Graduates of the UOM Masters in Petroleum Studies Undertake Specialised Five-Day Training at the Ableman Drilling Academy

Hon Chris Cardona MP, Minister for the Economy, Investment and Small Business, and Hon Joe Mizzi MP, Minister for Transport and the Infrastructure, attended certification ceremony on Monday at the Academy’s state-of-the-art San Gwann facility.

Four Maltese graduates of the University of Malta’s Masters in Petroleum Studies course today received certification from the Ableman Drilling Careers Academy, having completed an IWCF Level 2 Well Control course, with an additional, specialised two-day extension on the Academy’s DS 5000 Rig Floor Simulator.

The course, which was organised in conjunction with UoM, was sponsored by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure. The ceremony itself was attended by the Hon Chris Cardona MP, Minister for the Economy, Investment and Small Business, the Hon Joe Mizzi MP, Minister for Transport and the Infrastructure, Dr Albert Caruana, Director General of the Continental Shelf Department, Angelique Maggi, director of the Ableman Drilling Academy, Bill Richardson, Head of the Ableman Drilling Academy, and instructor Malcolm Lodge.

Speaking to the press after the ceremony, Ms Maggi said: “We are honoured to have collaborated with UoM to give these students a very particular experience that combines the academic benefits of their degree, the industry course IWCF Level 2 Well Control course and the hands-on experience of our DS 5000 Rig Floor Simulator. This simulator is unique in Malta and the region, and found at very few schools around the world, so its use has provided them with very particular knowledge of well control equipment and basic operations that will certainly be considered an asset in the industry.”

The Ableman Drilling Careers Academy is, in fact, dedicated to preparing students for careers in the international oil sector. It is fully accredited, and provides both IADC Well Sharp and IWCF Drilling Well Control courses at Introductory/Level 2, Driller/Level3 and Supervisor/Level 4.

“Agreeing, one of the graduating students said: “Coming from a background in Petroleum Studies, the IWCF Level 2 Well Control Course has granted me an improved and coherent understanding of well control. I would recommend the course to anyone pursuing a career in the oil and gas industry.”

The Academy, which forms part of the larger Ablecare Oilfield Services Group, provides regional solutions and services to the marine, oil and gas industry in the Mediterranean, African and Middle East Region.

“The wealth of experience that our team brings to the Academy means we can offer tailor-made solutions to our clients, and this directly results in the improved performance, safety, and efficiency of the oil-industry workforce. These graduates are an excellent example of the success that comes from collaborations between industry and education. We look forward to future collaborations of this kind,” Ms Maggi concludes.