ConocoPhillips operates the Ekofisk field on the Norwegian continental shelf.  They have requirements for job-specific HSE training before heading out to Ekofisk.  The e-learning courses were developed by Mintra and are offered on ConocoPhillips Trainingportal.

Governmental Regulations and Requirements
Regulations dictated by the Petroleum Safety Authority Norway (PSA), require that licensees ensure that everyone who is on an offshore installation has adequate training.  Basic safety training is required for all personnel working on the Norwegian continental shelf.

The Norwegian Oil Industry Association (OLF) provides guidelines for safety and emergency training offshore.  One example is “Guidelines for information for new personnel on the shelf”.  These guidelines are general in nature and apply to all petroleum industry personnel on permanent and moveable equipment on the Norwegian Continental Shelf.  Individual operators or rig companies are required to compile a minimum checklist that satisfies the requirements for obligatory information for new arrivals, as well as develop methods for implementation.  OLF recommends using e-learning or videos in this context.

ConocoPhillips’ Requirements for Offshore Travel

The following documentation is required for offshore travel to ConocoPhillips’ installations:

• Identification
• Declaration of Health
• Certificate of Completion for fundamental emergency and safety training (OLF).
• Certificate of Completion for ConocoPhillips Offshore Course.

The need for the ConocoPhillips Offshore Course is grounded in the company’s values, as well as guidelines and governmental regulations from OLF and PSA.

The primary goal of OLF’s “Guidelines for information for new personnel on the shelf” is to create positive attitudes to safe conduct as well as correct use of procedures and guidelines.  The same primary goal can be said to apply to the ConocoPhillips Offshore Course.

Target Group

The target group for the ConocoPhillips Offshore Course is new personnel on the shelf.  The term “new personnel” applies to all personnel who have not been on a ConocoPhillips installation in the last 12 months.  This applies both to ConocoPhillips’ own employees and to employees of companies that provide services for ConocoPhillips.

Course Duration

The duration of this interactive training, including the final assessment, is approximately 5 hours.

Various Language Versions

The target group for the ConocoPhillips Offshore Course is comprised of both Norwegian and international course participants.  ConocoPhillips has, therefore, developed the course in two language versions, Norwegian and English.

Module-Based Course

OLF’s “Guidelines for information for new personnel on the shelf” contains an overview of information that should be given to new personnel.  The various modules in the ConocoPhillips Offshore Course cover the themes dictated by the guidelines.  In addition, the course contains a host of other modules, both general and trade specific. 

ConocoPhillips wants to offer customised training for various target groups.  A chef travelling offshore should be offered other safety information than a painter or someone who works with drilling.  To make this as easy as possible for the course participants, the course menu is generated automatically, based on the field or job position to which the course participant belongs.  Course participants only get access to those modules that apply to them.  

Administration and Access via Trainingportal

The course administrator at ConocoPhillips can administrate the course over the Internet.  The administrator can take out reports on course participants, progression, and passed exams.

A significant proportion of the course participants in the ConocoPhillips Offshore Course are employees in companies that provide services for ConocoPhillips.  They can be, for example, contractors like Odfjell Drilling, with their main office in Bergen.  Employees at Odfjell Drilling can take the course and exam over the Internet from their own workplace.  When they have passed the exam, they can print out a Certificate of Completion.  In addition, an automatic e-mail with information on course participants and the results of their exams is sent to ConocoPhillips as well as the personnel office at the company where the course participant is employed (as in our example, Odfjell Drilling).     
   
Course Content

The ConocoPhillips Offshore Course contains, among other things, modules that address HSE and company culture, the company’s management system, falling objects, welding operations, and waste management.  The course contains a total of 29 such modules.  

Each module contains a self-assessment, allowing course participants to check what they have learned in the module they have just completed.  The course ends with an interactive final exam.  Passed exams are logged in the administration system.