-03 02:52
#3
Bill OBrien
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Charlie

A lot of food for thought – much appreciated.

I understand there are many processes involved in O&G and I am trying to gain some sort of knowledge in as much of these areas as possible.

In terms of planning expertise as a whole, having worked in Pharma I would be of the belief that the same or at least similar principals would apply for engineering, design, procurement, construction management, and commissioning. Having planning experience gained in these areas, I would have thought it would just be a matter of learning the process involved in which ever area of O&G selected. Similarly as in past Pharma projects it was a case that initial study was required of the operational process involved for that particular plant.

All in all, there are many factors involved – if it was that simple every body would be doing it…

It is just a little frustrating how limited opportunities seem to be without any actual previous O&G experience.

Bill
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Thu, 2008-10-02 01:13
#4
Anoon Iimos
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Charlie,

huge stockpile of "SCADA"??!
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Wed, 2008-10-01 12:09
#5
Charleston-Joseph...
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Also Bill,

You need to know, testing and commissioning of all the plants, machines and equipments.

Your plan and schedule will be the basis in the deployment of personnel for testing and commissioning of plants, machines and equipment.

Cheers,
Charlie
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Wed, 2008-10-01 12:06
#6
Charleston-Joseph...
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Hi Bill,

It is really a challeng considering that in O&G, basically you need to know the process of what you are involved with, it could be a simple GTL (gas to liquid), Methanol Plant, Asphalt plant, petrochemical plant, upstream and donwstream plants, storage tanks, LNG tanks, etc. etc.

In O&G, the major trade are: Civil, Mechanical (pipings and columns), Electrical (HV, MV, LV), Instrumentation.

You can be involved with EPC, or civil contractor, or Mechanical, Electrical and Instrumentation contractor.

You also need to know procurement. lead time, manufacturing time, delivery and ETA at site to syncronize the arrival of these equipment with progress at site, otherwise, you may end up looking for huge laysdown area to stockpile lots of machines, could be generators, SCADA, columns, reactors, boilers, etc, tanks,

in the event you are there, the best you can do is ASK.

Cheers,
Chalrie
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Tue, 2008-09-30 06:17
#7
Anoon Iimos
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Samer,

What I’m trying to say is that for Planning or Scheduling Works, specific discipline experience is irrelevant.

And what are Discipline Engineers for? These people must play their role (by providing inputs) in the preparation of the Plan. The more experience they got, the better, and it would be much better if they themselves are Planners.

and of course "6 meters" is a lot! (it simply shows that they don’t care or know anything about Planning).
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Tue, 2008-09-30 01:41
#8
Samer Zawaydeh
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Hi,

6Meter is a lot :) what is the size of weld and the thickness of the material.

Now we can cover the O&G production rates.

Have a good day,
Samer
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Tue, 2008-09-30 01:14
#9
Anoon Iimos
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Bill,

i’m jumping in from anywhere (I’m TCN, that’s my advantage), i’ve encountered once an engineer for O&G (that has more than 20 yrs exp. in O&G alone) that keep on saying that I don’t have any experience in O&G, when I ask him what’s the average rate of the welder in terms of linear meter per hour, he told me 6 meters! ANYBODY OUT THERE WHO HAS EXPERIENCE IN OIL AND GAS!?
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Tue, 2008-09-30 00:45
#10
Samer Zawaydeh
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Hi Bill,

The best way to apply for jobs and when given the opportunity to show your knowledge be flexible enough to adapt it into any field you wish.

It is a supply and demand issue. You will need to know what section in the O&G you want to work in. Do your research and try to formulate the overall picture. The processes differ greatly from one job to another, and I am very sure that you can not learn them all.

What you have is the experience in planning and scheduling similar size projects, and that will help. You will need to work closely with team members to update your program to the degree that they believe it is helping their work.

Good luck,

Samer
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