Energy Services Staff are Certified as Operator Qualified

August 2, 2010

Today we are more aware than ever of the potential hazards of petroleum and gas extraction and transportation via pipeline.  Although SKW’s pipeline control system engineers have an average of 20 years experience each, Engineering Manager Mike Bequette encouraged staff to attain official “Operator Qualification” certification as further assurance to our oil and gas clients that SKW takes safety seriously.

The US Department of Transportation (DOT) requires that pipeline operators have their personnel be OQ certified.  The National Center for Construction Education and Research, (NCCER), sponsored by the American Petroleum Institute (API), provides OQ training and evaluation.  The objective is to ensure that pipeline personnel can perform tasks outlined in various curricula and be able to recognize and respond to abnormal operating conditions encountered while performing those tasks.

Following the NCCER’s curriculum for Pipeline Electrical and Instrumentation Technicians, Technical Manager Vince Mattione led training classes for department personnel.  Mr. Mattione holds OQ Certification along with the associated Performance Verification qualification.  Four other department members are now certified:

Bob Curry: OQ and Performance Verification
Jake Hansen: OQ
Justin Williams: OQ
David Mattione: OQ

They were assessed on their knowledge of, among other tasks, testing and calibration of pressure switches/transmitters and overfill protective devices; verification and setting of instrumentation and control loops; computational pipeline leak detection monitoring; and gas detection equipment maintenance.

We congratulate their achievement and look forward to having other department personnel join their ranks.