Petrofac Training Services Marks 20th Anniversary of Groundbreaking Simulator

As the oil and gas industry gathers in Aberdeen for Piper 25, Petrofac Training Services is marking 20 years since the opening of its groundbreaking Major Emergency Management (MEM) simulator in Montrose.

The simulator is designed to replicate emergency response activity realistically, link it to fire training exercises elsewhere on the site, and to deliver accredited OIM and Control Room operator training. The development of the MEM simulator was prompted by the conclusions of the 1990 Cullen Report, which gave recommendations on how the industry could improve safety and workforce competence following the Piper Alpha disaster. Lord Cullen of Whitekirk, who headed the public inquiry into the disaster, opened the Petrofac Training Services simulator in June 1993.

It was among the first of a number of state-of-the-art technical and behavioural innovations introduced at the Montrose site. Gordon Caird, Global Director of Fire, Safety and Survival Training at Petrofac Training Services, said: “It is an honour that we are able to celebrate two decades since the opening of our MEM simulator in conjunction with the 25th anniversary of Piper Alpha.

“This achievement is demonstrative of our unfaltering commitment to offshore safety in the North Sea since Piper Alpha, now and in the future.” Piper 25, a major offshore safety conference to mark 25 years since Piper Alpha, will be taking place this week (June 18th – 20th) at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre.

Petrofac Training Services will be exhibiting at Piper 25, where staff will be on hand to discuss the company’s commitment to enhancing survival, ERCM and training and competence provision in the industry over the last 25 years.