News Article

Hebron investment establishes new oil and gas training facilities at CNA


6/3/2011 10:38:14 AM


Seal Cove - A $2 million investment by the Hebron Project co-venturers will result in the development of two world-class oil and gas training facilities at College of the North Atlantic’s (CNA) Seal Cove and Ridge Road campuses. A formal announcement was made at CNA’s Seal Cove campus on Friday, June 3.

The investments will include establishing the Hebron Process Operations and Applied Research Laboratory located at CNA’s Petroleum Training Centre (Seal Cove) and the Hebron Process Analyzers Laboratory, to be located at the Engineering Technology Centre (Ridge Road). These state-of-the-art facilities will enhance CNA’s training abilities as they relate to the resource sector, and increase its petroleum related applied research capacity through a stronger college/industry partnership.

“As a result of this partnership, College of the North Atlantic and Hebron are proactively addressing skill gaps and planning for future needs in the oil and gas sector,” stated Bruce Hollett, President of CNA. “This investment reinforces the college’s position as a leader in the oil and gas training sector and will have a tremendous impact on our students, their families and the communities in which they live.”

The investment will also help to leverage strengths of current facilities and programs to successfully implement a Chemical Process Engineering Technology (CPET) program. The program will equip graduates with theoretical and practical skills necessary to perform as process operators and technologists in oil and gas extraction and refining, offshore petroleum production installations, petrochemical industries, and other process facilities. CNA developed the CPET program for delivery in September 2010 with the new facilities coming online in September 2011. All School of Engineering Technology students must complete an Engineering Technology (First Year) general studies program before moving into more focused offerings, such as CPET.

Since 2006, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador has provided CNA with an annual $1 million CDN Oil and Gas Fund to support the enhancement of current, and the development of new, high technology programs targeted at the oil and gas sector.

“With steady growth in our province’s oil and gas sector, we must continue to build a highly-qualified workforce to respond to the needs of industry,” said the Honourable Joan Burke, Minister of Education. “Our students must be ready and able to support our upcoming mega-projects, as well as to contribute to our local economies. With these two new laboratories, present and future students will be better able to take advantage of emerging opportunities and help the industry grow.”

Through this investment, the Hebron co-venturers will be promoting the development of local skills and industry capability, therefore leaving a lasting legacy for the province.

“These laboratories will provide state of the art facilities for students and faculty at CNA, while simultaneously increasing research and development capacity in the province,” said Geoff Parker, senior project manager for the Hebron Project and vice-president of ExxonMobil Canada, operator of the Hebron Project. “This investment is in keeping with our benefits commitments to invest in research and development and enhance skills training in Newfoundland and Labrador.”

The Hebron Project co-venturers are ExxonMobil Canada Properties, Chevron Canada, Suncor Energy Inc., Statoil Canada and Nalcor Energy.

Students attending the Petroleum Training Centre will have a greater opportunity to interact with, and learn from, current oil and gas employees who often participate in industry-related training at the Seal Cove campus.

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Media Contact:

Roger Hulan
Communications Specialist
College of the North Atlantic
(709) 643-7938
roger.hulan@cna.nl.ca

Lynn Evans
Public Affairs Advisor – Hebron Project
ExxonMobil Canada
(709) 752-6433
lynn.evans@exxonmobil.com

Heather May
Director of Communications
Department of Education
(709) 729-0048
heathermay@gov.nl.ca