Ableman Drilling Careers Academy set to open next month

Final arrangements are being made ahead of the opening of the Ableman Drilling Careers Academy’s first programme next month, the Floorhand Workforce Certificate.

Students have been shortlisted, having first passed an aptitude test in English and Mathematics and are set to attend the course. Earlier, they were fully briefed at one of several information sessions organised at the Ablecare Oilfield Services Group head offices in San Gwann.

The programme, being held between 9 February and 31 March 2015, consists of 288 contact hours and is being offered in co-operation with Lonestar College of Houston, Texas, in the United States. It is being conducted in Malta by Lonestar lecturers, James Ward, Michael Burns and Dan Hernandez.

As part of the preparation for the launch of the Academy, Ms. Angelique Maggi, Director, accompanied Mr. Paul Abela, Chairman of the Ablecare Olifield Services Group, on a visit in November to New Orleans to attend the annual general meeting of the International Association of Drilling Contractors. Lonestar College were also present.

There they met with College Chanceller, Steve Head, and the Associate Vice-Chancellor Linda Head. They also met with IADC President Stephen Colville and Executive Vice-President of Operational Integrity Mark Denkowski, and discusse the launch of the Academy in Malta as well as Malta’s potential as an oil and gas hub in the region.