SeaFlo training programs expedite knowledge transfer, supporting offshore recovery

ABERDEEN - SeaFlo Consultancy Ltd has invested more than £250,000 to develop a new dynamic marine and subsea training capability supported by state-of-the-art mobile simulators.

Launched this week, the firm’s Marine Professionals Chartership Progression Training has been designed to help “fast-track” the careers of aspiring marine technicians to chartered engineers and technologists in the subsea industry, and aid the sector’s recovery from the coronavirus and oil price collapse

The modular initiative is the first course of its kind to be recognised by both the Society for Underwater Technology (SUT) and the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science & Technology (IMarEST). Time logged on the course will count towards achieving chartership.

SeaFlo has structured the CPD recognised qualification to help expedite the process of attaining more registered professional technicians and navigate them towards chartered status.

It is intended to advance the careers of existing operations technicians and up skill more engineers to marine technologists to bring to the forefront those that aspire to become industry leaders.

It is also aimed at post-graduates as well as qualified chartered engineers committed to maintaining their accreditation and keeping themselves abreast of the rapidly evolving marine technology industry opportunities within a transforming industry, with offshore wind and the blue economy.

SeaFlo was established in Aberdeen, Scotland, in 2010 and has grown into an international consultancy. It has a services agreement with Add Energy in Norway and Australia to deliver subsea operations services and training to oil and gas and LNG projects.

The five-week e-learning courses will be delivered globally, as will conventional classroom based training by SeaFlo’s team of subsea and asset management operations engineers who have more than 200 years’ industry experience between them.

The programme combines e-learning and classroom work along with dynamic virtual subsea marine operations simulation training. The animated real-life scenarios have been produced by Canadian company and Marine Technology Society award winners, GRi Simulations, to provide a safe environment for the learner to practice and achieve desired learning outcomes.

GRi’s specialist software uses full 3D modelling of subsea wells and client specific field development architecture built into the mobile simulators. SeaFlo is currently using this simulation technology to train local national field technicians and engineers for a client in West Africa to support learning around subsea commissioning and life of field operations.

The technology for the Marine Professionals Chartership Progression Training will be available at strategic global marine training centres via industry partnership agreements from September.

The four modules incorporate topics including well interventions, life cycle integrity, production assurance (from regulatory approvals, safety case submissions, to planning of subsea maintenance); flow line and pipeline integrity best practices; developing leadership skills; subsea installation construction and project execution; using Big Data and condition performance monitoring tools for more effective asset management; and aligning life of field operations through to phased de-commissioning.

Following recent recommendations from the International Association of Oil & Gas Producers (IOGP), the first module also incorporates International Well Control Forum (IWCF) and well intervention pressure control training. This will support senior engineers or technical authority approval personnel working towards IWCF level 5 certification.   

SeaFlo managing director Charles Reith said: “Chartered engineers and technologists have a vital role to play in developing the production optimisation innovations and solutions that will support the sector to recover from this downturn and continue spearheading a low carbon future. However, with projects delayed or cancelled and headcounts being reduced, some industry wisdom and experience has slipped away before it can be shared with junior personnel. Therefore, seizing the moment and taking advantage of training now is a real priority for businesses. 

“Our unique training programme, endorsed by the SUT/IMarEST partnership, is an important investment in future proofing the sector. It has been designed as a standalone programme or to fit within existing company training schedules and provides a highly effective method for adding valuable skills and competencies. It bridges potential skills gap and ensures the chartered engineers of tomorrow are being supported at a key moment in time.”

Subsea UK CEO Neil Gordon added: “As the oil price begins to show promise and the sector looks towards embarking on the road to recovery post coronavirus, there will be more and more dependence on new technologies and ways to further drive efficiencies.

“Companies have accumulated knowledge in their organisations through the experience gained within their workforce, and some of this may be lost from industry due to the current and future round of redundancies and cost-cutting as a result of the global pandemic.

“It’s vital that companies continue to invest in people and training. CPD courses specifically designed to facilitate and accelerate knowledge transfer in the qualification process, such as SeaFlo’s training, will prove invaluable in supporting the industry’s recovery and rise to the skills challenge.”

SeaFlo’s Marine Professionals Chartership Progression Training complies with the Engineering Council UKSPEC, OPITO competency assurance requirements and the agreed BSi Group, ISO standards.