As the Superintendent for Obigbo Cluster, my day commences as early as 5 AM with the obligatory Islamic prayer followed by a quick shower and work readiness preparations and movement to the office. The first meeting of the day is between 7:15 AM and 7:45 AM, where the entire team gathers to analyse the production achieved for the past 24 hours, and review work planned for the current day to analyse safe execution and execution capacities. Inherent hazards and team welfare are also discussed. This is quickly followed by some 15-minute Obigbo Production deferment meeting between 8:00 AM and 8:15 AM, where the team discusses the gap between achieved oil and gas production and the target for the past day to provide solutions and bridge any gaps. Breakfast, permit approvals, and authorization sign-offs are sandwiched around here and the next meeting starts at 9 AM.
Within the hour of 9 AM and 10 AM, is the Company-wide Daily Production Review meeting hosted virtually by the Port Harcourt based Production Leadership with the sole aim of getting all the helps required to support the days and future production. From then till the close of business is spent engaging various office-based supports for actions and help required with lunch and facilities ward-round sandwiched in between. Of course, two hourly reviews of produced volumes are continuously done as soon as the duty operators provide the figures every two hours.
C.O.B signals the time for us in the field to start reviewing the activities for the day and hold the crucial meeting of YTT(Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow) for planned activities.
In between all these, are times to walk around, make jokes with colleagues and keep blood flowing in the body. Retirement to the room is usually around 7 pm with evening prayer capping it along with dinner though the brain remains alert for any duty challenges. This is my day as Ag. Production Superintendent, Obigbo Cluster, HHOG.
Right from my secondary school days as a science student, I have always wanted to study mechanical engineering and that was my choice in all the three options allowed on the admission form. I achieved that from the Great Ife in 1988 (Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife) and have never regretted it.
Having a job that goes beyond earning a living is one of the best things that can happen to any human being. I am passionate about my nation and continent and energy sustenance being central to the development of both made me see my role as a call to duty. When I calculate my production for the last 24 hours and its direct impact on the economy and energy sustenance of Nigeria and Africa, I feel proud of myself and my role. Nothing could be more exciting. Every 2 hours, you review production statistics and forecast its implications on the country and continent, you thank God for the role you play.
Apart from the five years I spent in the fabrication and dredging industry, I have always been an oil and gas professional right from 1995 till date. Yes, I left the big ones, rested for some period and came back, yet it has always been oil. I switched between office and field operations but the roles are always related and complementary.
Over the years, I have seen that life itself is a sum of stories in a different mix, good and bad. I think the most mind-blowing of it all was the month our Reconciliation Factor was 3% which means that only three per cent of what we produced was eventually credited to us. Then the issue of crude theft became an existential problem to us as the coal-face guys. How on earth can you survive when thieves steal 97 out of every 100 you produced despite you funding the entire production cost? And how do you tell your family that you wasted 97% of your efforts feeding some hawks stealing from the line? It was sad and horrendous, however, we remain committed and dedicated to making a difference.
Growing in my career has come with its fears and feelings of self-doubt but I think it’s simple; Be authentic in all you do. You are as unique as you and no one can steal your identity successfully as long as you keep being you. Your work character keeps you going where the impostor will fail.
And do I have work besties? Yes! My fellow ‘inmates’ at the Production office in Port Harcourts popularly called ‘Old People’s Home’, Yinka Dada, Bamidele Taiwo, Austin Efenovwe and a whole lot of the above 50 guys in that room. We have developed a way of making the job fun. We share our pains and gains and turn everything into fun. They are my work family and a sure way of conquering the enormous hazzard inherent in our industry. We live and work together as a clan with each other. Each and everyone looks out for the other and we journey out and deliver together, safely.
