(May 2004)

The evolution of oil field training has run the gamut from standup classroom to videotapes and workbooks to computer based and web-delivered training. In this article, Peter Simon, Rene Malagon Alegria and Henry del Castillo discuss a ground-breaking alternative now being employed in Venezuela.

The Xplora, developed by Changent Systems, is an interactive, audio-visual learning station designed to provide web-enabled tracking, security, and training to oilfield workers on location. These are ruggedized "roughneck resistant" units that use smart card technology combined with a learning station that incorporates a touch screen computer. Delivering this type of training on site lowers overall training cost and daily exposure to the training episodes improves retention and performance.

Xplora learning stations deliver short, realistic and compelling video episodes to the field personnel right on the job site. These episodes are carefully produced full screen and motion videos that show realistic oilfield situations directly applicable to the work being performed by the field personnel. Individual video episodes are followed by a series of related questions to assess understanding. Workers experience a brief but powerful interactive lesson right on the job. Completed episodes are stored to the user's smart card, the Xplora unit, and can be written to the web if the units are so connected. The smart cards contain all training records, licenses, certifications, and personal data for each user.

Among the benefits of the Xplora system are that it stimulates safety discussions, delivers powerful and retentive safety lessons, reduces personnel incidents and improves personnel performance.

Changent Systems recently deployed three RigTacer learning stations for Pride International Venezuela CA. Two units went to Maracaibo and the third to Barinas. Smart cards were prepared and issued to 170 field workers, as Pride international Venezuela became the first company in the world to adopt this system.

Venezuelan pilot

Forty-three episodes were developed for Pride International Venezuela for the 90-day pilot program. The episodes ranged from Well Control Basics to Serious Incident Recreations to Hydrogen Sulfide Awareness. Joe Summers, Pride "International Venezuela operations manager, targeted specific subjects he felt needed immediate attention and would be of use to the field personnel. The chosen episodes were a combination of in-house material supplied by Pride and other material provided by Changent. All the episodes were delivered to the workers in Spanish, their native language.

The units were deployed individually and introductory meetings were held with the rig personnel on location to instruct them in the use of the units and the smart cards. All personnel who would be training on these units were asked for their feedback and this started coming in almost immediately after deployment. Most workers on location, from the company man to individual roughnecks, were enthusiastic and highly complimentary about the system, to the extent many of the field workers exceeded the one or two episodes per day that had been anticipated. In fact, 25 individuals completed the 90-day pilot program in less than three weeks by voluntarily taking multiple episodes per day.

Overall reaction of the field personnel to the Xplora system was as follows:

• 95% of comments submitted were complimentary of the units and the system.
• 75% of the comments were to request more training episodes.
• A casing handling handling procedure was changed on location after the rig personnel saw one of the episodes presented.

Delivering training material to field personnel on location lowers the overall training cost and allows employers to buy back time by not having to remove their personnel from the job and/or use their off time for training.

Another preliminary conclusion from the implementation of the Venezuelan pilot project was that careful consideration should be given to the number and type of episodes selected for training. The driving factors for this would be: project duration, type of operation, number of workers on location, and company training objectives.

Xplora learning stations are ruggedly built from 304 stainless steel and are totally weatherproof. Additionally, they have a daybrite touch screen and a powerful audio system. The units can run continuously on their on-board batteries for about 12 hours and/or be connected directly to the rig's electrical system.

The authors acknowledge with thanks the assistance of Bruce Kain, QA/HSE director for Pride International, and Joe Summer, Pride International Venezuela CA operations manager, in the preparation of this report.

Peter Simon is VP of operations for Changent Systems. Rene Malagón Alegría is Changent Systems' international sales manager, based in Houston. Henry del Castillo is the HSE country manager for Pride International in Venezuela, based in Caracas. Changent Systems is a subsidiary of RPC, parent company of Cudd Pressure Control, the Well Control School and Energy Personnel International.

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