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What does a day offshore really looklike?
For Lurdes Miguel De Oliveira, an Operations Technician onboard an FPSO, every shift starts with the same priorities: safety, teamwork and being ready for what lies ahead.
From walking the plant and monitoring equipment to supporting maintenance activities and coordinating with the Control Room, Lurdes takes us behind the scenes of her working day and shares what life offshore means to her.
With a background in Electronics, Automation and Instrumentation, Lurdes is also continuing her studies in Petroleum Engineering, specializing in Exploration and Production.
Today, she is the only woman onboard her FPSO. But that is not what defines her work.
“Competence has no gender.”
06:45| The shift begins
Lurdes’ day starts with the shift handover, where the team exchanges essential information about equipment, process performance, ongoing activities and safety.
After the team briefing, it is time tohead into the plant.
During her walk-through, Lurdes monitors equipment performance, checks for leaks, unusual sounds or vibration, and watches for anything that could indicate a change in operating conditions.
For an operations technician, paying attention to the smallest details can make an important difference.
Safety in every task
A big part of Lurdes’ work happens before maintenance even begins.
Toolbox Talks help ensure the task, potential hazards, responsibilities and necessary controls are understood before work starts.
On this day, Lurdes’ activities included isolating process valves and draining residual fluids to allow the maintenance team to work safely on equipment.
It is a practical example of how closely teams offshore work together and how safety remains at the centre of every activity.
Field meets Control Room
While much of Lurdes’ day takes place in the field, the Control Room provides another view of the operation.
Process graphics, trends, alarms and operating parameters help the team understand how equipment and systems are performing.
For Lurdes, the two perspectives complement each other: in the field, she sees the equipment first hand; in the Control Room, she sees the data behind its performance.
Beyond the shift
Life offshore is not only about work.
When the shift ends, there is time to recharge, exercise and connect with colleagues. Lurdes is also part of the Welfare Team, helping organize activities onboard.
But there is one moment she particularly treasures: sunset.
Looking out across the ocean gives her a moment to reflect on the journey that brought her offshore, the challenges she has overcome and how much she has grown.
For Lurdes, the view represents growth, achievement and resilience.
Inspiring the next generation
Lurdes’ journey into engineering began with encouragement from her father, a decision she says changed the direction of her life.
Today, she has a message for other women considering a career in energy:
“Never allow anyone to define the limits of what you are capable of achieving.”
Her advice is simple: invest in your knowledge, be disciplined, approach every responsibility with dedication and have the confidence to step forward when opportunities arise.
Through Lurdes’ eyes, a day offshore is about more than equipment and operations. It is about people, teamwork, continuous learning and making safety part of every decision.
One day. One shift. One of the people behind Azule Energy’s offshore operations.