NLC and Tourmaline partner to revamp field operator training
Armed with modern and updated tools, students interested in oil and gas field operator training at Northern Lights College will soon benefit from revamped program which will enable new field operators to hit the ground running.
The current course materials haven’t kept pace with the evolution of the petroleum industry, so Canada’s largest natural gas producer, Tourmaline Oil has partnered with the Fort St. John campus of Northern Lights College to rectify the situation and provide students with the tools and knowledge they need to succeed in the industry.
Starting in September 2024, Tourmaline and NLC will launch a Field Operations Technician-Hydrocarbon Resources Program pilot project. The year-long pilot will offer training for approximately eight to ten Tourmaline employees.
The program begins as pilot in order to work the bugs out, according to Tourmaline’s general manager for production operations, Todd Maheux.
As some of the course materials have been in use since the mid-1990s, they weren’t proving as valuable as they could be. Tourmaline aims to help the college fix that.
“It’s essentially the same program,” said Maheux. “What we’ve found is that that program, and that curriculum was outdated. [The students] weren’t getting equipped with the necessary tools to hit the ground running or give them a bit of a leg up.”
The curriculum needs to be updated, he said, and they needed some industry support to get it done, as it was no longer being recognized by the industry as a valuable ticket to have.
So, Tourmaline approached NLC and asked if they wanted some help and support to get the program improved and updated.
“We’re very excited to have this program. It will be open to the entire North Peace region to equip the candidates, whether they’re a Grade 12 grad or someone who’s looking to change industries or retool,” said Maheux.
Between now and September, Tourmaline representatives will be working hand-in-hand with the college to get the curriculum to where it needs to be, before launching the pilot in the fall.
“It will be a year program, with a work term. So, an eight-month school term and a four-month work term,” he said.
The work term, or practicum, is to make sure students have all their competencies, and make sure they can do some of the basic things like pigging, and that they have met all their requirements, and have all their tickets, Maheux explained.
Northern Lights College and Tourmaline are confident that the program will exceed expectation and meet critical labour needs.
“Flexible, responsive programming is a foundational part of Northern Lights College’s strategic plan,” said Dr. Tara Hyland-Russell, vice-president of academic and research. “The college listens to industry and community and works to provide the necessary training to meet their needs.”