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Theme: Taking training to the next levelNewsletter – December 2012 Newsletter – December 2012Theme: Taking training to the next level“Phew, I’m glad to get outof there”Teamwork, clear communication and making mistakes are key elements whentraining in the new drilling simulator complex at Maersk Training in Svendborg.By Marlene Lyhne Sørensen, Strategy and Communication.The phone rings in the Mud Logger’s Shack.The mud logger picks it up.“Hello?”“Hello, this is the Driller’s Cabin. We have aproblem with the well. I need the exact depthof the casing.”“What are you saying? You need the exact,what … I don’t understand,” says the mud logger,speaking with a heavy accent.The driller calling from the Driller’s Cabin isholding the phone in one hand and looks as ifhe is about to take a deep breath.“I need the exact depth of the casing. Now,please,” says the driller.The mud logger finally understands and giveshim the requested information.“But, but how is your mother?” he asks.“I don’t have time to talk,” the driller replies,and hangs up.The well from hellDariuz Koziel, his colleague Michael Bach andthe BP representative from Maersk Reacher,Kjetil Vadset, have been inside the Driller’sCabin for more than an hour struggling tosolve severe problems with the well. The ‘wellfrom hell’, they call it.Fortunately the situation is not taking placeon a rig in operation, but in Maersk Drilling’snew drilling simulator complex located at theMaersk Training in Svendborg, Denmark. Themud logger is played by one of the instructors,Kim Yding Noe, and he is not sitting inthe Mud Logger’s Shack, but in the Instructor’sRoom right next to the Driller’s Cabinsimulator.On a rig the driller can call 10-15 differentpeople for assistance or information. Allthese lines of communication are intact inthe drilling simulator complex, but the manydifferent people representing different functionson a rig are all played by an instructor.Teamwork is a prerequisiteThe new simulator complex is the first of itskind. It is designed for team-based training,and thus it offers a framework to strengthenthe interaction between crew members invarious functions on the rig.“The most advanced drilling equipmentbecomes useless if the crew cannot worktogether, and the best driller in the worldturns out to be the worst if he cannot communicate,”says Tonny Møller, operationsmanager at Maersk Training.The new simulator complex offers a nearreal-life environment through use of the specificdesigns of Maersk Drilling’s rigs, and itprovides the possibility of linking the Driller’sCabin, the central control room, the craneoperator and the engine room together toprovide a more comprehensive well-controlscenario.“If the going gets tough on a rig, the driller,the crane operator, the OIM and several otherfunctions have to overcome the problems ina joint effort. The same goes for this simulatorcomplex,” Tonny Møller says.When the session in the Driller’s Cabin is over,the Maersk Reacher crew members and theinstructors will give their feedback to the drillcrew. The point is to get to know each other’sstrengths and weaknesses and becomeaware of the performance potential, whenthe crew works together as a team.“We make an effort to point out mistakes,not to victimise anyone, but to become awareand take the opportunity to improve ourselvesand correct any unfortunate behaviouras a measure to increase the competencylevel should a similar well-control scenarioarise offshore,” explains Tonny Møller.Session over“Start pumping, start pumping,” Dariuz criesinside the Driller’s Cabin.A few minutes later Dariuz, Michael and Kjetilseem to have reached a solution which willat least prevent a further escalation of thesituation.“It is not the most beautiful solution, but it is asolution,” concludes instructor Kim Noe, whopreviously worked as lead driller on MærskInspirer and Maersk Guardian.He picks up the phone and calls the Driller’sCabin.“The session is over. You can come out,” heexclaims.No time for small talk“Phew, I’m glad to get out of there,” Kjetil Vadsetsays when he reaches the coffee area inthe reddish-brown brick building that housesthe drilling simulator complex.“It was stressful,” agrees Dariuz, before hegrabs a cup of coffee.The senior tool pusher Jesper V. Pedersen wasin the simulator on a previous session thatday.“It is not the real deal, but it is as close as itgets,” he says.“I like the set-up of the course. It takes thehuman factor into serious consideration,and it is OK to make mistakes. Actually themistakes are a very important part of thelearning process,” he adds.“Yes, this is much more effective than justsitting in a classroom reading a book. Ibecome aware of my mistakes and I try toimprove myself. Yesterday, I learnt that I wasbeing too polite and talkative. There’s no timefor that. Today, I was much more focused ongetting the job done. Even when the mud loggerasked me about my mother,” says Dariuz.The ‘well from hell’ scenario cannot be revealedin detail, because it might be includedin future training sessions.On a rig the driller can call 10-15 differentpeople for assistance or information. Allthese lines of communication are intact inthe drilling simulator complex.Photo: Ricky John MolloyOK to make mistakesAt present, the Driller’s Cabin is only linked upto the instructor room next door.Dariuz has returned to the driller’s chair afterhaving passed the exact depth of the casingto Kjetil Vadset from BP.Dariuz is back in the driller’s chair with a firmgrip around the drilling joy stick. Kjetil Vadsetis standing in the corner calculating thepressures with which he needs to controlthe well to avoid further problems, and in theopposite corner is Michael, apparently notdoing anything.The human factor plays an importantrole in the new course set up. Just as itdoes in real life.Photo: Ricky John MolloyIn the Instructor’s Room next door, leaddriller Martin Bülow and two Maersk Traininginstructors observe the situation on threescreens linked up to cameras in the Driller’sCabin.“Why don’t they involve Michael? He can doall the calculations. He is excellent at crushingnumbers,” says Martin Bülow, and notesdown his observation.The mud logger is played by Kim Yding Noe, one of theinstructors sitting in the Instructor’s Room next tothe Driller’s Cabin simulator. The driller crew is beingvideo recorded and can be followed on screens in theInstructor’s Room.Photo: Ricky John Molloy8 Maersk Drilling Maersk Drilling 9