36 Guyanese to work on Nobel Bob Douglas drillship

DPI, GUYANA, Thursday, March 1, 2018

Thirty-six Guyanese, including one female, are undergoing training to work on the Nobel Bob Douglas Drillship.

The locals are being trained by JSL International, a local service provider for Nobel Drilling. Today, Corporate Communications Advisor, Renatha Khan, said the Guyanese will fit in entry-level positions in catering, radio operators, and roustabouts on the ship.

JSL’s Renatha Khan (third left, front row), Exxon’s Kimberly Brasington (far left) pose with some of the recruits and staff of JSL International and Nobel Drilling instructors.

“We currently have 14 of the crew in the New Orleans area currently travelling to board the Nobel Bob Douglas. They will be travelling down from the US with the drillship so by the time they get to Guyanese waters, they would have already been working along with the Nobel team”, Khan explained.

The Nobel Bob Douglas will be drilling the oil wells for ExxonMobil, and its partners, in the Liza field development of the Stabroek Block.

JSL International conducted countrywide recruitment, Khan said. Candidates are selected based on both their skills and academic qualifications. One of the recruits, Kid James, comes all the way from Aishalton, Region Nine.

The 40-year-old worked as a miner before signing up for the opportunity to work in the oil and gas industry as a roustabout.  James described the training as “intense” and “very informative”. “I think one of the important things about the industry is that they place a lot of emphasis on safety. The birth of the industry in Guyana, here at this time, is timely because the experience they are bringing with them has really, really raised the standard of safety in the industry here.”

James said he would encourage his indigenous brothers and sisters to take up employment opportunities in the oil and gas industry.

“Having firms like JSL that can go into communities is one which I think I would really encourage. There are quite a few Amerindian brothers and sisters who work in the mining industry…which I can think can fit beautifully in this new industry”, James said.

Shellion Smith, another recruit, is considered one of the first Guyanese females to work in Guyana’s offshore oil industry. The 44-year-old will work in catering on the Bob Douglas. She said she will try to do her best in the male-dominated industry.

“It’s a great experience. Come on board there is nothing to be scared about. You just have to get that courage. You want to do it do your best to it and you’ll get through okay. It’s challenging but okay”, Smith said in encouragement of more females working in the industry.

Exxon’s Government and Public Affairs Director, Kimberly Brasington commended JSL for its recruit selections, “I have to commend JSL for their outreach efforts to reach into the country, into Guyana and look for people that are representative of the entire country.”

Brasington noted the arrival of the Nobel Bob Douglas “signifies the start of development” of Guyana’s oil industry. “We’re actually now going to start developing these field that we’ve found and so it is a significant milestone.”

To date, a total of 80 Guyanese has been employed with Exxon or its service provider working in the offshore developments.

Shellion Smith.

 

Kid James.

 

By: Tiffny Rhodius

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