You are part of the MITAS programme, but not as a Well-Site Engineer?

While studying, I was curious about the opportunities I would have after school. At a ‘career day’ event, I heard a Maersk Oil representative tell about their Well Site Engineer programme, and I thought it sounded like an interesting job and place to work. However, I wasn’t keen on going abroad immediately as I was establishing a home and family. I wanted to remain in Esbjerg and I did not want, long periods of offshore duty.

Fortunately, MITAS offered other options than being a Well Site Engineer, and when I got my degree in Civil Engineering, I joined the Instrumentation Engineering Department in Esbjerg. At first, I worked with telecommunications for the platforms and later, I began working on a large project for the Dan (North Sea) field which is still running. In addition, I had several projects involving software for the wells in the Halfdan Field.

Following my first period with Maersk Oil in Esbjerg, I rotated to Maersk Drilling in Copenhagen. Here, I have been involved in converting the super tanker “Vincent” to an FPSO (floating production, storage and offloading vessel). This work is being done at a shipyard in Singapore. I focus on telecommunications on board the ship, and have been in Thailand and Singapore several times in connection with my work. I enjoyed the travel.

What was it like coming straight from university to MITAS?
One has many preconceptions – and prejudices – about a workplace, but reality is something quite different. It’s not as overwhelming. I much prefer working to studying, and I actually think I have plenty of leisure time.
 
Leaving school and beginning one’s job is, no doubt, a bit bewildering. You have to become acquainted with technical standards, old projects, you name it! And not least, work routines and purely administrative matters. It is all part of the introduction scheme. When you get started though, it’s enormously interesting.

As a new engineer at Maersk Oil, one has a surprising amount of influence on the design process, regardless of whether one chooses to go into details in technical design, or to be an engineer who maintains the overview, which is what I do. When I began, I was given ample time to immerse myself in projects. My primary role is to specify and assess projects, which are projected externally and I am very satisfied with my job.

And how do you experience MITAS as a study programme?

You learn an incredible amount in MITAS – through the programme itself, in which I  attended courses in e.g. project management, but even more through one’s work. You are able to test different ways of working and different procedures. You also get to meet many interesting people. At Maersk Drilling, for instance, I work next to a naval architect and a mechanical engineer. It is interesting and the work atmosphere is excellent.

From experience, Maersk Oil is a very accommodating and flexible workplace, where I am able to test and develop myself while having a good private life at the same time.