TECHNICIANS are a key part of the backbone of the North Sea oil&gas industry. One such individual is Paul Cattanach, of TAQA Bratani.
Why did you choose a career in the oil&gas industry?
I noticed a job advert in the local newspaper for the modern apprenticeships scheme in the oil&gas industry with OPITO – The Oil & Gas Academy.
At the time, I was looking for an apprenticeship, but I was unsuccessful in many that I had applied for. The oil&gas industry had always appealed to me. My dad’s uncle had served with Shell during the early years of the North Sea’s development and would always talk about the industry.
From his stories, the prospect of working in the industry seemed rewarding and exciting, as well as offering ample opportunities for development. From there, I applied for the scheme in 2004, which I started later that year.
What do you want to achieve in your career?
Currently, I am in the process of obtaining the relevant experience and qualifications to allow me to take a step up into the role of systems supervisor of process.
This is a supervisory position with the process side of the industry and the first important step up from the technician role. I would like to continue this path, with the goal of becoming an OIM within the next seven to eight years.
I would like to be able to offer my employing company more through the coming years, and I would like to continue to develop the experience and qualifications which will allow me to do this. I would also like to have the opportunity to complete a degree in a relevant subject.
What motivates you to get up every morning to go to work?
What motivates me is the fact that each day is different and can bring different challenges.
Working on the process side, days can be either up or down. Problems can easily arise which can be minor or major, and can have an effect on production, safety or the environment. These problems encourage you to use your knowledge and experience to solve them and can bring about new learning opportunities for yourself or for your team.
The fact that the job I do can affect three very important aspects of the industry makes it seem very worthwhile to get out of bed and make a difference.
What do you value most about your job?
What I value most is the endless opportunities that working in this industry can create. You are not just limited to working in the one job in the one place. This industry is huge the world over and has allowed people to become more than what they thought they were ever capable of.
Opportunities can arise from moving from an offshore technical role to becoming an onshore technical authority/focal point, or to doing a job in the hot deserts of the Middle East or the waters off Western Australia. The opportunities are huge if you are prepared to work for them.
What is the best piece of advice you have received?
Through the years of being at college and being offshore, many people have offered different pieces of advice. These have ranged from “don’t use the red towels after a shower” to “this is the best way to complete a job”, but I think the best piece of advice I was ever given was basically to stick in, keep your head down and work to become more than you can be. I have worked to this for the last four years and it has certainly worked so far for me.
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