Mechanical Engineer

• The Beginning
• My Work at ConocoPhillips
• Career Development
• The Future

The Beginning

In the summer of 2006 I worked as a summer student with ConocoPhillips on the Britannia Satellites development project, phase 1 with the hook-up and commissioning team who were based in the main design contractor’s office in Aberdeen. This was a unique experience, as I was situated in a contract office rather than being based at the company’s main office at Rubislaw House. The project was for the development of two new small fields tied back to the main processing platform Britannia via a new Bridge Linked Platform (BLP). I visited the fabrication site at Hartlepool where the main integrated deck was being fabricated and I assisted in the preparation of the commissioning procedures of the mono ethylene glycol (MEG) module. After the installation was complete, I was given the opportunity to visit the project offshore.

The placement was exciting. I felt that I was given the responsibility of a real engineer and learned a lot about how a high profile capital project operated. I also attended many social events, which helped me to get to know the other summer students and other early career employees.

My work at ConocoPhillips

In my first year of employment as a graduate engineer, I worked within four different departments on rotational placements, which helped me gain a broad base of experience. This let me realise my strengths and let me see where I would be suited to work in the long-term. I worked in the Britannia additional accommodation project, supply chain, well operations completions (Norway) and well operations intervention.

Overall, I believe that the rotations provide a graduate engineer with the perfect opportunity to see how different departments collaborate towards the same goal. It is also a great chance to meet and network with people from different areas within the company.

I then spent 18 months as a package engineer in the mechanical group at our engineering design contractor’s office in Aberdeen. I was involved in several projects, but the ones that I had sole responsibility for included specifying and procurement of portable water UV treatment units, corrosion inhibitor injection pump packages and the replacement of vessel internals. I also wrote several study reports which looked at various location points for installing exhaust stack sample points.

Career Development

I have now worked on some real value adding projects. One particular highlight was helping to develop the company’s Operating Management System (OMS).

The OMS is a quality management system that ensures each individual understands their respective roles and responsibilities and is able to execute their work in full compliance with corporate and legal requirements, with the risks of unplanned outcomes minimised. This short-term project was a great opportunity to allow me to further develop my understanding of the company’s OMS and how the business will operate in the future.

My latest role is as part of the Brownfield commissioning/start-up team on the Jasmine project. This long-term project is a fantastic opportunity, and one which will allow me to develop my understanding of pre-commissioning, hook-up and commissioning (HUC) and start-up activities on one of ConocoPhillips’ largest worldwide capital projects.

As well as the wide number of opportunities available to early career professionals, there is also a good social network. There is always plenty of fun to be had and the company supports this through the Young Professionals Forum (YPF). Its annual barbecue is my particular favourite and it allows you to experience first hand the fun side of ConocoPhillips.

I am also a member of the ConocoPhillips Aberdeen golf club, which is another great opportunity to socialise with employees. We travel all over Scotland, playing many fantastic golf courses at reduced rates.

The Future