OREANDA-NEWS. December 28, 2015. Aberdeen Drilling School delegation, included Jim Sutherland, Director, and Tom Donnelly, Business Development Manager, paid a visit to SOCAR’s Head office. Welcoming the guests, Khalik Mammadov, SOCAR Vice President for HR, IT and Regulations, said SOCAR and Aberdeen Drilling School have successfully developed cooperation established two years ago. Expressing his gratitude for cordial welcome, Jim Sutherland said they were aware that Azerbaijan played important role in the history of world oil-and gas industry and they were very pleased to visit this country.

SOCAR Vice President briefed the guests about the rich and ancient history of oil production in Azerbaijan and said Baku oilmen’s contribution to the development of world oil industry was irreplaceable. He spoke about the achievements of SOCAR’s regional and global projects, operation fields, diversified export pipeline system. He said currently, Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan and Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum main export gas pipelines have become a reliable source of energy supply for the region and EU countries. With developing the Shah Deniz field, Azerbaijan is known in the world as natural gas producing country. TANAP and TAP as the routes of Azerbaijani gas supplies to Europe, achieved international support. The guests were informed in detail about the SOCAR’s personnel training projects, scholarship programs, as well as the activity of Baku Higher Oil School.

Jim Sutherland thanked for interesting information and said Aberdeen Drilling School, founded in 1982, has long been recognized as a leader in well control and well servicing operations training, establishing drilling schools in three countries and implementing large-scale projects in several ones. He said the drilling school has close cooperation with SOCAR, its complex of drilling enterprises and training and certification department. The meeting focused on interesting ideas, including establishing regional center for highly-qualified drilling experts training. The delegation of Aberdeen Drilling School expressed gratitude for useful cooperation and confidence in further development of relations.