BP and Maersk training announced they are working together to provide offshore rig crew training in Houston. BP awarded Maersk, which has doubled its training operations in the last three years, a five-year training contract earlier this year.

Training will be held at Maersk’s new state-of-the-art facility that is currently under construction in Houston. The company expects the center to be operational by the end of the year.

At the facility, BP and Maersk will use virtual reality to provide trainees with simulated, but life-like environments. This enables trainees to get more hands-on experience of offshore operations before starting careers on offshore oil and natural gas exploration and drilling rigs.

In addition to virtual reality technology, the companies plan to use scenario-based training to improve trainees’ technical and nontechnical skills, such as communication and decision-making.

“These programs are a step forward in the training and development of BP’s offshore personnel and of the many contractors who support our global offshore oil and gas operations,” said BP Head of Global Wells Organization Gary Jones. “We hope the entire offshore industry benefits from this important collaboration.”

Source: PennEnergy