Subsea Learning Series Under Way in Subsea UK/OPITO Collaboration

05 February 2010

The Subsea sector is increasingly recognized as a strategic part of the UK's Upstream oil & Gas future, and learning will play a central part in ensuring that new comers and existing staff continue to develop to meet the increasing demands.

OPITO, the Oil & gas Academy has joined forces with Subsea UK to extend its Petroleum Open Learning Series to develop a series of new modules specifically for the subsea sector. With the first two modules now underway, the series will cover Subsea Hardware, Controls, Pipelines & Umbilicals, ROV and Intervention Systems and other key subsea areas.

The development of the series is being led by Subsea UK, with authors being recruited from its members, with OPITO providing project management and expertise to ensure the courses and examination materials are written to a formal ONC standard, to be accredited by City & Guilds.

Funding for the Subsea series of modules is being provided by the Offshore Training Foundation, a charity that is connected to The Oil & Gas Academy, that supports learning initiatives.

Commenting on the open learning series, Chief Executive of Subsea UK said: “The Subsea sector has seen strong growth in recent years, and we will need yet more people to join the sector. This initiative is targeted both at newcomers and those who are already in the industry who wish to develop their skills in the subsea sector. We are delighted that this is being delivered under the Oil & Gas Academy, and we believe this will serve to add strength to both the Subsea sector and to the Academy.

The first two modules covering Subsea hardware and subsea controls are now underway and will be available in March 2010. Further modules will be developed through 2010, with a target of having the full series in place by spring 2011.