James Preston

James Preston
JOB Graduate process engineer
EMPLOYER Costain Oil, Gas & Process Limited
DEGREE MEng engineering science (2002)
UNIVERSITY Oxford University

Finding a job

I applied speculatively for a job at Costain after seeing the graduate scheme listed in an industry publication. The application process was straightforward: I had an initial interview with the chief engineer, followed by two further interviews, one with the HR manager and a technical interview with the process engineering manager.

My role

For the past year I have worked on the design of the world’s largest nitrogen rejection project for PEMEX in Mexico. This has involved a range of design activities including developing P&IDs (piping and instrumentation diagrams), running process simulations, line sizing, calculating insulation thickness, sizing major equipment, generating heat and material balances, and also working on detailed engineering of the relief and blowdown system, which is basically regulation of the plant to combat anything that goes wrong.

Training

After induction on the first day I started work straight away on a study of the replacement of pentane storage tanks and a new LNG (liquefied natural gas) loading line. Due to business demands, my training is very much on the job, but I’ve found this is the best way to learn and understand the role. Specific training and development of skills has been provided when required and my training needs are usually identified at performance reviews.

The highs

It’s satisfying to work in a team solving complex problems and knowing that quick efficient solutions can make a big difference.

The lows

The amount of time between doing the work on a project and seeing the finished results can be frustrating, but this is only a minor downside to the job.