We caught up with some of the management team here at Omega Well Intervention. Read on for an insight into their careers and what it’s like to work for Omega!
Charles Wilson is Electronics Manager at OWI and has 31 years’ experience in the industry. He started out mudlogging in the far-east in the mid-80s and his experience spans measurement and seismic while drilling, met-ocean monitoring, sub-sea control systems, remote pipeline isolation systems and high temperature electronics for downhole tools.
Originally from the Highlands, he has experience working in Texas, China, New Zealand, France, India and Brazil, while Aberdeenshire is an adopted home since University days.
“The best thing about working in the industry as an electronics engineer is the autonomy to originate or improve technologies that have a company specific application.”
From specifying shock and vibration tests, to devising new methods of test and measurement and the development of new products incorporating unfamiliar components, the technical challenge is always varied. However, Charles explains that the best part about working for Omega is the fact that he can trust his colleague’s unmerciful honesty when critiquing new ideas!
“For those entering the industry now, be prepared for change. It’s a surprising industry in terms of the diversity of activities and industries it supports and it’s most likely that your career will resemble a good collection of short stories rather than an epic novel!”
Next up is Dean Thomson, Operations Manager.
“My career highlight was achieving my modern apprenticeship.”
Dean has 14 years’ experience in the industry. He started his career doing a Modern Apprenticeship with Expro in Engineering Maintenance SVQ Level 3 and NC in Mechanical Engineering at Tullos Training and Aberdeen College. He progressed within the Wireline Department on both the PCE and tools side and then worked offshore as Assistant Wireline Operator before moving on to Wireline Operator.
Dean then joined OWI as a Field Engineer working in the North Sea, Norway and Germany and then start working month and month rotation out of Saudi Arabia. He came back to Aberdeen in March 2018 as Operations Supervisor and then was promoted to Operations Manager in Feb 2019.
“The best thing about working for Omega is having the opportunity to travel to various different locations throughout the globe and meet new people. It’s a challenging industry but can be very rewarding if you stick to it!”
Chaz Malcolm has recently been promoted to QHSE Manager. Prior to that he was QHSE Co-ordinator and has been with OWI for two years. He assisted the former QHSE Manager in maintaining the QHSE Management System in accordance with the business requirements of Omega & in line with the latest revision of API Q1 / ISO 9001.
Chaz explains that he enjoys the constant engagement and variety of tasks and continually tries to find ways to improve. At the same time, trying to implement change can be a challenge but he said everyone always pulls together as a team.
“My career highlight so far is raising the standards and achieving API accreditation. I believe that the knowledge, skills and experience you gain in the industry can be transferred whatever path you decide, so set yourself targets and go for it!”
