My dream grew up with the sound of the waves.

Born and raised in Ba Ria-Vung Tau ( Ho Chi Minh City), where the lives of the people are more or less connected to the oil and gas industry, Nguyen Quoc Cuong's childhood was also spent amidst the sound of waves and the stories of his father, a worker who had spent many years working on offshore projects.

In the evenings at their small house, young Cuong would often sit and listen to his father tell stories about the Bach Ho, Dai Hung, Thien Ung, and Su Tu Den oil rigs, about the towering oil rigs standing majestically amidst the sea and sky, about the week-long shifts, about sleepless nights amidst the rough waves, and about the salty sweat of the sea. Back then, the boy didn't fully understand the hardships of the oil and gas profession, but in his young mind, the sea appeared as a world both fierce and magnificent. It wasn't just a place for extracting resources for the country, but also a place to test human willpower. "Perhaps it was from my father's stories that my dream of working on an oil rig grew stronger without me even realizing it," Cuong recalled.

In 2019, after graduating with a degree in Automation from Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, Cuong applied to the Vietnam-Russia joint venture Vietsovpetro, where his father had spent his youth. Upon receiving the acceptance letter, he was not only happy to have found a job in his field, but also felt he was continuing a journey – a journey in which his father had silently dedicated his youth to offshore oil rigs.

Engineer Nguyen Quoc Cuong at the Rong - Doi Moi gas compression platform.

Cuong still vividly remembers his first helicopter trip to the Rong-Doi Moi gas compression platform. From above, the platform appeared in the middle of the ocean like a giant steel structure standing firm amidst the vast expanse of waves. "At that moment, I felt so small, but it was also at that moment that I understood how great things Vietnamese people can achieve in the middle of the ocean…," he recounted.

That moment marked a transition from someone who had only heard stories of the sea to someone who was directly writing their own story in the vast ocean.

When the sea is no longer a dream

Upon arriving at the offshore platform, Cuong understood that behind the majestic appearance of oil and gas facilities lay a highly stressful working environment. The sound of engines roared day and night. Equipment systems operated continuously, demanding strict technical standards down to the smallest detail. "The beginning is always the hardest," for Cuong, this was never an empty cliché. In the early days, he simultaneously learned the ropes, directly participated in system operation, and had to pass a series of rigorous technical tests.

The Rong-Doi Moi gas compression platform is the gas storage hub for the entire field. If the system stops operating, the extracted gas may have to be burned off, causing significant economic losses, environmental damage, and disruption to oil production. “The biggest pressure is that everything has to be absolutely precise. Just one hour of downtime on the rig can result in tens of millions of dollars in losses. Therefore, there is no room for error, no matter how small,” he said.

Engineer Nguyen Quoc Cuong (left) handles the shutdown of the Booster Compressor (BCP) on the DGCP platform due to high compressor temperature.

The outdoor temperature sometimes exceeds 40 degrees Celsius. The sea breeze is dry and harsh. The engine noise is incessant. The tightly ventilated protective clothing keeps one constantly drenched in sweat. “When working, there’s no time to think about whether I’m scared or not; I just focus on completing the task. But sometimes the biggest difficulty isn’t the work itself, but the feeling of loneliness at sea during long night shifts. Far from land, far from family, surrounded only by the sound of waves and machinery. At times, I worry about technical problems while feeling incredibly small in the vast ocean. At those moments, I become even more determined to focus on my work to overcome the challenges,” he shared.

In the vast ocean, the young engineer gradually learns to grow and mature through these very challenges.

Initiatives that save tens of thousands of dollars started with night shifts.

If his story were limited to operating equipment, Nguyen Quoc Cuong's might be similar to that of many other young engineers working offshore. What sets him apart is his unwavering spirit. In the repetitive cycle of shifts, amidst the pressure of ensuring absolute system safety, Cuong maintains a habit: whenever he encounters a problem, he not only tries to solve it but also asks himself, "Could I do better?" It is this very question that sparks new ideas.

In just two years, 2022-2023, he implemented six initiatives across the entire platform system, notably: the initiative "Improving safety and monitoring for GTC high-pressure compressors by adding temperature sensors to outboard thrust bearings, increasing the lifespan of outboard thrust bearings, and ensuring safe operation of the machine," saving $3,472; the initiative "Improving safety in GTG generator operation by adding an early warning signal when the PDS1020 switch is activated," saving $5,642; the initiative "Modifying the cooling fan system for the Topsite ESD control cabinet to increase the cooling efficiency of the equipment inside the cabinet, minimizing the frequency of control card failures and improving the reliability of the equipment," saving $14,757; and the initiative “Enhancing safety and monitoring for GTC high-pressure compressors by adding temperature sensors to the LPC Suction & Discharge Journal Bearing,” saving $4,297…

Engineer Nguyen Quoc Cuong inspects and maintains the junction boxes on the air compressor system.

Engineer Cuong recounted the nights he worked until 2 or 3 in the morning, when machinery malfunctioned and production was interrupted. At those times, he wondered, "Why didn't we find a way to prevent this beforehand?" From these reflections, he began researching, experimenting, and perfecting technical solutions.

He explained that previously, if a sensor failed, the system could shut down, leading to numerous problems. His solution was to add a layer of monitoring, increasing the reliability of the equipment. This initiative not only minimizes the risk of unexpected shutdowns but also saves thousands of dollars in costs. “The idea wasn't far-fetched; it came from the difficulties we face every day. In oil and gas production, the most important aspect is ensuring absolute safety; if the platform stops operating, the losses are enormous,” Cường shared.

In an environment seemingly filled with rigid procedures, the initiatives of young engineer Nguyen Quoc Cuong demonstrate that there is always room for creativity and for young people who dare to think and act.

Silently keeping the air flowing inland.

After more than five years working at sea, the greatest thing Nguyen Quoc Cuong has gained is perhaps not the profit figures or professional achievements, but rather personal growth, the relief after hours of tension successfully resolving a technical issue, the joy when the system returns to stable operation after a long shift, and the moment of watching the gas streams continue to be channeled back to land after the silent efforts of those working offshore. “There are feelings that only those in the profession understand. Here, I am listened to and trusted. That’s what makes me want to stay here long-term,” he shared.

What is admirable about Cuong is not only his initiatives that have generated tens of thousands of USD in profits, but also the sense of responsibility of a young person who dares to think, dares to act, and dares to contribute; as commented by Mr. Nguyen Chinh Thi, Deputy Platform Manager of the Rong oil field's compressed air platform: "Cuong is a young engineer who is enthusiastic, responsible, and always ready to accept and successfully complete tasks. Cuong's initiatives not only contribute to improving production efficiency, but also demonstrate the spirit of mastering science and technology of today's young workers."

Engineer Nguyen Quoc Cuong (on the left) is calibrating the transmitter of the gaslift metering system at the Rong - Doi Moi gas compression platform.

He doesn't appear frequently on major forums, nor does he boast about his flamboyant achievements, but it is his quiet dedication that has contributed to maintaining the smooth operation of this key economic sector and ensuring national energy security. The value of his dedication doesn't lie in grand achievements, but often begins with silent shifts at sea, with responsibility for every screw, every sensor, every stream of gas flowing day and night to the mainland. Simple, yet profoundly noble.

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/phong-su-dieu-tra/cuoc-thi-nhung-tam-guong-binh-di-ma-cao-quy-lan-thu-17/ky-su-tre-giu-mach-song-giua-trung-khoi-1039978