Powering the oil and gas industry
by Alice Yong
If you relish the challenge of keeping the wheels of industry working smoothly and world economy well-oiled, why not explore a career in the oil and gas industry? By Alice Yong.
 Oil and gas (O&G) are the world’s most important energy sources. From powering manufacturing plants to the movement of goods, the O&G industry’s contribution in supplying critical energy to drive the world economy is simply undeniable.
Products from the O&G industry touch our daily lives in countless ways. Besides supplying most of our country’s energy demands and almost all the fuel used in cars, the industry is a major contributor to the economy as an employer and purchaser of goods and services. As one of the biggest employers in the country, the O&G industry has thousands of Malaysians on its payroll, in jobs ranging from exploration, extraction and production, to the sales and marketing of end-products to consumers.
In view of the ever increasing global demand for energy, it is envisaged that the O&G industry will continue to grow over the next 20 years. In the wake of soaring demand, the industry will invariably face more challenges, thus necessitating it to take greater care of these precious natural resources.
DIGGING FOR OPPORTUNITIES
The O&G industry can be divided into three major sectors – upstream, midstream and downstream.
Upstream: This involves the search for, recovery and production of crude oil and natural gas. Also known as the exploration and production (E&P) sector, it covers the search for underground or underwater oil and gas fields, drilling of exploratory wells and the recovery of crude oil and/or natural gas.
Downstream: This involves the refining and distribution of processed oil, natural gas and products derived from them, including liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), petrol, jet fuel, diesel, lubricants, asphalt and petroleum coke. This sector covers oil refineries, petrochemical plants, petroleum product distribution, retail outlets and natural gas distribution companies. The downstream industry also produces thousands of other products for ordinary consumers – heating oil, synthetic rubber, plastics, fertilisers, anti-freeze products, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, natural gas, propane, etc.
Midstream: This is part and parcel of the downstream sector. It involves the processing, storing, marketing and transportation of commodities such as crude oil, natural gas, natural gas liquids (mainly ethane, propane and butane) and sulphur.
CAREER PROSPECTS IN SCOMI
 One of the leading industry players, Scomi Group Berhad (Scomi) seeks dynamic people with an innate ability to adapt to different environments and situations. Proactive individuals with leadership qualities are highly sought after.
Varied job opportunities abound in the O&G industry for both school leavers and professionals. Many positions are office-based, but some involve working in demanding conditions in far-flung corners of the world. Although preference is given to Engineering and Applied Sciences degree holders, graduates with non-science qualifications can be considered for certain positions.
Basically, career opportunities in Scomi can be classified into the following categories:
1) Drilling Fluids
Drilling Fluids (DF) is an essential aspect of any drilling activity for O&G from exploration to development, and it is one of Scomi’s core businesses in the industry. The company has been providing this specialised service for the past 20 years.
The primary function of DF is to cool and lubricate the drill bit and drill string of the drilling machine. The fluids facilitate the movement of cuttings to the surface. It also stabilizes the well bore thus minimising reservoir damage.
DF Engineers are stationed on a full time basis at the clients rig. Their job scope involves formulating work programmes prior to any drilling job and this may include: mixing required drilling fluid for each drilling job; analysis of drilling fluids, water salinity, drilling fluids quality control etc.; performing pilot tests on drilling fluids; preparation of operational procedures and calculations;
preparation of reports and records and monitoring inventory level of drilling fluids at rig site.
A degree in chemical, petrochemical or petroleum and mechanical engineering is essential to building a career in this area
2) Drilling Waste Management
 Scomi provides a total end-to-end solution in waste reduction, recycling, treatment, and disposal in the following:
• Solids Control – recycling used DF for further usage
• Containment and Handling – managing cuttings (waste)
• Treatment and Disposal – treating waste and disposing them with minimal impact to the environment
A career as a Drilling Waste Engineer (DWM Engineer) would require knowledge and experience as a service technician. A typical job scope as a DWM Engineer would include some of the following activities:
• Run and ensure the smooth running of equipments such as Solids Control Centrifuge, Cuttings Dryer etc.
• Maintenance of the above equipments
• Co-ordination of operational matters such as the procurement of spare parts and materials
• Preparation of reports
• Sales and marketing
• Establishments of procedures and standards according to the HSE requirements
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Soar with Scomi
If you intend to forge a career in the O&G sector, know that Scomi is one of the most renowned and established O&G services companies in Malaysia.
Established as an investment holding company with subsidiaries involved primarily in the energy and logistics industries, Scomi has almost 50 years of experience in the industry. It enjoyed a turnover of RM1.58 billion in 2006. The group employs about 5,000 employees in 67 locations in 36 countries around the world. As a Malaysian company with a global presence, Scomi is backed by a multi-industry, cosmopolitan workforce. Recognising that people as the company’s most important asset, Scomi has talent management programmes in place to continuously invest in the betterment of its staff.
Attractive work opportunities and transfers to any of the 36 countries the company operates in are available.
Realising Potentials Recruitment is based on experience, qualifications and core competencies. Although Scomi’s recruitment policy is specifically geared towards certain qualifications, it tends to recruit from established and well-known tertiary institutions that have good track records in their respective academic fields.
Scomi employees are expected to embrace four core values in support of the company’s brand vision of ‘Realising Potential’. These values are meant to guide Scomi personnel in their engagements with each other, customers and investors as well as the community at large. The four core values are:
• Be innovative in giving and generating New Ideas.
• Combine ideas and resources to achieve far richer solutions to problems by Working Together.
• Have a Goal Oriented mindset to improve oneself and the work environment.
• Be Customer Responsible in taking ownership of relationships with both internal and external customers.
It is this distinct work culture that serves as a unifying force for all Scomi business units around the world.
Competency-based training programmes are regularly introduced to ensure that employees keep abreast with the latest business practices. For example, the company has implemented several management training programmes to develop leadership skills for all levels of management.
Scomi also places great emphasis on technology, staff development and a global focus to drive its business forward. Through a series of strategic initiatives, the company actively pursues technology advances on both products and process fronts.
Over the years, Scomi has innovatively created, enhanced and improvised its products and services to deliver the best results to its global clients.
Unearthing Future Talents As a young and growing company, Scomi seeks people who are agile, adaptable to change, think quickly on their feet, enjoy challenges and are willing to learn.
Ideally, potential Scomi employees should display qualities that complement its Corporate Brand Values: Goal Oriented (Having the Drive to Achieve), Working Together (Team Work), Customer Responsible (Customer Focus) and New Ideas (Creativity & Innovation for its continuous improvement).
Scomi’s management trainees are placed on an 18-month programme that exposes them to cross-functional duties within the company. Through corporate orientation and project work, trainees experience the many intricacies of key business functions within the company.
Scomi plans to implement a group-wide Talent Management Programme within the next 2-3 years to unearth rising stars. Once identified, these personnel can expect additional training in various forms, including on-the-job coaching as well as specific formal and informal training in its various business units.
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