The L0T3K Magazine

How to Become a Wireline Logging Engineer: Part 4

The basic engineers' training school is a major huddle to cross in the effort to becoming a wireline logging engineer. After completing the basic engineer's training school, the new engineer is on his or her way to achieving the dream of becoming a professional wireline logging engineer. The next stage of the training is the post-school. The post-school training is designed to help the new engineer gain more practical experience through hand-on practice and performance of various wireline logging operations under the supervision of a mentor or a senior engineer. The new engineer is assigned a mentor during the post-school period who will direct the post-school tasks and monitor progress and performance. This period also allows the new engineer to build his or her confidence in delivering quality services to the customer during his or her career in the coming years.

The new engineer practices his or her human relationship and emotional aspect of the job by interacting with crew members and customers during this period. Post-school also exposes the new engineer to the administrative, leadership, and management aspect of the job through interaction with other support groups in the organization. The objective of the mentor is to train the new engineer to breakout in three months or less. Breaking out is a process in which the engineer demonstrates his or her ability to mobilize, prepare, execute, and deliver high quality services to the customer without help from the mentor or other senior engineers. When the new engineer can do this, he or she is deemed competent enough to execute job and deliver products to the customer solo. Breaking out is the final right of passage the new engineer must go through to join the professional group of wireline logging engineers.

The breakout process is usually very formal and followed strictly and documented by the company. The first step is for the mentor of the new engineer to inform the location manager about the new engineer's readiness for the final breakout test. The location managers then assigns a complete open hole or cased hole job scheduled for a customer to the new engineer as his or her breakout test. The engineer will select and mobilize the equipment and crew for the job. He or she will also verify that the equipment is in good functional condition for the job. In addition, the engineer will organize the load out and transportation of the equipment and crew to the well site with help from logistics if required. To ensure smooth operation and customer satisfaction, the engineer must coordinate with the customer's representative to understand the customer's expectations. Important information to obtain from the customer include the logging program, the purpose of the job, time to arrive at the location, well condition, final products, and all other necessary information. At the well site the engineer and his or her crew must execute the job safely, effectively, timely, and professionally to pass the breakout test. If the engineer encounters any problem during the job, he or she must demonstrate the ability to troubleshoot, find, and fix the problem in a professional and timely manner.

In addition the engineer must demonstrate good leadership in dealing with the crew and influencing them to work together harmoniously to meet the customer's objectives. The engineer must also demonstrate good communication with the customer and deliver the appropriate products accurately, professionally, and to the satisfaction of the customer. The mentor or a senior engineer accompanies the engineer to the job site as an observer to evaluate the performance of the engineer on the breakout test. The outcome depends on the judgment of the observer who determines if the engineer has passed or failed the breakout test. If the engineer passes the test he or she joins the prestigious group of professional wireline logging engineer. This means he or she can start running revenue generating jobs unaided and enjoys the full benefits of a wireline logging engineer. On the hand, if he or she fails the test, the next step depends on the management. In some cases, the management will grant a second chance for the engineer to breakout. Otherwise the management will either assign the engineer to less difficult tasks or release him or her from the organization.

On average it takes about 18 months from hire to breakout for an engineer to qualify as a professional wireline logging engineer. The training process costs a great deal of money and time. This is why organizations take extreme care in selecting candidates to hire as potential wireline engineers. This concludes this series about how to become a wireline logging engineer. I hope this will help young and ambitious engineers out there to make up their minds about becoming a wireline logging engineer as a career in an oil field services organization.