PERFECTION THE FIRST TIME, EVERY TIME

By Derek C. Isu

Derek C. Isu, AWS-CWI, ASNT Level 2, is working for a French multinational oil and gas company, Elf Petroleum Nigeria Limited, Amenam Kpono Project, as a welding inspector and supervisor of three fabrication shops of Saipem Contracting Nigeria Limited.

Saipem Contracting Nigeria Limited is currently working on a project to construct offshore bridges and various piping diameters with materials including carbon steel, Inconel, etc.  One of the welders working in our piping fabrication shop is unique.  Victor Igbwiri of Warri, Nigeria, has been welding for thirteen years.  During that entire time, none of his welds has ever required a repair or rework. 

When I first met Victor in 1998, we were working on Duplex piping in a gas plant and he was an excellent gas tungsten arc (TIG) welder at that time.  He had received his basic welding training in Warri, Nigeria, and then he received additional TIG - Duplex training in France prior to the gas plant project.  Five years later, we met again while he was working on a 14-inch martensitic chromium stainless steel pipeline for an Italian company.  It was the first time that metal was used to construct a pipeline in Nigeria.  The quality of his work was amazing.

Victor is qualified to AWS D1.1, ASME B31.3, and API 1104 and is qualified to weld every job on the project.  It is certainly a pleasure to work with someone with his talent.   

I am encouraging Victor to become an AWS Certified Welding Inspector.  While his training was obtained in France, most of his work has been done in Nigeria.  Victor Igbwiri is currently looking for international opportunities and may be contacted at:

0-803-301-2153 (mobile phone) or trustcyber@yahoo.co.uk.

If you are interested in preparing for a career in this line of work, the Hobart Institute of Welding Technology offers a 36-week Combination Structural and Pipe Welding Program.  Those who qualify may also take the two-week Preparation for the American Welding Society Certified Welding Inspector/ Educator Examination Course.  The AWS CWI/CWE Examination is offered on the final day of the two-week class.