Energy Competencies for the Oil & Gas Industry

Abstract Energy efficiency is a specialized but a relatively new field compared to other centuries old predominant disciplines like mechanical and electrical. Historically and conventionally, Operating Companies (OPCOs) do focus on energy performance and opportunities of energy efficiency improvement associated with plant operations, but do not underscore the essential soft skills and competencies related to energy performance. Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) recognized the importance of energy efficiency & management and accordingly, with its functional competency management system, launched an initiative to develop energy competencies. ADNOC set the objective to develop global framework of energy competencies, encompassing complete value chain of ADNOC operations. ADNOC Gas Processing, an operating company in the ADNOC Group of Companies, was selected to lead the task. The paper presents the approach & methodology used in developing energy competencies. It also addresses the challenges faced in developing global energy competencies like diversity of operations across the value chain and relevance of energy efficiency to multiple disciplines & functions. Paper portrays details of the energy competency model and the associated key modules along with a brief on the steps involved for model execution. It also provides insight about the energy competencies library and its structure. Paper describes mapping of learning solutions, critical experiences and professional membership & accreditation to energy competencies. ADNOC Gas Processing constituted a task force with representation of major energy intensive OPCOs, key disciplines, subject matter experts (SMEs) and competencies management experts. A systematic approach was adopted, comprising sequential activities, starting by defining the competencies groups and competencies, followed by development of a comprehensive library of energy competencies statements. These statements structured into four proficiency levels for each competency. Proficiency levels for each competency were set individually, for each of the four energy positions, to specify the Job Level Requirement (JLR) for these roles. In addition to competencies, forms for Real Work Records (RWR) were produced as one of the key deliverables, including entries of all the identified tasks (real works) and their mapping with competencies. Energy competencies and the required proficiency levels were also identified, as support competencies, for selected key non-energy positions which are either directly responsible for energy performance or their performance may have significant impact on energy performance. To fill the gap between possessed and required competencies for any role, training curriculum, based on variety of learning solutions, and professional membership & accreditations from multiple international bodies was mapped to job grades. Energy competency model has been developed in line with the existing competency management system for seamless integration. Energy efficiency continual improvement is anticipated on application of this comprehensive energy competency model, addressing all pertinent aspects & dimensions of energy performance.