Oil and gas company announcements: 11 November 2014

Bechtel

Bechtel has met the company’s commitment to employ and train 400 apprentices during the construction of three LNG plants in Gladstone, one of the largest single intakes of apprentices in Australia’s history. Bechtel is designing and building the Queensland Curtis LNG, Santos GLNG, and Australia Pacific LNG plants for three separate customers on Curtis Island, Queensland. Bechtel worked closely with the federal government’s National Apprenticeships Program as well as a number of local and regional training organisations to deliver on the company’s commitment to develop Australia’s construction workforce. The program focuses on training people to meet national skills shortages in areas including: electrical fitter mechanical, instrumentation and control, metal fabrication, boiler making, sheet metal, mechanical fitting, and carpentry formwork.

People with a least 40% of the competency of their trade qualification were considered for the program. Those who qualified were provided a flexible program targeting individual gaps that allowed the apprentices to complete their training within the construction timeframes of the Curtis Island projects. More than 150 people who have gone through the program are now fully qualified trades people.

ITT Corporation

ITT Corporation’s Goulds Pumps brand is launching the fourth annual World of Pumps Quiz, an online pump knowledge game that has attracted industry contestants from more than 150 countries. The latest version of the quiz is now online and will run until midnight on March 29, 2015, offering new sets of basic and expert level questions on a biweekly basis. The new edition of the quiz will feature additional interactive elements, including expert videos, infographics and product simulations. Question topics range from pump history and operational facts to pump design and best maintenance practices. The fourth instalment of the quiz will also include an Expert Challenge question level, an additional set of questions for players who want to test their knowledge to a higher technical degree and which encourages them to submit their own questions for inclusion in future quizzes.

Aris Chichles, president, ITT’s Industrial Processes business said, ‘year after year, we’re pleased to promote activities that recognise the invaluable role pumps play in manufacturing. Pumps truly do serve as the heart of industry, and ITT Goulds Pumps’ World of Pumps Quiz program appeals to industry professionals who pride themselves on the technical knowledge behind this equipment that’s absolutely essential to our modern way of life.’

Venture Global

Venture Global LNG, Inc. has hired William M. Wicker to lead the company as CEO. Wicker previously served as Morgan Stanley’s Vice Chairman of Investment Banking in the Natural Resources Group. Wicker’s track record in the energy industry and finance is highly accomplished, having served in senior positions previously at both Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley and as a Senior Vice President at Texaco. In addition to general management responsibilities, Wicker will focus on leading the company’s international lines of business and project finance. As an investment banker and energy industry executive, Wicker has conducted business in 26 countries including: Brazil, Russia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Canada, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Austria, France, Germany and the UK.

Bob Pender, CoChairman at Venture Global said, ‘we are truly excited to have Bill join Venture Global. We believe Bill is the perfect leader for our growing team and that his extensive international energy experience will complement our global growth plans.’

Edited from various press releases by Claira Lloyd

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