Human Resources: Focus on safe and effective operation for new Qatargas pipeline

New York & London, September 23, 2009 -- Cognisco <http://www.cognisco.com> , a global leader in measuring employee knowledge and confidence, today announced completion of a training assessment project for Qatargas. The project will allow Qatargas to assess employees and ensure they are thoroughly prepared to safely operate a new offshore pipeline system which will bring natural gas onshore from Qatar’s North Field in the Arabian Gulf. The pipelines are set to be brought into operation in 2010.
Cognisco assessments combine complex techniques and tools developed by experienced teams of consultants, HR, IT and business experts to ensure workers possess accurate knowledge, have complete confidence and are assigned to appropriate jobs. Using Cognisco’s customized employee assessments, Qatargas will measure what pipeline operators understand and retain from a new Qatargas-designed four day training program that prepares them to safely operate the new pipelines. The assessments are aligned to specific elements of the training and will measure understanding in the critical areas of corrosion management, hydrate management, depressurization, pigging and operating procedures. Cognisco will assess operators after the training program is implemented in January 2010.
The customized assessments have been developed by a Cognisco-appointed specialist consultant, working closely with Qatargas subject matter experts. In addition to producing effective employee assessments, the collaboration with Cognisco aided Qatargas in focusing and refining its training content and approach, which has resulted in a clear, unambiguous program.

“The guidance and unbiased contribution that Cognisco offered significantly enhanced and tailored our training to fit the specific needs of our operators,” says Alun Kimber, QG3&4 platform engineering manager, who managed the project. “Cognisco’s services helped our team produce an effective training program, and their fine-tuned assessments allowed us to ensure that our training is completely understood and that our operators are fully prepared for safe and effective operation of the pipeline system.”

Cognisco’s customized assessments are designed to provide a holistic view of employees rather than focus completely on outcomes. They measure not only employee competence and knowledge but also their confidence in that knowledge, providing an extra layer of insight into each employee on an individual basis. Cognisco’s assessments and reporting can be delivered in any language.
“Ensuring that employees completely understand every aspect of their training is a critical step in reducing potentially costly and dangerous errors,” said Andrew Davidson, consulting manager, Cognisco. “We’re pleased that our consultants and knowledge development services have provided Qatargas with that critical insight, as well as helped them to develop a clear and effective training program for the operators of their new gas line.”

About Qatargas

Qatargas was established in 1984. Today, the company is a leading player in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) industry, exporting 10 million tons per annum of LNG from four existing LNG trains in Ras Laffan Industrial City, Qatar, to customers in Japan, Spain and the UK. Currently Qatargas is undergoing a period of rapid expansion, which when completed in 2010, will see the company exporting 42 million tons to markets in Europe, Asia and North America. With its current operations, Qatargas has delivered well over 1,500 cargoes. Qatargas is recognized worldwide as a secure and reliable supplier of LNG.

About Cognisco

Cognisco is a global leader in measuring employee knowledge and confidence, working with companies in more than 150 countries and in 32 different languages. Headquartered in the UK with an office in New York City, its unique online knowledge development solutions enable customers, including some of the world’s biggest brands, to accurately assess and measure levels of individual understanding and confidence. By combining human capital consultancy, online appraisal and learning, Cognisco provides its customers with critical data which enables companies to reduce risk and cost, while increasing operational performance and ROI. Cognisco believes in enabling individuals to reach their true potential by constantly placing them in a position to excel so that employers can continuously improve business performance.