Welding plays an important role in global oil and gas industry and its technologies have been crucial to the functioning and maintenance of various complex infrastructures in this industry, such as rigs, pipelines, plants, and facilities.

Limited industrial welding skills can lead to risks and dangers. While performing jobs like building pipelines or operating in the oil fields, welders are constantly exposed to a wide variety of hazards such as UV and radiant heat, sparks, sharp surfaces, noise, or molten liquids. Hence, comprehensive welding training is imperative to ensure welders are properly trained to perform efficiently and effectively while on the job.

Demonstrating its capabilities in technical competency development, Institut Teknologi Petroleum PETRONAS (INSTEP) offered its first ever complete training package of Welder Development Programme, which aims to develop essential knowledge and skills in welding for trainees, in order to be a qualified 3G Welder (SMAW) and to be certified as a Visual Welding Inspector under ASNT Level II.

The complete package incorporates: i) Fundamental of Welding Technology, ii) Welder Training (3G SMAW), and iii) ASNT Level II Visual Testing (Welding) Certification.

Being the first batch of learners in Welder Training (3G SMAW), Mr. Mohammad Fadzli Hairan, Maintenance Work Coordinator of PETRONAS Chemical Fertiliser Sabah Sdn Bhd (PCFSSB)  said, “Unforgettable experience! The 3G SMAW training has given me the opportunity to refresh and refine my welding knowledge and techniques. I would like to thank INSTEP and their instructors for unlimited sharing of their expertise and knowledge beyond what is written in the syllabus.”

A total of 7 participants, namely 6 technicians and 1 engineer from both PETRONAS Upstream and Downstream OPUs, underwent the training led by a certified CSWIP* Welding Inspector from INSTEP. The 6-day face-to-face training of 3G Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) aims to equip participants with skills and techniques that enable them to perform and produce sound welded joint as well as to carry out weldment inspection. Upon completion of the 3G SMAW training, they will perform QA/QC tasks in fabrication yard and fabrication exercises during emergency shutdown for their 1-month On Job Training, which is part of the recommended roadmap to become a certified Visual Welding Inspector under ASNT Level II.