Key Lessons Learned in Engineer Battalion Operations

I’ve made mistakes in the field. But this one? It almost shut the whole operation down. Here’s what I learned the hard way. We were days into a critical completion. → High pressure. → Tight schedule. → Big money on the line. Then it happened. A miscommunication on depth data. A rushed handoff between shifts. And a call I should’ve double-checked. The result? → Hours of delay. → A full crew on standby. → And a well we almost lost. I’ll be honest I felt sick. Because I knew it was preventable. I knew I missed something. But here’s what that moment taught me: 1) Field leadership isn’t about calling shots. → It’s about clarity under pressure. → No ego. No assumptions. Just facts. 2) Handoffs are everything. → We fixed our communication protocols that week. → No more “it’s in the notes” excuses. 3) Accountability builds trust. → I owned it. → No finger-pointing. Just lessons shared. → And the team backed me because of it. We didn’t lose the well. But I nearly lost my confidence. That mistake taught me more than any win ever has. Now? → We plan tighter. → We communicate louder. → We double-check everything even the obvious. Because pressure doesn’t create cracks. ↳ It reveals the ones already there. To every engineer, operator, or lead reading this: Your next big leadership moment might not look like a success. ↳ It might look like a mistake handled well. P.S. What’s one lesson you learned the hard way in the field?

Dear young engineer, if you are ever caught between safety and production, Choose safety and work your way to production. This video reminds me of a shot I supervised some years ago. It was an evening shot scheduled to be mined that same day. The team and I put in the maximum effort to get the shot ready. We did our clearance and positioned the blast guards. We observed all protocols. Despite following every regulation, an unexpected shower of fly rock much like in the video below occurred, heading right back toward our firing point, forcing my team and me into open spaces for safety. It was a tense moment that thought me the following invaluable lessons: 1. No production target is worth compromising safety. When faced with a choice, always prioritize safety and then innovate or strategize to achieve production safely. 2. Even when exclusion zones and regulations are followed, unexpected incidents like fly rock can still occur. Always assess for additional risks and take proactive measures beyond the minimum requirements. 3. During blasting or other hazardous operations, conditions can change rapidly. Being alert and ready to react (such as moving into open spaces) can prevent injuries. 4. Blasting and similar activities have inherent risks; always respect the power and unpredictability of such operations. Have a safe and productive week ahead.

#LifeSkills I had some of the most memorable memories during my time as a Field Water and Sanitation Engineer with the UN Peacekeeping Mission in Cote d'Ivoire. I would lead teams to fix water supply systems and wastewater management installations for civilian and Military Installations in some of the most remote places where you do not have the luxury of fully equipped workshops and all the fixtures you need to make things work perfectly. Here are the top two life skills and lessons related to strategy and innovation I picked from these experiences. Number One - Adaptability and quick outside-the-box solutions: We often face unexpected challenges that require quick thinking and creative solutions. This develops in one a highly adaptable mindset and strong problem-solving skills, which are valuable in both personal and professional contexts. I remember at one time somewhere called Grabo, we were called to repair a broken containerized septic system at a Senegalese Battalion military camp. This required removing this 2 tonne equipment from under the earth where it was buried (we had underestimated the scope of the job during preparation). We didn't have the luxury of a crane to lift it out. It had to be fixed urgently or else there would be a sanitation disaster akin to the Cholera breakout in Haiti. We applied the buoyancy principle of floatation to remove it repair it and fix it back without a lifting crane. Number Two- Systems thinking: Working with complex engineered systems taught me to see the big picture connectedness of moving parts while understanding how individual components interact. This holistic approach is crucial for developing effective strategies and innovations in any field. The skills for fixing plumbing systems by hand have remained with me to date. I rarely need plumbers in my own house! Viva to UN Peacekeepers! An unforgettable experience doing good for Humanity!

In 2011, an incident somewhere in MENA could have escalated into a catastrophic event in a matter of seconds. I was mobilized as HSE Manager right after the accident, and I can still recall the critical lessons we learned. An experienced Expat Mechanic, under immense pressure due to repetitive NPT, made a fatal error. He charged a pulsation dampener—a key vibration attenuation component in a drilling rig’s mud pump. However, instead of filling it with nitrogen, as required, he mistakenly filled it with oxygen. Minutes later, when the driller activated the pump, the oxygen rapidly heated up, triggering a violent fire—fueled further by the diesel-based mud we were drilling with. The situation could have been far worse. Key Lessons: ✔ Clear Gas Identification – Proper color coding and labeling are essential. ✔ Nitrogen Purity Testing – Always verify gas composition before use. ✔ Managing Stress Under Pressure – Fatigue and workload can impair judgment. ✔ Reinforce Safety Checks – Use checklists, PTW, and double verification. #SafetyCulture #HSE #OilAndGas #RiskPrevention #Pulsation #Dampener