The time is 3:00pm when the Salam team settles into a call. For Amal Majeedah Aji, it is 10:00am – she is logging in from the other side of the world. Currently, she is at Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), a Shell joint venture company based in Muscat where she works as a Senior Production Technologist.

Amal is fairly a veteran in oil and gas. She graduated from the University of New South Wales as a Brunei Shell Petroleum (BSP) scholar in 2010 and has been with the company ever since.

Almost 18 years of oil and gas knowledge. If this knowledge was human, it would have been legal to drive at this point.

As we sit in the call, Amal talks confidently on her craft.

But she talks with humility. While knowledge is 18 years old, Amal doesn’t think it’s experienced enough.

Amal still thinks there’s opportunities to learn, which was why she decided to leave the comfort of home to work halfway across the world on a Long-Term International Assignment (LTIA).

Amal with the Nimr Clusterteam at PDO

"I have been working as a Production Technologist (PT) since the beginning of my career and have experienced working on all BSP’s major onshore and offshore assets. Mostly as Wells, Reservoir and Facilities Management (WRFM) PT on top of doing work on Wells delivery,” she casually shares, barely scratching the surface of a career that’s thick with experience.

She also held the role as WRFM Integration lead, managing end-to-end WRFM intervention activities in West Asset, and the co-lead for Sand Management efforts – all while running courses on Sand Management for BSP while heavily involved in the localisation of Sand Retention Testing Lab project between BSP and Universiti Teknologi Brunei.

Even then, Amal is hungry for more knowledge.

“What’s different about Oman is that I have the opportunity to do pure technical work,” she explains, “In BSP, my role was more geared towards planning and strategising. Here, I do the hands-on work.”

Oman poses a different challenge for Amal as PDO undergoes a Growth journey. Especially in this technical role, everything can be fast-paced and intense, requiring agile ways of thinking and creativity.

“Just to give context, imagine having a hoist operation to complete one well every three days, and a rig to drill and complete a well within one week – that’s very fast!” she further adds that quick thinking and problem solving are always required when working at this speed, especially when managing the Nimr Cluster (home to one of  PDO’s largest oil production field with the highest number of wells), an asset that can be temperamental in nature.

Despite the challenges, Amal embraces them with glee. Currently, she is learning a lot on subsurface initiatives that are not even practiced in Brunei, exposing her to a multitude of new technologies and ways of working that she can bring home. She has also been assigned as PT Technical Authority 2 (PT) to provide technical assurance on WRFM and hydrocarbon maturation work – assignments that are opening her eyes and mind for further learning.

Amal with the Bruneian community in Oman

It Takes Hard Work

While Amal is reaping the benefits of hard work that merits her to be on LTIA, she mentions that it takes grit and dedication. Being able to qualify for an international assignment requires proactiveness in competence development as well as a strategic planning on career progression, on top of identifying value added from being on assignment.

“It’s important to be an all-rounder. Be technically sound in most aspects, not only limited to your disciplines and find a niche and improve on it, a set of skills that you can improve on or “offer” to others. If I could give some advice, do more on Continuous Improvement work. If I were a certified practitioner at this point of my career, it would probably help me here better.”

So, what’s next? For Amal, she is focusing on her experience in Oman and like a sponge, absorb as much as she can from the experts there with the aim of replicating her learning back home at the Abode of Peace.

“As I bring my own set of experiences and BSP best practices with me here at PDO, I am learning a lot from PDO. There is a lot that we can adopt for BSP, which I hope I’ll have the opportunities to implement once home.”

Celebration for Nimr 3000^th Well

Amal Majeedah is one of the 15 BSP employees who are undergoing Long Term International Assignments all around the world. Competence development continues to be one of the key priorities for BSP. The LTIA programme opens doors for Bruneian talent to learn, stretch, and close their skill gaps by experiencing new environments and challenges. It sits alongside other opportunities such as project roles and national assignments, all designed to help Orang Kitani grow into the leaders and experts of tomorrow.

Tucked in a small building in Seria, a silent but critical operation unfolds within the Production Chemistry Lab department.

It’s a time-consuming job that can begin as early as dawn, which need multiple assessments, and change of hands – all that are required to produce detailed reports that provide vital insights for Brunei Shell Petroleum (BSP).

The Production Chemistry Lab is responsible for delivering expertise to BSP’s production, providing analytical capabilities for samples that can take many forms, from something as thick as mud, or as light as water.

But what does it really take to turn a sample into a solution?

This is the story of a sample’s journey from the field to the final report, told by the people who make it happen.

We spoke with lab technicians Farah and Aqilah, along with laboratory leads Stephanie and Khalil, to get a firsthand look at this (mostly) hidden side to the Oil and Gas industry.

The Morning Rush

The journey begins at the crack of dawn.

Operators from across the business, may it be offshore or onshore, are depositing samples at the Lab as early as 5 in the morning.

For Aqilah and Farah, this means inspecting the submissions as soon as they arrive at work.

Soon after, the samples would move from the outside world into the highly controlled environment of the lab.

The specific path a sample takes depends on its nature and the requested tests.

Which is why the Production Chemistry Lab houses four specialised laboratories: the Oil Lab, Gas Lab, Water & Environmental Lab, and Fluid and Solid Lab.

Fig. 1 Analysis Request Workflow

Evolution of Technology

Alongside the expert hands that guide them, technology plays an important role in the analysis of samples.

For gas and liquid samples, Gas Chromatography (GC) fingerprinting machines analyse molecular composition. Apart from being able to identify the makeup of the sample, it can also cross-check against pre-existing data which goes all the way back to the 1980s – which can greatly save time in identifying source of substance.

For solid samples, the X-ray fluorescent (XRF) analyzer is a game changer.

Farah remembers the past challenges of solid deposit analysis. "We used to spend hours extracting liquid from solids just to analyse the elemental composition," she recalls. "Now, with the XRF, we simply place the sample in a cup, and it gives us the full breakdown in minutes. That’s five hours of technician time saved per sample!"

Samples might also go through other machines to measure properties like density, viscosity, or other chemical and physical properties. All these machines are meticulously maintained to uphold ISO17025 accreditation, an international standard that guarantees the lab adhere to the stringent guideline to assure quality outputs.

But not all samples are made the same, and the journey is never linear.

"In some cases, a sample might start in the Fluid and Solid Lab for initial analysis but then need to be passed on to the Water Lab for a different set of tests," says Aqilah. This requires a seamless handover, with each lab adding a new chapter to the sample’s story.

This collaboration and the rigorous process behind it are key reasons the average turnaround time for a complete report is 14 working days, although some reports can be completed in a single day.

Once all the tests are complete, the team would move on to compilation and reporting. The technicians’ work isn’t done until they have meticulously reviewed the data, cross-referenced results, and compiled it into a clear, comprehensive report. This document is the finale of the sample’s entire journey—from the field to the lab—and is the valuable end-product that will be used to make informed decisions.

The All-Rounder Orang Kitani

While the lab boasts complex and advanced machineries, at the heart of the operations are still the people. The Production Chemistry Lab is home to 15 local talents coming from different backgrounds.

For Stephanie, Laboratory Team Lead, she makes it a priority to ensure the team is well-equipped with the necessary skills.

"We don't just have specialists; we have all-rounders," explains Stephanie. "Everyone in each lab understands the critical processes, the machinery, and the workflows. If one person is absent, the show still goes on." This "multi-skill" development approach also reinforce business continuity.

Khalil, Laboratory Unit Lead, adds that "complacency is not a word you'd hear in our labs," expressing the team's proactive attitude toward closing any competency gaps.

The sentiment is echoed by Aqilah, who was a graduate from Politeknik Brunei. “I feel at home at the lab – it’s a privilege to be able to practice what I learned from school," she says. "The lab environment has never felt alien to me, which is why I'm now in my sixth year here."

Farah also reflected on her 15-year career journey. When she graduated from Maktab Teknik Sultan Saiful Rizal (now known as IBTE Saiful Rizal) with a National Diploma, she never expected to carry on learning throughout the years.

"All my lab experience and knowledge were gained on the job," she explains. "There's a constant opportunity to develop, not just across the four labs, but even in field assignments like my time as a Lab technician at Champion 7. Learning never stops, proving that your qualification on paper doesn't limit your potential."

On April 29, 2024, the Cenderawasih Hall at the Brunei Shell Recreation Club (BSRC) had over 100 attendees gathered for the launch of the ICV (In-Country Value) Reporting System. Officiated by Hj Zulazrin Hj Mohidin, BSP's Finance Director, the event marked a significant milestone in promoting local business development in Brunei.  

Developed by a local Bruneian company, Pixelated Enterprise, the ICV Reporting System is a user-friendly web platform designed for Brunei Shell Joint Venture (BSJV) Business Partners to manage and submit their Local Business Development (LBD) data, including Local Employment, Local Content, and Local Recruitment. The project, which began in May 2023, has been fully operational since April 2024, serving as the primary platform for LBD reporting. 

In her opening remarks, Noreliza Omar, BSP Supply Chain Manager, emphasised the importance of transparency and efficiency in local business practices. She explained that the ICV Reporting System aims to serve as a central repository for LBD reporting for BSP’s Business Partners, providing real-time updates and streamlining the reporting process. The system enables faster processing times with fewer errors, ultimately offering higher data quality and integrity. Noreliza highlighted that the system serves as a single point of truth for LBD reporting and analysis, facilitating manpower development across BSJV through a centralised, on-the-go dashboard. 

ICV Reporting System Demo by Pixelated Enterprise 

Following the official launch, Izzuddin Hussin, Managing Director of Pixelated Enterprise, took the stage to demonstrate the ICV Reporting System. His presentation showcased the platform’s intuitive interface and functionality, guiding attendees through the process of managing and submitting LBD data. Izzuddin highlighted the system’s features, including its security measures, such as Two-Factor Authentication (2FA), which adds an extra layer of protection for users. 

Booth Sessions and Networking Opportunities 

After the demonstration, attendees engaged in booth sessions featuring representatives from Pixelated Enterprise, the SCM/1 ICV Reporting team, and the SCM/6 Vendor Master team. The session provided an excellent opportunity for participants to ask questions, gain insights into the system, and discuss best practices for its effective use. 

The launch of the ICV Reporting System marks a significant step forward for BSJV and its Business Partners, reinforcing the commitments to local business engagement and accountability while leveraging off automation and digitalisation to increase efficiency and data reliability. The booth sessions, alongside ICV Reporting System demo, fostered networking and collaboration, showcasing the innovative spirit of Bruneian companies, and paving the way for a brighter economic future.