Virtual reality challenge for survival training

The training has moved to a new oil and gas safety training centre in Altona, which features a purpose-built simulator, like the flight simulators used in the airline industry.

“All of our manned platforms have these self-contained escape capsules and offshore personnel are trained in how to safely launch them and command them,” said Training and Procedures Adviser Heath Brew.

“For the past two decades this training was conducted at our training centre at Barry Beach Marine Terminal.

“The new centre provides us with the opportunity to safely put our trainees through some pretty rough scenarios, featuring familiar Esso platform layouts. We can challenge experienced trainees while providing a safe learning environment for the novices.”

Health and Platform Services Operator Luc Wilson travelled to Nova Scotia, Canada to view the new simulator and discovered that other affiliates had also invested in this technology.

Through extensive collaboration, and significant efforts from Luc and Heath to improve the training experience, Esso Australia can incorporate simulation technology to create real world scenarios involving rough seas, poor visibility, and complex survival situations.

To ensure that training also retains a ‘hands on’ approach, equipment from the Barry Beach centre has also been moved to the Melbourne training centre. Offshore Operations Superintendent Simon Kemp said the new training facility was another example of technology improving our operations.

“The introduction of this simulator technology allows us to significantly improve the efficiency, effectiveness and safety of our vital survival capsule training,” he said.