Our People: AOC Summer Intern
Rhys Mennie
Summer Intern
My AOC Journey
During an exceptional year, which saw AOC become the Duty Holder of the Anasuria FPSO and undergo a transformative rebrand, I’m excited to share my experiences as one of their summer interns. I’m Rhys Mennie, a Mechanical Engineering student at Aberdeen University who spent the summer with AOC. My journey certainly reflects the company’s core values of being empowered, authentic, progressive, and exceptional.
Empowerment Through Experience
Although I had previous oil and gas experience in a more hands-on role, I wanted to transition to an office based position that would complement my education. AOC’s internship was perfect and provided me with the exposure I was looking for. Over the summer, I focused on asset life extension (ALE) and my primary task was gathering and organising data for a database used to predetermine asset faults. I also evaluated and refined the tagging system to ensure future functionality. This sharpened my research skills and let me apply academic knowledge to real-world challenges.
Authentic and Supportive Culture
At AOC, I quickly saw that the culture is central to everything. I appreciated the stable schedule, improving my professional and social life. The team welcomed me, answering questions and easing my office transition. I even had the opportunity to join the annual golf outing which allowed me to socialise with co-workers and feel truly integrated. I would say AOC’s commitment to an inclusive, engaging atmosphere is exceptional!
"At AOC, I quickly saw that the culture is central to everything"
Progressive Learning and Collaboration
I primarily collaborated with Engineering, though AOC’s open office enabled cross-departmental interactions. Colleagues exchanged insights, fostering open collaboration that can be hard to establish. Invaluable support from mentors and colleagues shaped my growth too; their guidance wasn’t about answers, but empowering me to find solutions myself, instilling crucial skills for my future.
Personal and Professional Growth
My time at AOC was transformative. I grew as an engineer and as a person, taking pride in my responsibilities. Being treated as an equal and given learning opportunities let me understand professional expectations. To future AOC interns, I would say, immerse yourself in available information, embrace diverse perspectives, and use the opportunity to really expand your knowledge to help your career. It is also a great chance to experience office life and gain insights into future expectations.
Acknowledgements
I want to express my appreciation to the entire AOC family for the warm welcome. In particular, I thank James Keachie, Senior Development Engineer, for generously sharing knowledge and maximising my experience. I would also like to thank Lowell Forsyth, Project Lead, for introducing me to this opportunity, and Colin Deddis, Technical Manager, for his invaluable expertise, patience, and flexibility. I used the internal recognition programme to officially recognise James’ contributions to my growth; this is a great internal initiative that reinforces AOC’s commitment to celebrating everyone’s efforts.
Summing Up
Working at AOC has been enjoyable, motivating, and hugely valuable. It elevated me and provided excellent experience over the summer. I am so grateful to have been part of AOC’s team – thank you for the support!
