Published on December 11, 2023

In the Oil and Gas industry, being at the frontline means being exposed to a number of risks that must be mitigated. While mitigations can come in the form of safety barriers and work procedures, it is also reinforced by staff competence. As safety of our people, our asset and our environment remain to be Brunei Shell Petroleum’s (BSP) priorities, it is crucial to equip our frontliners with the right skills and knowledge.

In light of this, the BSP Wells Training Centre (WTC) was launched in November 2015. Its mission was to develop a highly reliable Wells organisation and individuals to support the industry, ensuring that operators have the right skillsets to execute smooth and successful operations. 

Ensuring that individuals from different level of expertise have the opportunities for practical experience within the class setting, the centre has been equipped with a state-of-the-art facility such as a full-size Drilling Simulator and Well Intervention Simulators. Having such equipment at the centre allows for local access to international level training, and limits reliance on overseas expertise – ultimately enabling BSP to increase its capacity and capability to develop local talents. 

BSP Senior Wells Engineer (WE) Training Manager, Haris Sahlan, stresses the importance of having the right skills to operate Wells activities. 

“In an Oil and Gas business, Drilling and Well Intervention activities are tremendously expensive and high risks. A small mistake could lead to a serious incident. They require people to be highly competent. BSP Wells Training Centre exists to develop competent individuals, instilling collaborative teamwork for a reliable organisation,” he shared. 

To further fortify its position as a credible centre of excellence, the BSP Wells Training Centre became member of International Well Control Forum (IWCF) in October 2016, also obtaining an accreditation as Primary Centre in January 2017. In 2021, the centre was also approved as an Accredited Training Centre for delivering both Drilling Well Control (DWC) and Well Intervention Pressure Control (WIPC). By having these accreditations, the training centre is authorised to deliver mandatory well control certifications for BSP staff as well as business partner colleagues. 

With access to the simulators in-class, students get the chance to replicate well drilling operation for high-risk and highly complicated wells such as High-Pressure High-Temperature deep water drilling. Furthermore, the simulator can aid the development of non-technical skills, such as situational awareness, decision making, communications, and teamwork – crucial elements in safety-critical operations. 

However, the simulators are not only useful for learning, but also for real life wells assessment. In 2018, there was a plan to drill a sophisticated Managed Pressure and High-Pressure High-Temperature well (Rapong Well) using a subsea Blowout Preventer (BOP) stack from a drill ship. The Rapong Well was also crucial to determine the reservoir level. This was a first undertaking in BSP. Hesitant to immediately execute full-on operations, the BSP Wells team sought the collaboration of the Wells Training Centre to develop and deliver Drill Well on Simulator (DWoS) sessions, which saw the participation from Wells Operations staff, rig contractor crews, and service company crews. Through the sessions, the team took the chance to understand and prepare for the challenges and the requirements needed to safely drill the well – but most importantly, through the preparations, the drilling team acquired the confidence to proceed with execution. The Rapong Well was safely and successfully drilled during execution phase. 

“This shows that what we do here is more than just class trainings, we contribute to operations by providing realistic experience both to students and practitioners. At the training centre, we can help equip individuals as well as project teams prior to execution work – in a controlled and safe environment,” shared Haris. 

Since its establishment, the Wells Training Centre has delivered more than 300 trainings and courses, with more than 2000 participants. Recognising that wells operations will be increasing its scopes, and consequently the complexity and associated risks, the Wells Training centre is also continuously looking to broaden its horizons to match the wells training demands today and in the future.