Ardyne are pleased to conclude our first Graduate Plug & Abandonment (P&A) Engineer Development Programme, with Chris Bruce completing his two-year programme and graduating as a P&A Engineer within the company.

Chris Bruce started as a Graduate Engineer with Ardyne in Aberdeen, Scotland. He is the first person to complete the company developed programme, aimed at providing direct experience in P&A operations, something with ever increasing demand within the aging North Sea asset base.

The development programme saw Chris spend time in the workshop, working with supply chain/logistics, learning business systems, applying engineering practices alongside the company’s onshore operations team and also working in the field offshore.

Chris commented; “Since joining Ardyne, their graduate programme has included me in every area of their business. The hands-on experience I have gained from time spent within workshop, supply chain, operations and offshore has been invaluable in my learning of the industry and Ardyne’s role within it.

Being able to attend field trials of new equipment on offshore installations only accelerated my learning. Working alongside such a highly experienced team, throughout the last two years, meant I was supported during the entire duration of the graduate programme.

It has been an exciting period of time working for Ardyne as we continue to grow within the Wells Decommissioning industry, securing contract awards and a diverse multitude of workscopes. As I progress into this new role of P&A Engineer, I am eager to take on the new responsibilities and challenges that will come with the position”.

The graduate programme has qualified Chris as a P&A Engineer and will see him working at the rigsite, alongside clients during their well decommissioning & P&A projects and providing onshore support from the office to both local and international clients.

Alan Fairweather, Ardyne CEO, commented “We have designed this graduate programme to bridge a skills gap in the P&A operations workforce. With the mature North Sea Basin there is an ever-increasing workscope of Permanent Plug & Abandonment projects that must be completed in the coming years.

Ensuring we have highly skilled engineers is key to our philosophy that encompasses three main factors: market leading technology, fully traceable assets, and experienced staff.

Chris has been outstanding since joining Ardyne a few years ago, he will continue to develop with us and has become an integral part of our Operations Team here in Aberdeen.”

Further to the successful introduction of the development programme Ardyne Workshop Technician Craig Barron has been promoted to P&A Engineer, while Thomas Halder has been recruited as a Trainee P&A Engineer.

Like Chris, these two will gain specialised experience in P&A operations to further support Ardyne’s growing portfolio of contract wins and ad-hoc projects where clients require the company’s expertise and leading technology.

Mr Fairweather added, “after having such great success with Chris we are delighted to offer other members of the Ardyne team the opportunity to progress their careers with us. The people will grow together with the company ensuring we keep a focus on our philosophy of having experienced staff, alongside market leading technology and fully traceable assets.”