We interviewed Gaukhar Kazhigumarova, who is a chem.lab analyst about present chemical laboratory in ATC.

- Dear Gaukhar, could you tell a little about background, foundation of the chemical laboratory?

- Atyrau Training Centre Chemical Testing Laboratory (ATC CTL) was founded in 2004 as a part of whole training centre. Initally, the main goal, pursued by management was the training of high-skilled professionals satisfying the needs of the company.

- What are the main objectives of the lab?

- So far, Special Project-1 and Special Project-3 trainees have already been trained in lab and successfully applied gained experience to their current jobs.

Later, it was decided to certify this lab in order to support other Departments (P&M, HSE, Well Operations, etc.) by providing various required tests until Chemical lab in Karabatan was started up. As a result of long preparation work, finally ATC Lab was accredited in November, 2009 in accordance with the requirements of ST RK ISO 17025-2007 by RoK accreditation Body- National Center of Accreditation (NCA).

- What kind of equipment, apparatuses are available in the laboratory? What kind of analysis can be done in the lab?

- Accreditation area of lab includes determination of different parameters of water matrices (waste, ground and drinking). Lab is fully equipped with many measuring and testing devices for water (GC, AAS, IR

spectrophotometer, etc), air, oil/oil products and drilling fluid tests, as well as with glassware and chemicals.

Accredited parameters on water matrices are:

-      pH

-      Conductivity

-      Alkalinity

-      Carbonates CO32-

-      Hydrocarbonates HCO3-

-      Dry residue

-      Total suspended solids

-      Sulphates

-      Chlorides

-      Free chlorine

-      Odour

-      Taste

However, lab is capable of performing hundreds of other tests (not accredited yet, but hopefully will be soon), using sophisticated techniques like gas chromatograph, atomic absorption spectrometer, ion chromatograph, automatic titrator, gas analyzers, etc. Mud and oil tests will not be accredited, but will be either demonstrated to trainees or performed for internal use only.

- Can you tell about training programs for students?

- At the moment lab staff consists of 7 people, 2 of them are SP3 project "graduates”. The main targets set for this year is: expansion of accreditation area by adding and training of  potential chemical lab technicians from SP4 project.