Training for the Future — new Rig Technician Apprenticeship program
6/21/2007 11:15:15 AM
College of the North Atlantic (CNA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Canadian Association of Oilwell Drilling Contractors (CAODC) for the development and implementation of a new Rig Technician (Land-based) Apprenticeship program.
“The Rig Technician program is an industry-driven apprenticeship program and will provide many exciting careers for young people in this province to gain entry into the global oil and gas sector,” said Rebecca Roome, acting president of CNA. “We are very pleased to partner with CAODC to make this program available in the province.”
Don Herring, President of the CAODC, says the oil and gas industry benefits greatly from Newfoundland and Labrador workers.
“We value their skills and work ethic. With the expansion of Rig Tech into Newfoundland, their training can take place closer to home. As well, with the developing local onshore projects, workers can now work closer to home,” said Herring. “For the CAODC membership, the addition of Newfoundland and Labrador to the list of provinces already participating in the program is a huge step towards making this trade a truly national one.”
Significant prospects have been identified for oil and gas resources in western Newfoundland, including those on the Port au Port Peninsula, in the Bay St. George area, and the Deer Lake basins, among other areas of the west coast. The training will meet the future needs of the expanding drilling activities in western Newfoundland, other provincial jurisdictions and in other parts of the world.
“Tekoil & Gas Corporation is very pleased to see the Rig Technician Apprenticeship Training program implemented into CNA's upcoming academic year. As a future employer of rig technicians, we support the efforts of the college as they go forward with this program,” said Mark Western, president and CEO of Tekoil & Gas Corporation.
“We fully intend to work with the college, not only to ensure the certification of our oil field workers, but to also encourage these skilled workers to remain in Newfoundland and Labrador. This is truly a momentous occasion and a huge step forward in the right direction for our province's oil and gas industry. Tekoil is thrilled to be part of College of the North Atlantic's strategy as they present an avenue for rig technicians to obtain the necessary training they need. We would like to extend our congratulations to the college and look forward to doing our part to ensure the success of the program," said Western.
Records indicate that some 600 individuals who completed their nine-day floorhand training (the entry level training for drilling rigs) at Seal Cove campus since 1995 will need to complete the apprenticeship program in the future. A fall introduction to the apprenticeship program is coming at a good time.
“With our ongoing petroleum exploration and drilling activities on the west coast of Newfoundland, it is important that the college can offer this apprenticeship program and provide qualified graduates to meet our industry needs,” said Patrick Laracy, president of Vulcan Minerals Inc. “We look forward to seeing this program started soon.”
CAODC has estimated that about 8,000 people will be working in the various categories of the rig crew and involved in positions as Motorhand, Derrickhand and Driller on the land-based drilling rigs. The Rig Technician trade originates from the Alberta drilling industry and they are the first province to implement compulsory trade certification for drilling occupations. The Alberta government designated the trade as compulsory at the request of industry as represented by CAODC. The rig workers will need to be either registered as apprentices or certified as journeypersons by June 2008 if they are working in Alberta.
The Rig Technician program is currently offered in Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and the North West Territories. Newfoundland and Labrador would be the fifth province in Canada to offer this program by using the same course outlines and curriculum to maintain consistency and full mobility for apprentices between provinces.
With regard to the offshore drilling industry in this province, land-based rig workers will require additional hands-on, in-house training provided by the offshore drilling contractors before they are eligible to work in the offshore environment.
The Rig Technician program is one of the many on-going oil and gas project initiatives that the college is working on for strengthening and enhancing program capabilities and capacities to continuously meet the petroleum industry’s needs. The Rig Technician program proposal is currently under review by the Provincial Apprenticeship and Certification Board for designation as a trade occupation for the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
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Media contact:
Tanya Alexander
Public Information Officer
College of the North Atlantic
(709) 643-7928
Tanya.Alexander@cna.nl.ca
or
Don Herring
President
CAODC
(403) 264-4311
Dherring@caodc.ca