UK's First Pipeline Training Facility opens in the UK

More than 50 key decision makers from across the oil & gas industry were in Montrose, Scotland, today as Petrofac Training, the specialist operations and technical training company of the Petrofac Group, officially opened the UK’s first pipeline training facility for the energy industry.

Guests were given a tour of the facility to understand first hand how it enables realistic experiential training to take place with simulated pipeline operations on actual infrastructure; without the risk associated with live operations.

The training facility is used to train both on and offshore personnel and consists of a 1km, 10” diameter pipeline which has been constructed in a loop formation.  Designed for research and testing in addition to training, the pipeline also features state of the art supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) technology, a central system that monitors and controls the pipeline and which enables multiple scenario simulations to be programmed during training.

Louise Ferguson, head of learning and development for Petrofac Operations Services, officially opened the new facility today and highlighted the important role it will play in addressing the skills gap in the oil & gas sector: “It is widely known that the industry is suffering worldwide from a lack of skilled resources and training is a conduit to getting skilled and competent people into our industry.

“Our facility offers the pipeline industry an outsourced option whereas previously new entrants had to be trained through internal programmes. With our range of courses, Petrofac Training accreditation and pioneering practical facility, we have created choice, standardisation and competence assurance for this sector of our industry.

“Interest and support for the facility has been extremely encouraging and we look forward to meeting demand with this new approach.”

The company completed construction of the pipeline earlier this month with Petrofac’s specialist Brownfield division project managing the build. The facility was developed in full consultation with the oil & gas industry to achieve standardisation in pipeline operations.  Courses range from a basic introduction to pipeline operations to more advanced levels including pigging operations and corrosion engineering.