Soesdyke youth first to test Guyana’s Oil

DPI, Guyana, Wednesday, January 15, 2020

Shivnarine Outar, a young man from the village of Soesdyke on the East Bank of Demerara, had the “opportunity of a lifetime” as he was the first person to test the first sample of Guyana’s crude.

According to ExxonMobil, the offshore laboratory technician who is employed by Nalco Champion, tested the first sample of Guyanese crude oil as it came through the Liza Destiny Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel.

A release from the US oil giant on Wednesday quoted Outar as saying “So many things can happen from that crude that is right there in front of me and I was fortunate enough to capture that moment…nobody can take that from me right now, never!”

The offshore technician recalled that on December 20 last, the day Guyana officially became a petroleum-producing state, he was anxiously awaiting the first drop of crude.

“We were making sure our apparatuses are correct, we made sure our instruments are calibrated, and our sample boards are all prepared and ready,” he related.

Outar added, “I had to be all suited up, as a safety precaution with a mask, gloves and boots everything, the whole nine yards just to get a sample of this Guyanese oil. The moment finally came at 9:34 pm, that’s when we got the first sample of Guyanese oil on the FPSO.”

The release stated that the moment was an unbelievable and proud one for the former Covent Garden Secondary School student. “It meant so much to me, and it meant so much for my family and for the Guyanese population … I am so proud right now.”

The young man has been employed by Nalco Champion since April 2019 and rotates on to the FPSO every 28 days. He was trained in the United States, Singapore and Brazil before taking up his role on the FPSO. Outar and his colleague Rajiv Indarjeet, are receiving further mentorship by experienced personnel whom they will eventually replace.

From what they call the “cortex” of the FPSO, the young men tested the quality of Guyana’s oil against specific benchmarks.

Outar has a BSc in Chemistry from the University of Guyana and an MBA through Nations University.

The offshore technician sees oil production as an opportunity for himself, family and other Guyanese to thrive and is optimistic about its potential to transform the country and improve people’s lives.

“Be patient,” he advises others. “Oil is here to stay for a long time, so be patient, keep looking for the opportunities, and they will come.”