Bass Strait: Long history, bright future

Pioneers of Equipment Processes

Article from ExxonMobil's employee magazine 'Connection'

Four decades after we started production we still have a world-class operation providing a excellent platform for a whole new round of development projects. This in itself is testimony to the quality of the people  operating and maintaining our infrastructure and the wider organization supporting them.

“When the Gippsland operations were first established there was nothing like it anywhere in the country,” explained Maintenance and Reliability Group Supervisor Eric Weddell.

“As a result there was very little in the way of OEM (original equipment manufacturer) support for the vast network of compressors, pumps, turbines and other process equipment we had in our plants and on our platforms.

“We had to be self sufficient when it came to operating and maintaining this equipment.

“The fundamental processes and systems – the equipment strategies and maintenance manuals – we developed have made us a world leader in regard to equipment reliability and efficiency.

“We still have the first two turbines Solar ever sold in Australia and they continue to operate as efficiently and reliably as the day they were installed.”

Offshore Maintenance Superintendent Dave Anderson said a great deal of the success we have had in Gippsland has been the result of the people we have on the team and the dedicated and professional way they conducted themselves in their job roles.

“We have had many long-serving employees who have built up a vast knowledge of our operations and processing equipment,” he said. “This is a very valuable asset to have.

“Over the years we have seen some remarkable people come through our Gippsland operations.

“Many who started their careers in our plants and offshore facilities are today in leadership positions  throughout the company.

A large number of our current offshore supervisors started in the plants as apprentices and trainee  operators.”

Many Australians, who learned the ropes in Gippsland, have gone on to leadership positions throughout ExxonMobil as well as industry in general. “The reason for this," said Gippsland Operations Manager Louise McKenzie, "is the tremendous work ethic we have here and the experience we all gain from working on a team that is in many respects a leader in oil and gas operations.”