Inside Kuwait's Oil & Gas Hub: A Day in the Life of a Senior Commissioning Technician
Despite its relatively small size in the Middle East, Kuwait ranks as the world’s fifth-largest oil producer and holds estimated reserves of over 100 billion barrels of oil and gas. Consequently, the country’s economy is heavily reliant on the oil and gas industry. Shiva, a Brunel specialist, is making strides in this prosperous and promising field as a commissioning engineer at Kuwait’s largest crude oil gathering centre. Continue reading to explore his responsibilities in this role.
Shiva
Senior Commissioning Technician
Shiva holds a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Master's degree in Thermal Engineering. Altogether, he has accumulated 9 years of experience in the conventional energy sector.
Hi Shiva! You joined Brunel in April 2019 as a Senior Commissioning Technician. How many projects have you completed since?
I have successfully concluded three projects to date. Originally from India, my initial overseas exposure came through Brunel, offering me an invaluable opportunity at one of Kuwait's leading EPC companies, where I began as a Senior Technician. During my second project, I gained experience at one of the Middle East's largest refineries, significantly broadening my expertise across upstream and downstream industries in Kuwait. Presently, in my role as a commissioning engineer with another EPC company, I continue to advance my career trajectory.
What exactly is an EPC firm?
An EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) company is involved in the planning, design, procurement of materials and equipment, construction, and sometimes the commissioning of major infrastructure or facilities such as refineries, pipelines, petrochemical plants, and other oil and gas-related projects. It is essentially a one-stop shop for the contracting party.
And what is your current project about?
I'm involved in an Upstream project at a significant gathering centre where crude oil from various wells is routed and processed to separate crude, gas, and condensate for export. What sets this project apart is its status as the largest gathering centre in Kuwait. Unlike other centres that solely process crude, here both crude and gas are processed within a single facility, making operations more complex and challenging.
The oil and gas industry is broadly divided into three main sectors or stages:
Upstream, midstream, and downstream.
That sounds like an exciting project to be part of. Could you share more about your day-to-day tasks and responsibilities?
As part of the commissioning team, responsible for guaranteeing the safe initiation and efficient operation of the plant, my day begins by reviewing the previous day's operational and maintenance activities. I adhere to the commission schedule for different equipment and facilities, coordinating the allocation of manpower, work permits, and activity scheduling. In addition, regular meetings with subcontractors and client representatives are essential in my daily routine to monitor pending tasks and swiftly resolve any issues that arise.
How has your experience been with Brunel so far?
I believe Brunel has been the best company I've worked for to date. From the incredibly supportive people to their transparent and fair processes, I've felt valued. Moreover, Brunel seems to incorporate ethics into its business model, fostering a culture where employees genuinely wish to be part of the company in a positive spirit, beyond just a transactional relationship.