Changing from one industry to another is a bitter pill that someone needs to take. I was on this situation when I was started on a project for the water industry after one-and-half decade working in the oil & gas industry. Worse, it was an Alliance Alliance project compared to the straight contract projects I always worked with.
Like any other projects, old-timers seem to show off on new comers. More so that the norms and practices on the water industry is totally different from the oil & gas. To name a few:
- Water almost always use underground conduits – Oil & Gas, this is a mortal sin.
- Cable ladders are seldom used – O&G, that’s the way to do it.
- P&IDs are owned by I&C – O&G, it is the process people.
- Electrical panelboards contains I&C stuff and almost always form 1 at most form 2 – O&G, totally separate.
- Field isolators are always required to disconnect the motor circuits – O&G, local control stations are used..
- The list go on…
There are so differences that it was actually a shocking experience for me which led to heated discussions with the old-timers most of the time. Until someone needs to give-in… and that’s me.
As the saying goes “When you’re in Rome, do what the Romans do”. And so I did.
I said to myself, as long as it is an acceptable norm in the industry, then it is okay with me. Then I became much happier with the project, and no more hard hitting arguments. At least everybody is happy.