WorldWide Drilling Resource

34 MAY 2014 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® Preparing Veterans for a Future in the Oil and Gas Industry Adapted from Information by Battlefields to Oilfields Like many industries, the oil and gas industry is facing the startling reality that half of the current workforce is approach- ing retirement. This potential shortage of experienced workers presents a great opportunity for new, capable workers to obtain long-term careers in the lucrative oil and gas industry, both onshore and offshore. The Battlefields to Oilfields (B2O) program is preparing returning U.S. vet- erans to help fill the void of the Great Crew Change. B2O students are provided with up to five weeks of intensive training, housing, three meals a day, job placement assis- tance, and personal protective equipment. Students are trained in over 50 areas of oil and gas production, safety compliance, interview training, aptitude assessments, and a résumé writing interview. Training consists of a combination of classroom work and practical, hands-on experience. Some of the training and certification in- clude: SafeGulf and SafeLandUSA, Safety Environmental Management Systems, HAZWOPER 40, and Production Safety Systems Training, among many others. This saves potential employers thousands of dollars in training costs and gives vet- eran graduates an advantage over other potential applicants. The program also includes job fairs which allow companies to showcase their industry function and present their com- pany directly to the students. There is also a day for students to travel within the local area to apply in person to companies in the vicinity. To prepare students for the lifestyle of an oil and gas industry professional, the training and living quarters are locat- ed offshore at the Morgan City, Louisiana, training facility. The B2O program is provided at no cost to U.S. Military Veterans under the post 9/11 GI-Bill. Halliburton Opens New Technology Center in Saudi Arabia Adapted from Information by Halliburton Texas-based Halliburton announced the inauguration of its new Unconventional and Reservoir Productivity Technology Center at Saudi Arabia’s King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) located in Dhahran Techno- Valley. The new center will allow the com- pany to provide state-of-the-art research and development for conventional and unconventional reservoirs addressing challenges both in the Kingdom and regionally. Providing a base to develop strong relationships with local universities like KFUPM, the center will help develop technology which will lead to employment and training opportunities for Saudi tech- nicians and university graduates. The center will also support the development of unconventional reservoir productivity practices in the Kingdom. This collaboration, which includes researchers, and research and devel- opment scientists from the KFUPM, Saudi Aramco, and Halliburton, will allow solu- tions to be developed locally and quickly implemented in the field. Hal l iburton’s long history in the Kingdom and the establishment of this multimillion dollar technology center is just one example of Halliburton’s con- tinued commitment to investment in the Kingdom and to the delivery of the lat- est technology and expertise. With a second headquarters in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Halliburton is one of the world’s largest providers to the energy industry, and this center is expect- ed to provide technology and solutions to existing and future partners in the region and around the globe. Ceremonial ribbon cutting during the opening of Halliburton’s new center at KFUPM courtesy of saudigazette.com.sa +9 &8 ,&6"4/23 ( ! ( ! !" ( $ " ( !" & )"6& &,&6"4/23 /' ",, 3*:&3 490&3 ".% 7&*()43 ".% $". #5*,% 4/ ".9 30&$*", "00,*$"4*/.3 *,'*&,% "4&2 &,, /.6&.4*/.", ".% &6&23& *2$5,"4*/. 2*,, *0& 15*0-&.4 +9 &8 ,&6"4/23 2& 3&% /2,%7*%& ( & % " ( # ' !" ! 2&8 2&8-$'"%%&. $/- ,&6"4/23 /"% 4&34 $&24*'*$"4&3 "6"*,"#,& ) # !$ ) # ' " ) # !$ ) ! " $ #$ ! ( #! $ $ " ( ! "" % ! $ " ( #" ( & " 777 2&8-$'"%%&. $/- &7 3&% 15*0-&.4 6"*,"#,&