Certification Process Built on Required Engineering Competency Standards Ensures Consistent Performance Levels and Defines Employee Development

Abstract

fax 01-972-952-9435. AbstractIn today's robust hydrocarbon markets, complexity and volume of drilling and evaluation activity have grown to unprecedented levels. This is driving technology development and new application practices at a record pace. At the same time, the industry is struggling to grow the talent base to manage the increased workload. These issues have resulted in a need to track and ensure application engineer and geoscientist competency levels. To solve this challenge, the company developed a detailed process for individual competency assessment and employee development for various application disciplines. Certification is awarded in set disciplines when the necessary criteria have been met and competence has been successfully demonstrated to a technical experts' review panel.The required competencies for each discipline were developed from the expanded job functions expected of the experienced senior applications engineers and geoscientists, as well as expectations of the services provided in each discipline. From this, a competency assessment and tracking methodology was created. The methodology enables the assessment of an individual engineer's competency level so a tailored development program of training and mentoring can be developed. A formal mentoring system plays a vital role in the certification process. Assigned mentors offer valuable engineering and process guidance.The authors will describe a certification process and a methodology for competency assessment and tracking for application engineers and geoscientists. Finally, the authors will discuss how the program benefits raise the level of the company's technical expertise.