CPET hosts INEOS engineering bootcamp
The incumbent worker training program at the LyondellBasell Center for Petrochemical, Energy, & Technology (CPET) at San Jacinto College hosted a two-day engineering bootcamp for INEOS April 7-8, 2021.
The training provided new engineers with field experience in inspections technology, pipefitting, and process technology.
"When engineers graduate from college, they bring with them a wealth of book knowledge, but oftentimes they have had little to no field experience," said Clarissa Belbas, CPET resources/owners director. "Bootcamps such as this one can bridge the gap by providing some hands-on practical experience."
Incumbent working training offers course packages to industry partners to assist in training their employees in areas where they may be lacking. San Jacinto College instructors, along with educational partners, lead the curriculum for each course.
The CPET facility houses degree programs in process technology, instrumentation, electrical, inspections technology, and environmental health and safety and offers industry certification courses in craft trades such as pipefitting, millwrighting, and electrical/instrumentation. The building's 35 labs, in addition to the 8,000-square-foot exterior glycol process unit, are all used for the degree programs and are fully available for incumbent worker training based on the needs and desires of industry.
"It is fun and interesting to be able to do the work of an operator or pipefitter. Actually, touching pipes and lining up valves, that's not something I ever get to do normally," said Sara Hames, INEOS I&E reliability engineer. "For me, seeing the amount of force it takes to screw on the pipes and how much time it takes to climb to the top of the unit was interesting. I have a better perspective of what that work entails, and I'll take that with me moving forward."
The INEOS engineers will return for a third day of bootcamp to complete more training on the facility's glycol unit.
"We're not trying to create subject matter experts in pipefitting, inspections, or even operations," Belbas said. "However, practical knowledge in all these areas can help the new engineers integrate into the company more quickly and spend less company time learning the basics."
Learn more about incumbent worker training at CPET.
