Water wells drilling and drilling rigs expert

UNICEF

Closing date: 02 Sep 2009

Location: Sudan - Khartoum with frequent travel to Darfur states, Kordofan states, Blue Nile and Eastern states

Background

The WES programme has a long history in Sudan since 1975.

Over this time the programme has accumulated 15 medium to big drilling rigs and one PAT rig, some procured by the government and most of them procurement by UNICEF and all are scattered over north Sudan as follows: 3 in the East, 5 in Kordofan, 6 in Darfur and 3 including the PAT rigs in Blue Nile.

The Public Water Corporation has requested UNICEF support to assess the rigs, recommend sustainable ways to maintain them, give refresher training and put monitoring and reporting systems in place to ensure the efficient use of the equipments.

As a partner, UNICEF has been supporting the sector through technical and other inputs to NWC/WES to build various capacities besides covering all necessary costs of water supply schemes. The NWC/WES is collectively operating 15 drill rigs provided by UNICEF and procurement by PWC since eighties.

Through these kinds of support UNICEF was able to demonstrate that with good management, trained crews, and timely provision of supplies and spares, water well drilling can be used to provide safe drinking water facilities to rural communities.

The proposed TOR is to provide technical assistance in the field of drilling operations: training, compiling drilling information, establish monitoring and reporting systems and assisting, where necessary, in the procurement of supply, delivery and utilization of various spares for the UNICEF supported drilling rigs in northern Sudan.

Justification

The Sudan Household Health Survey (2006) indicates that 58.7% of the northern Sudan population has access to improved water supply.

Accordingly, 41.3% of the population does not have access.

The task of meeting the MDG on improved water supply is, therefore, not easy considering that the private sector is undeveloped and quite expensive.

As the private sector is just picking up, the water sector will have to depend on the drilling equipment from the Public Water Corporation and State Water Corporations.

It is in the light of this fact that UNICEF support for proper operation and maintenance of these rigs as well as strengthening of planning and monitoring for keeping them efficiently operational is very much needed.

Specific Tasks of the consultantContract is for three months duration to complete the following tasks:

1.Make assessment of WES drilling rigs at three Darfur states, Blue Nile, Eastern region, South & North Kordofan and give comprehensive report for the status of rigs, spare parts need and suggest improvement on supply chain.

2.Asses the exact condition and problems of South Kordofan Ingersoll and Trukish drilling rigs at Kadugli and submit proposal on spare parts requirement and estimate the cost and suggest usefulness of the rigs if repaired.

3.Assist the National Water Corporation and SWCs and build their capacity in drilling operation, particularly on spare parts ordering and management and support procurement.

4.Guide and monitor a refresher training course for the drilling and maintenance personnel working on the UNICEF supplied rigs; this includes maintenance of bits and hammers, spare parts ordering and management, effective rigs monitoring, trouble shooting and routine maintenance.

5.Establish daily & monthly plan and suggest the improvements required to upgrade the facilities.6.Assess geophysical areas suitable for manual drilling and make recommendation.

7.Review of boreholes design used and recommend it to PWC to convey on the standardization.

8.Contribute to development of technical papers for drilling workshop.

Methodology

The key areas of work and responsibility under this TOR include the following:

1.Extensive travel (how extensive) to Darfur, Kordofan Eastern and Blue Nile states, and assessment of drilling rigs in these states;

2.Extensive consultations with UNICEF, Public Water Corporation, and State Water Corporations in the relevant northern States on issues related to rigs’ performance and management systems.

Expected Deliverables

1.Recommendation on reduction of cost of bore well drilling through efficient and effective drilling operations.

2.Recommendation on how to reduce Rig down time due to lack of spares and drilling efficiency of UNICEF assisted rig increased.

3.Drilling monitoring system established in the regions, which operate UNICEF supported rigs.

4.Updated and expanded training manual for drilling and maintenance personnel.

5.Complete inspection reports after field visits to the various UNICEF supported drilling rigs in the targeted states.

6.Complete a final report summarizing work accomplished during the three months’ contract period with recommendations on future training, technical assistance required and areas that need to be further addressed to improve efficiency and effectiveness of the drilling operations in the states.

Expected background and Experience

1.Advanced University degree in Mechanical or automobile engineering with good knowledge of drilling rigs and compressor operation and maintenance.

2.10 years of professional experience in the operation, maintenance and management of drilling rigs and compressors.

3.Similar previous experience in Africa, particularly in emergencies.
Experience is Sudan will be an asset.

4.Previous experience of WASH/WES sector coordination involving Government and NGOs.

5.Knowledge of the latest developments and technology in well drilling, pumping systems, and related maintenance and capacity building.

6.Team work abilities.

7.Demonstrated ability to work in a multi-cultural environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships, both within and outside the organization.

8.Ability to work and live in difficult environments.

9.Fluency in English. Knowledge of Arabic an advantage.

How to apply

Interested & qualified candidates should submit their updated CVs and UN personal history form, to sudanhrvacancies@unicef.org