The Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme(SIWES) is a programme designed to allow students get a feel of what they are studying, most especially those in Sciences and Engineering. Studying Petroleum Engineering in the University of Portharcourt, the SIWES programme is usually carried out in the fourth year of our study.
Ok guys!, here's the gist. Approaching the end of my third year in the University of Portharcourt, our search for where we(I and my friends) would carry out our industrial training began. The issue was getting a place to work for the six months of internship cause here in Nigeria, it is always what we call "man know man"(connections) that can secure jobs most times.
I can remember applying for an internship space in Exon Mobil, Shell oil Company but all to no avail.
It was already one week past my internship time when i received a call from the Department of Petroleum Resources on a Thursday that I should resume work on Monday. Knowing I did not submit any letter to the Department of Petroleum Resources, I was amazed, I had no idea my mum had given my application letter to one of her friends who helped in submitting it to the Department of Petroleum Resources (thank God ooo).
I could not sleep throughout the Sunday night, I was curious to know how my first day at work would look like.
[[Source]](Department of Petroleum Resources)
It was 6am on Monday morning, I woke up, ironed my clothes, took my bath and left for the Department of Petroleum Resources. On getting there, I and other interns were briefed for about 30 minutes, after which we were allocated to our different work sections. I spent one week working in the office before I was being sent to the terminal, I was opportune to work at the Shell Terminal in Bonny, Exon Mobil Terminal at Eket and Agip Terminal at Brass, Bayelsa State, Nigeria. These three terminals had similar work activities but were carried out in different ways.
(SHELL TERMINAL, BONNY)
(Exxon Mobil Terminal, Eket)
(AGIP TERMINAL, BAYELSA)
My most exciting moments were spent in Shell Oil and Gas Terminal in Bonny and Exon Mobil Terminal in Eket. Bonny was the most stressful of all but I learnt a lot and had a lot of fun.
THE BONNY STORY
Our journey to Bonny was by sea, it was actually my first and I loved it. Getting to the shell terminal at Bonny, it was another world entirely, I felt I was out of Nigeria. Our first stop was at the canteen for our dinner cause we arrived late, after eating, we were shown our different apartment.
On reaching my room, my intentions was to take a shower and sleep, I never knew the work there was 24 hours non stop. I had not spent up to 30 minutes in my bed when the room line rang and my officer in charge instructed me to move to the tank farm(a place where all the crude oil activities are being carried out 24/7). That was my first task at the shell terminal in Bonny.
During my time at Bonny, I was able to learn how to fiscalize crude oil storage tanks, perform basic lab activities like accounting for percentage BS&W(basic sediments and water) e.t.c. I was also able to learn the entire operations of the Bonny terminal, crude oil accounting and how to discharge loaded vessels. My time during my industrial training was a memorable one and my days at Bonny shell terminal is one I can never forget, it was an industrial training well spent.
Truth be told, I would really love to work with the department of petroleum resources.
THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.