New outdoor lab gives students first-hand experience with in-field pipeline maintenance and troubleshooting

The Pipeline Integrity students also appreciate what the new outdoor lab means to their education and the program.

“It’s way better than sitting in a classroom and watching screens or reading books on how to do things. This lab is the closest thing to a real-world experience you’re going to get,” said Pipeline student Travis Fielding, from McCurtain.

Fellow Pipeline student Dylan Morgan, from Fort Gibson, said the new outdoor lab allows students to take surveys and readings just like they would in the field and then better interpret those findings.

“It will help us put two and two together and know how to use the equipment,” Morgan said.

Lily Henderson, a Pipeline student from Burke, Vermont, said the outdoor lab will help students understand some of the more difficult concepts the program covers.

“The program has come a long way and now having a space to go out and actually do some of these tests first-hand will fill in some of the gaps. You can actually troubleshoot like we would in the field,” Henderson said. “It will definitely give first-year students an advantage when they go on internship.”

Bartlett said the new outdoor lab allows students to understand and perform more than 30 tasks that will be day-to-day job expectations when they enter the workforce.

“This facility allows a student to leave OSUIT with more confidence that they are ready for their internships and ultimately ready for the future as a pipeline integrity professional,” he said.

Pipeline student Caleb Osborne from Rosedale agrees.

(Source: www.pennenergy.com)