From Bernama – Oil And Gas Industry Needs Skilled Manpower And Innovation To New Technology

March 31, 2010

Is the public expecting that an upgrade in the productivity of the average oil and gas worker to come at no cost or pay increment, similar to what they expect of other labour forces, say the police? Also, would big PSCs (yes, I’m talking about you, PETRONAS) stop asking for ’38 years experience in providing the proposed technology’ and help the little guy by taking some risk and being a mentor and test bed to the smaller suppliers and providers? Windows XP is only 9 years old, stop asking for Windows 98!

Taken from Bernama, dateline 2010-03-23:

Skilled manpower and an innovation to new technology, are the biggest challenges faced by the oil and gas industry, says Sarawak’s Assistant Minister of Infrastructure Development and Communication, Datuk Lee Kim Shin.

Lee said the process of providing education and training for the younger generation to meet the industry demand, is a big challenge, as the process takes time.

“The industry is going to get more sophisticated.So,will the challenges. We need therefore to come out with more innovative and new technology to overcome the challenges,” he said, while officiating the launch of the Sixth Getenergy Exploration and Production 2010 here today.

The two-day conference is being held at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) International Campus, from March 23-24.

11 Comments | investment, Malaysia, oil and gas | Tagged: | Permalink
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Diving Photos – Terumbu Kili Redang

March 30, 2010

Yup, there is another dive spot in Redang that is really called Sharon Stone, so sue me. I can make up a whole lotta word innuendos from this one.

A book I like to use to identify fish is Asia Pacific Reef Guide, 3rd REVISED EDITION 2007. Nice clear descriptions, photos, and a few war stories thrown in.

4 Comments | diving, Malaysia | Tagged: , , | Permalink
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Saturday Star 2010-03-27 – Job Opportunities

March 29, 2010

First off, if you need my help to submit your CVs, donate to the blog, and I’ll review your CV to see if it is worthy of my (and my associates’) expectations. If you can’t figure out how to donate, you are definitely Babblefish fodder.

  • Those of you who have started comments with “I’m a graduate, oil & gas companies hate me, please spend your time and hourly rates getting me a job for free… oh, I want hot guys/girls, cold drinks, and an oil free environment offshore,’ go apply to Murphy as a Graduate Trainee. Send your qualifications (ROTFL) here.

That’s it?

No food recommendations this week.  If you want, you can go see my book recommendations, and make a purchase.

8 Comments | engineering, Malaysia, oil and gas | Tagged: | Permalink
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Petronas denies oil field find

March 28, 2010

My take: PETRONAS might be coy with this information until the current royalty issues are sorted out. Or maybe they don’t want to be seen as bailing out the nation in the near future. Or maybe Kuli was just plain wrong.

Can anyone donate a copy of ‘The Young Turks of PETRONAS‘? I’ve been meaning to read it, but haven’t been able to get my hands on it yet. Maybe if it gets translated to the Kindle
, and maybe when the Kindle finally gets to our shores…

Taken from The Star, deadline 2010-03-25:

KUALA LUMPUR: Petronas has strongly denied reports that it has made a big discovery of an oil field which is said to be one of the biggest in the world.

“We adopt a well-established reporting process whereby we make progress report to the board and stake holders as well as to the Government.

“There is no way we are hiding any information with regards to the discovery as we have no intention to hide any news,” exploration and production business vice-president Ramlan A Malek told a media briefing yesterday.

He added that an announcement would have already been made if the company had found a big oil field.

You can subscribe to an online version of the paper at the Bluehyppo site, follow links to e-browse.

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Reading Recommendation – Cabinet of Mathematical Curiosities

March 27, 2010

Those of you who come for an interview should read this book, Professor Stewart’s Cabinet of Mathematical Curiosities (written by Ian Stewart), if you ever plan to mention that maths was your favourite subject. It’s a fun book to read, giving the 1 minute summary for some complex ideas and mathematical conundrums:

  • The four colour theory
  • Mathematical jokes
  • Magic squares
  • Why can’t I divide by zero

I have other books I’ll recommend later which explores the ideas in the book more thoroughly, but this is a nice start into recreational mathematics.

1 Comment | engineering | Permalink
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From the Star – Is PETRONAS on the Right Track

March 26, 2010

Taken from The Star, deadline 2010-03-21:

Many nations blessed with rich resources have enjoyed economic booms, but many have also been cursed by it. So what is Malaysia’s standing among the world matrix of oil-producing nations, and how well are we managing our oil revenue?

IN 1973, OPEC (Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries) unexpectedly imposed a six month embargo on oil supplies, inducing the first global oil shock. Malaysia’s response to that was the incorporation of PETRONAS as the Malaysian oil corporation. The timing seemed right given that in 1971 the price of oil was just US$1.50 but by 1974 it was already averaging US$12 per barrel, making it viable for PETRONAS to extract oil from our off-shore reserves.

…

You can subscribe to an online version of the paper at the Bluehyppo site, follow links to e-browse.

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From Offshore – Petrofac looking to boost Malaysia production

March 25, 2010

I think this isn’t news anymore, but here it is out in the open. Don’t know why the link is called ‘Petrobras’ though. Taken from the Offshore Magazine, dateline 2010-03-15:

KUALA LUMPUR — Petrofac’s Energy Developments division is considering a second-phase development of Block PM304 offshore Peninsular Malaysia.

The company operates the Cendor oil field on the license, which last year averaged production of 14,400 b/d, down slightly on levels in 2008. Petrofac’s Engineering & Operations division installed a Caltec Wellcom multiphase boosting system on one of the wells, which led to a substantial increase in output. As a result, further units may be installed.

Petrofac and its partners Petronas, PetroVietnam, and Kufpec have also drilled numerous successful near-field appraisal wells. They have commissioned a front-end engineering design study for a second-phase program, and expect to submit a field development proposal during the second half of 2010.

8 Comments | business opportunity, Malaysia, oil and gas | Tagged: , | Permalink
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From VNS- PETRONAS acquires Thang Long LPG

March 24, 2010

Even though this isn’t Malaysian per se, I have included it as Thang Long is in my business sights at the mo’. Dateline 2010-03-20, taken from the Viet Nam News:

HA NOI — Malaysia’s national petroleum corporation, Petroliam Nasional Bhd (PETRONAS), took full control over Thang Long Liquefied Petroleum Gas Co Ltd after buying PetroVietnam Gas Corp’s share of 28.83 per cent.

The value of the deal was not revealed by either party.

Thang Long LPG, established in 1995, began as a joint venture between PETRONAS and PetroVietnam Gas Corp. The company has a register charter capital of nearly US$6.2 million, to which PETRONAS contributed $4.4 million (equivalent to 71.17 per cent of the total value).

The completion of the acquisition paves the way for PETRONAS to consolidate its liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) business in Viet Nam which is being led by subsidiary Thang Long LPG and PETRONAS Viet Nam Company Ltd (PVL).

As part of the acquisition exercise, the PVL will assume the role of sole agent for sales and distribution of the “Gas PETRONAS” brand in Viet Nam.

“Gas PETRONAS” is currently sold and distributed by the PVL in the country’s southern region and will soon be introduced in the north as a replacement of the “Thang Long Gas” brand.

Thaêng Long LPG is the second largest LPG distributor in the north of the country after Petrolimex Gas.

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From The Star: Wah Seong bids for Socotherm

March 23, 2010

Dateline 2010-03-18, from The Star:

KUALA LUMPUR: Oil and gas company Wah Seong Corp Bhd submitted its bid to buy over Italian company Socotherm SpA three weeks ago, said deputy managing director Giancarlo Maccagno.

The results of the tender, which has attracted four other parties, would be known by end-April.

Maccagno declined to reveal the cost of the acquisition, which would be funded internally, as the company had a high cash reserve and low gearing of 0.3 times.

You can subscribe to an online version of the paper at the Bluehyppo site, follow links to e-browse.

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Saturday Star 2010-03-20 – Job Opportunities

March 22, 2010

First off, if you need my help to submit your CVs, donate to the blog, and I’ll review your CV to see if it is worthy of my (and my associates’) expectations. If you can’t figure out how to donate, you are definitely Cylon fodder.

  • Synergy is looking for lead safety engineers, safety specialists, junior and lead process engineers and technical writers. We’re on an expansion drive, people! Visit the Synergy website for contact details. For leads, you need 5 years plus experience in the oil & gas industry. For safety specialist applicants, you need to be well versed in HAZOP, HAZID, QRA, FERA and Formal Safety Assessment. Ah, heck. If you have more than 5 years experience in O&G, apply. If you have less than 5, send a donation to the offshore account, and still get abuse. For juniors, go pick up a copy of Cambridge’s ChemEng syallabus, and go study like the Tripods (all of them) are tomorrow. 
  • Subsea 7 is looking for a Business Development Manager (SEA). View the job desciption here, and apply online.
  • Ah, a familiar name is back again. Shapadu is looking for project man, HSE man, E&I eng, Planning eng, Mech & piping eng, QA/QC eng. Please apply here or  here or snail mail to: Shapadu Energy and Engineering Sdn Bhd, Wisma Berkat, Lot 10, Jalan Pelabur 23/1 Section 23, 40000 Shah Alam, Selangor DE.
  • Nippon Oil Exploration (Malaysia) Ltd (NOEX) asks, “Do you want to be part of a sustainable energy initiative for the future?” If so, there is a position for a Senoir Drilling Engineer. Snail mail to Human Resource Section NIPPON OIL EXPLORATION (MALAYSIA) LTD, Lot 1168, 3rd Floor, Wisma Interhill, Miri Waterfront Commercial Centre, 98000 Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia before 12th April, 2010.

As you can probably tell, I was on leave last week. Food was catered for at Ayu Mayang Resort, Redang, Terengganu. How was the weather out there? Put it this way, no swimming was allowed, no boats could beach outside the big ferry jetty, and people were surfing outside the resort. Yes, it was kinda rough, people, though I still managed to get 2 dives in, bordering on suicidal.

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