Chevron

Amy James

Systems Engineer and Rotating Equipment Engineer - Wheatstone Utilities Team at Chevron

6:30 AM

Time to wake up and get ready for the day! I take a shower, have my breakfast, and then catch the train into the city.

7.45 AM

I arrive at the office and make my way to the Integrated Operations Centre, which is reserved for the teams who provide day-to-day support to our LNG operations. I am currently working as a Systems Engineer in the Wheatstone Utilities Team, specialising in Rotating Equipment.

The first thing I do when I get to work is make myself a cup of tea. I then spend a few minutes chatting to my team before sitting down to read the Wheatstone Morning Operations Report. This report provides a summary of everything that has happened in the plant over the last 24 hours. As a Systems Engineer, it is important for me to keep up to date with everything happening in my systems of responsibility, so I can provide support where needed.

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8.00 AM

After reading the morning report, I dial into the daily operations call with site. This is a quick meeting between the engineering teams in Perth and key stakeholders on site, such as Production, Maintenance, and Frontline Engineering. During the meeting we align on our priorities for the next 24 hours and discuss any roadblocks or emerging issues. If there are any issues in my systems, I will be called on to provide support, but there’s no emergent work for me today. Everything is running smoothly!

8.30 AM

I start going through my emails, responding to the ones that need a quick reply and flagging the ones that need more detailed responses. I’ll get back to these later in the day. I then start my daily “equipment health checks”. An important part of my role is to monitor the condition of key pieces of rotating equipment within the Utilities area of the plant. We receive continuous data on this equipment from various sensors which track things like pressure, temperature, vibration, etc. By monitoring these properties we can detect changes in equipment behaviour and identify early signs of failure. This allows us to schedule maintenance at the right time, avoiding unplanned outages and minimising lost production.

As part of my daily checks I go through the event log in our software to check if any of the sensors’ alarms have activated. Some of the alarms I can dismiss quite easily (e.g. a piece of equipment turning on), but others will require further investigation. I make a note of these anomalies to check after my next meeting.

9.30 AM

It’s time for my favourite meeting of the day – the daily machinery call! This is a meeting between all the Rotating Equipment Engineers supporting the Wheatstone plant, both in Perth and on site. During this meeting we discuss any equipment issues or improvement opportunities, and brainstorm solutions together. I love this meeting because everyone is so passionate about what they do, and I always learn something new each day!

We also use this meeting to do “live” troubleshooting in the plant. Today one of the Perth engineers found that we needed to increase the seal gas pressure on one of our compressors, which can only be done by adjusting a valve out in the field. The frontline engineer went out with a technician and dialled into the call from the plant itself. We were then able to watch “live” as they adjusted the valve, and by monitoring the trends from Perth we could provide instant feedback on where to position the valve. Teamwork at its finest!

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10.00 AM

I now have time to do a thorough review of the equipment anomalies I found earlier in the day. The first thing I do is look at the vibration trends, as this usually provides the most information about what’s going on in a machine. I then check the process variables such as pressure and temperature to see how these have changed over time. Finally, I use some machine-learning software to see how the current behaviour of the machine compares to its “predicted” behaviour. Looking at all these trends lets me see a clear picture of the machine’s “symptoms”, which I can then use to work backwards to come up with a “diagnosis”, and finally a recommended solution. It’s like being a doctor for machinery! Once I’ve settled on the most likely cause of the problem, I raise a work order for the maintenance team to investigate and resolve the issue.

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11.00 AM

I respond to a few more emails and then get stuck into some bigger tasks. I have two major projects I am working on at the moment – one is a system upgrade project, and the other is an emissions reduction project. These are very exciting projects to be involved in, but they are both medium-term projects which will go on for several months. In the short term, I am also working on a few small projects focused on improving the reliability and operability of my systems. These small projects typically involve a few small changes to the plant, such as upgrading the material of a pump shaft or increasing the size of a valve. As a Systems Engineer I get to work on a lot of multi-disciplinary issues, which is great for broadening my knowledge beyond my base discipline.

12.00 PM

It’s lunch time! I usually bring my own lunch from home but there are plenty of great places to eat nearby. The local Japanese is particularly popular (and is certainly a favourite of mine!). Today I ate lunch with some other graduates in the courtyard next door to our building – there are always a few of us hanging out there.

1.00 PM

It’s risk assessment time! Today I took part in a Hazard and Operability study (HAZOP for short). The purpose of a HAZOP is to identify and evaluate all the potential risks associated with each system in the plant. Preventative and mitigative safeguards are then put in place to reduce the likelihood and consequence of each hazard scenario. HAZOPs were completed for each system in the design phase, but we need to re-validate these risk assessments every few years to confirm that every hazard scenario is covered and sufficient safeguards are in place.

Today we looked at the Condensate Storage and Loading System. The HAZOP team (consisting of systems engineers, process engineers, and key operations personnel on site) systematically go through each section of the system, identifying risks and safeguards by talking to the people who operate the system, as well as looking at process flow diagrams, piping & instrumentation diagrams, control narratives, etc. Performing a HAZOP is a very involved process – analysing one system from beginning to end usually takes a few weeks! I’m just sitting in for a few hours today to watch and learn.

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3.00 PM

All my meetings are now done for today and I’m determined to smash out some work this afternoon, so I make my way over to a “huddle room”. These are quiet rooms separated from the rest of the office and are great places for getting work done without being disturbed. I put on my headphones to listen to some background music and then get cracking – I want to finish writing up a procedure and get started on some pump performance calculations before tomorrow.

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4.45 PM

It’s now time to start wrapping things up for the day. I finish responding to emails, make a quick to-do list for tomorrow, and check my calendar to confirm what meetings I have on tomorrow. Then that’s another day done!

5.00 PM

I usually head home straight away, but every now and then there will be some sort of social event after work, whether it’s casual drinks/dinner with my team or a formally-organised event planned by the social club or graduate committee. Tonight I had dinner and drinks with my old team (where I completed my first rotational assignment at Chevron). Even though I’ve moved roles into my second rotation, I still catch up with my old team quite regularly – we have a really great relationship and still keep in touch via our group chat!

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8.30 PM

After a great night out with my colleagues, it’s time for me to head home and get ready for another exciting day tomorrow!

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Cameron Wilson

Turbomachinery Quality Assurance and Control Representative at Chevron

3.00 PM

Alarm sounds – It’s Monday on-site and I’ve got a big night ahead. Before work I usually like to get in some exercise. Today, I’ve decided on swimming a few laps in the pool instead of heading to the gym or playing basketball.

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4.15 PM

I get dressed into my PPE and head the mess for breakfast. I also pack enough food for lunch and snacks for the rest of the night. I walk to catch the 4.45pm bus to the site office.

5.00 PM

Time to speak with my back-to-back who is working day shift. We undertake a handover to outline progress made during the prior shift, highlight any issues confronted, transfer unfinished work and define work priorities for the upcoming night shift.

6.00 PM

Pre-start kicks off at 6.00pm to discuss the major maintenance work to be executed, important safety considerations and concurrent site operations that may impact the work schedule. Turnaround is a very busy time on site! It’s important to identify any work that may impact the activities of other teams and minimise disruption where possible.
Now that the maintenance items are clarified, it’s time to make our way down to the gas turbine deck where I have a make-shift desk made from scaffolding.

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Chevron

8.00 PM

By the time we have arrived at the turbine deck, signed off the permit to work and reviewed the job hazard analysis, it’s time to start the turbine exhaust inspection. As this inspection requires entry into a confined space, it is important to ensure all pockets are empty and required tools are secured via lanyards prior to entry. This ensures no foreign materials are dropped and left behind within the exhaust, which could cause severe damage to the machine during startup.

We inspect the turbine exhaust plenum for signs of wear or damage such as cracks on the exhaust seal welds or diffuser. Any findings are photographed and recorded in the quality assurance master checklist for further investigation.

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10.00 PM

The first quality assurance inspection for the night is complete. To monitor this progress, I sign off this action item in the work pack and make a note in my handover notes as a reference for my back-to-back. Time for a break. I head back to the crib room to recharge, grab some food, and catch up with the team over a coffee.

11.00 PM

Our second agenda item for the night is the installation of a pressure control valve in the turbine hydraulic system. As a quality assurance representative, it is my role to check the site quality check list and flange management data system to ensure the valve is installed correctly. This involves inspecting the pipework and flanges, confirming the correct O-rings/gaskets are used and informing the team of the correct bolt tightening torque for each joint. These quality measures validate the valve is properly installed and sealed as required. This is especially important for rotating equipment as the vibration associated with operation can cause joint leakage.

Once installed and all joint bolts are tightened the maintenance tag is removed from the equipment and work is signed off as complete.

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2.00 AM

It’s time for a second break. We head back to the crib room for some more food and hydration. One benefit of working night shift is that you avoid working in the heat, but the high humidity at Barrow Island means it’s still important to drink plenty of water throughout the shift.

3.00 AM

The final work scope for the shift is removing some exhaust cooling pipework surrounding the turbine casing. This is required such that the top half of the turbine casing can be removed further down the track in the maintenance schedule. As the quality representative I must inspect each pipe spool as it is removed and record any signs of damage. The spooling is labelled with specific tag numbers so it can be easily identified for re-installation following internal turbine maintenance activities.

4.00 AM

We have finished up work at the turbine deck. With a bit of spare time, a colleague has taken the time to show me around the plant. As a mechanical engineer I’m always trying to better understand the facility from an LNG process perspective. I’m very fortunate to be surrounded by so many great people at Chevron who are willing to share their knowledge about different aspects of the facility.

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Chevron

5.00 AM

I arrive back at the site office and meet my back-to-back who has arrived for the start of his day shift. We complete the handover promptly, so I have ample time to make the bus back to the camp.

6.00 AM

I arrive back at camp as the sun begins to rise. I head to the mess for a quick dinner before heading to my room and chilling out. I wind down with a good book or catching up on some football highlights before hopping into bed. Big night again tomorrow!

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Chevron

Lee Cherry

Occupational Hygienist at Chevron

This is a day in the life of me working from home. I work from home three to four days out of five a week. This day is vastly different to the day I have when I am in the office. When I am in the office, I am lucky enough to have my mum who completes school drop off, pick up and afterschool activities. Usually, I am in the office around 7:00AM and leave by 4:00 PM. I then pick up the activities as listed below from 5:30 PM homework time. I also work on site at least four days a month and sometimes more. Again, my day on site is so different to that listed below, and again my husband and mum make the cogs turn when I am away. I do iron and lay out the kids uniforms and extracurricular activities on clothes rack ready for the days I’m away to make it easier and more organized for my husband. I’ll also do a big shop and prepare meals to make it easier for the family to get everything done when I am away on site. Sometimes, depending on my shift length, I will do a grocery shop online and have it delivered to the house to ease the burden from mum and my husband.

About my job:

I work as an occupational hygienist. Whilst some think that occupational hygienists work in bathrooms or ensure people wash their hands and use deodorant, my job is quite a bit different to that. At Chevron, being an occupational hygienist means that I am responsible for anticipation, recognition, evaluation, and control of workplace hazards that are nearly always invisible and odourless. My work involves me visiting site to educate and empower the workforce and management of occupational health hazards to prevent exposure and mitigate risk. My favourite part of my work is coaching and empowerment but also problem solving. There is nothing more satisfying than finding and solving issues that many knew didn’t exist. Working in the health and medical team now has enabled me to learn more of the health surveillance component to my position as well as global health and injury management.

5.30 AM

My alarm sounds and I quickly rise out of bed to try and get in a cup of tea that I can drink in peace and quiet before one or all my four kids wakes up. I call this a ‘hassle-free cup of tea’. I often use this time to scroll through work emails sent overnight or early morning to see if there is anything, I need to immediately action.

6.00 AM

I begin packing the children their lunches and drink bottles, pack their bags and make sure their homework is done and in their bag. I then start to get their morning drinks and breakfast ready. By this stage all the morning children are awake, and the craziness of the day has begun. I resolve 44 disagreements ranging from tv show of choice, who gets which cup and who gets their breakfast first. Once breakfast is started, I get the kids showered and dressed and sit them in front of the television which usually sees them keep calm for the rest of the morning.

7.00 AM

I turn on the computer and begin working. Usually, I can respond to immediate response emails and read through corporate communications. I use this time to plan my day and work out what I intend to work on and who I need to involve. I also look through any meetings and read through pre-reads and notes to prepare myself for any discussions requiring my input. By this stage, I have diffused any dramas over tv channels and entertainment choices with the children and am on my third cup of tea.

8.00 AM

I get the children to brush their teeth, shoes on and shut down the computer. I get everyone into the car for 8:15 AM and start the drive to school. I make sure my work phone is in my bag ready for a phone meeting scheduled for 9:30 in case there are any delays after school drop off preventing me from being at home and in front of my computer for our morning meeting.

9.30 AM

My first meeting of the day is a debrief with the team I work in discussing any events that have occurred in the organisation, sites or the community which may have an impact on the business or our team. We discuss what we are working on briefly and ask for help if needed from the team. This is a useful and effective meeting as it enables roadblocks to be resolved and assistance requested quickly. After this meeting, I make myself a drink and bring a bottle of water to my desk.

10.00 AM

I check my emails, Team’s chat and respond to any that need immediate action. I also check my team’s email address and respond to anything requiring attention. COVID-19 has required me to be more active and responsive to emails in a timely fashion and so this takes a bit of time each day. I spend the rest of my day working on project work as I have some rather large projects that are in the developmental and rollout stages. While trying to concentrate, I shut down my email and Teams for up to two hours at a time to allow me to fully concentrate on the work I am doing without being distracted by the constant flurry of emails. This was a suggestion of my previous mentor, who was exceptionally good at time management.

1.00 PM

Time for lunch! I make myself something quickly and make myself another drink and refill my water bottle. I spend this time turning my email back on and opening Teams. I respond to any emails or chats requiring attention. I am now working in the Wheatstone TAR team as the health and medical conduit as well as occupational hygiene lead. This is a demanding role which sees me developing training packages, information packs, involvement in risk assessments and ensuring readiness for the execution of events.

2.40 PM

It’s time to pick up the children from school. I shut down the computer and get in the car connecting my phone to the car to enable verbal meetings to take place at this time. I find this a really useful way of having lengthy conversations about work that do not require me to be in front of my computer. I always bring my laptop as I know I will have up to two hours of downtime while the children complete their after school sports.

3.10 PM

I pick up the kids from school and take them to their after school activities. COVID-19 has meant I often cannot enter the premises to watch the children which is great for me as I can spend this time on the laptop doing project work. If I need internet to attend meetings or make calls, I will connect my laptop to my hotspot to enable connectivity wherever I am. After school activities for the kids range from soccer, football, Tae Kwon Do, gymnastics, parkour, and dancing. In summer the kids trade soccer and football for Little Athletics. Every night, there is an activity and so it is important to be dynamic with connectivity to enable me to do two things at once: be a taxi service and work.

5.30 PM

Homework time for the kids. The three oldest boys, in years 4, 3 and 1, all get a minimum of 30 minutes of homework each. They all need my assistance with various components and so I Google what I cannot remember from school (things have changed a lot since I was at school – the excuse I tell myself when I cannot remember what a pronoun or an adjective is).

6.00 PM

If my husband is home from work, he will start cooking dinner, if not I begin cooking. Serve the meal and try to convince the children that vegetables are good for them and not the product of all things evil. After dinner I let the children watch tv or play a computer game to wind down before bed.

7.30 PM

It's bedtime for the children now. I spend 10 minutes with each child in their bed reading them a story or talking to them about their day. I get mountains of cuddles and sweet messages whispered into my ear during this time. It’s a really lovely way to end the night with the kids.

8.30 PM

After the kids have risen from bed for the 15th time to go to the bathroom, get a drink of water or tell me that one last thing they didn’t tell me for the many hours we spent together during the day I am able to relax with a hot Milo and open my laptop. I spend two hours on the computer following up on work and activities that have come out of the day.

10.30 PM

Bedtime for me now. I lay in bed and count sheep for seconds before my eyes close for the night ready to start it all again the next day.

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