daily activities report
TRANSCRIPT
D A Y 1 – A P R I L 2 1 , 2 0 1 4
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O n my first day, I went to the Research and Development Department Building where I am as-signed. I was introduced to my training coordinator, Ms. Lea Cruz along with my co-trainees who will also start on this date. After all the introduction, Ms. Lea gave us some documents to be filled out with our nec-essary information. She also discussed one-by-one, the conditions stated in our student traineeship agree-ment or contract with Petron, and we signed it afterwards. She also asked us to submit some requirements: the list of our grades and a parent’s/guardian’s waiver. The second part of this day was the orientation. We are informed that we are going to be trained in their laboratory, particularly in the quality control section. So in the quality control, we will be dealing with the actual products of Petron and actual samples from their customers. She also informed us that we will have written examinations during the course of our training: a prelim, a midterm, and a final exam. Next was the safety briefing. Ms. Lea presented us the general guidelines we need to know inside the laboratory as well as the corresponding consequences if we do not follow. After the safety briefing was the company and product briefing. We had a short discussion about the company, and a detailed discussion on the variety of products of Petron, emphasizing on gasoline fuels, diesel fuels, lubricants and grease. We also had a discussion on the crude oil refining process, and the manufacturing process of lubes and grease. After the first part of the orientation, we were given some reading materials to study and we were asked to take some notes from it for our exam due next week. These reading materials include a more de-tailed description on the different types of Petron products (LPG, aviation fuels, gasoline fuels, diesel fuels, and lubricants) which include their types, color, corresponding RON (research octane number) for gasoline, cetane number for diesel fuels, their applications etc. In the second half of the orientation, we were just in-troduced to the employees of Petron in the Research and Development Department, their quality control analysts and also the other OJTs. Before we were dismissed, we were reminded that on our next day, we should go directly to their laboratory and that we will be reporting to a different person, one of their quality control analyst: Engr. Ivy Theresa Saavedra. -Danielle Marie I. Barte Noted by: Engr. Ivy Theresa Saavedra Quality Control Analyst Research & Development Department
D A Y 2 – A P R I L 2 2 , 2 0 1 4
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W e were instructed to report directly in the R&D laboratory on our second day, with our trainer, quality control analyst, Ms. Ivy Theresa Saavedra. We were provided by the company with the nec-essary PPEs (lab gown, mask, gloves, and goggles) and our own laboratory notebook and pen for our notes and raw data. Ms. Ivy toured us inside the laboratory. She also showed us the safety measures and safety exits in case of emergency. After the tour and safety orientation inside the laboratory, we were introduced to their samples. These samples came directly from Petron Bataan Refinery (PBR) carried by barges/vessels and transported by land via tank trucks, these are fresh samples for quality testing. Some of these samples came directly from customers, like used oil/lubricants for quality testing in case there is a need for change oil, for example. So today we were introduced to three of their products which we will be handling the most: gasoline fuels, die-sel fuels, and lubricants. We were first taught how petroleum and fuel products differ from one another, for example in gasoline fuels, what is the difference between their gasoline products besides their RON rating and colour, and also how these RON rating were achieved, along with the standards and laws that the com-pany must comply with. Same goes with the types of diesel fuels and lubricants. We were also taught how to read the “labels” in their samples for product-type identification. So after the samples part, we proceed to the tests for gasoline and diesel fuels. These methods were based from the American Standard for Testing and Materials (ASTM). Ms. Ivy discussed and demonstrated the procedures of the different tests needed for gasoline and diesel fuels along with their significance. We learned the procedures, the significance, and the acceptable results of the following tests: For gasoline fuels, (1) Appearance/Color, (2) API/Spec. Gravity/Density, (3) Ethanol Content, (4) Vapor Pressure, (5) Marker Test. For diesel fuels, (1) color/appearance, (2) API/Spec. Gravity/Density, (3) Viscosity, (4) FAME test– Fatty Acid Methyl Ester Test, (5) Flash Point, (6) Marker test. Along with these test, we were also taught to oper-ate the equipment needed for some tests, as well as how and where to dispose the “wastes” from our tests for safety. After the discussion and demonstration, me and my co-trainees were given a sample each to con-duct all the tests needed for gasoline and diesel. We were each given a data card in which where we will write all the raw data, the calculations and the final results. -Danielle Marie I. Barte Noted by: Engr. Ivy Theresa Saaveedra Quality Control Analyst Research & Development Department
D A Y 3 – A P R I L 2 3 , 2 0 1 4
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Y esterday, we learned and performed the tests for gasoline and diesel fuels. Today, we were taught the procedures, and significance of tests for used oil and lubricants. The tests for lubes are conducted to know the condition or health of the oil in hydraulic engines, automotive engines, marine engines, ma-chines, compressors etc.. This helps minimize the risk and avoid damage in the engines/machines, so if the oil is already contaminated, immediate actions are conducted for maintenance. The following test methods that are needed for lubes were discussed and demonstrated to us by Ms. Ivy: (1) Viscosity, (2) %Water by Distillation, (3) TBN Test –Total Base Number Test, (4) Flash Point, (5) PINS Test– Pentane Insoluble Test. After the discussion, we were each given a sample of a lubricant, particularly used lubricants from customers for after service. In my case, I was given a lubricant for marine engines. Our objective for today is to conduct all five tests on the sample given to us. Our results are written in a yellow card for each sample, this is the Laboratory Test Report Data Sheet, with the appropriate significant figures and decimal places, plus the calculations if there is any. -Danielle Marie I. Barte Noted by: Engr. Ivy Theresa Saavedra Quality Control Analyst Research & Development Department
D A Y 4 – A P R I L 2 4 , 2 0 1 4
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O n our fourth day, unfortunately there were no samples that came to the laboratory which can be tested by us, in the technical department. So our supervisor, Ms. Ivy, asked us to tidy up the laborato-ry a little bit, and she announced that we will be having our first written exam tomorrow, which will be all about the test methods and the significance of these tests. So after cleaning the laboratory, she let us review for tomorrow’s exam, she gave us books to read: The Significance of Tests for Petroleum Products by Salva-tore J. Rant, which contains the importance and reasons we conducts the tests on different petroleum prod-ucts; And The Annual Book of ASTM Standards by ASTM international, which consists of the standard test methods and procedures for the different petroleum products. We studied, and took down notes at the same time in the lobby, until we were dismissed at exactly 5 pm. -Danielle Marie I. Barte Noted by: Engr. Ivy Theresa Saavedra Quality Control Analyst Research & Development Department
D A Y 5 – A P R I L 2 5 , 2 0 1 4
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T oday is Friday, our exam day, and also the day at which a lot of samples arrived for quality testing. So in the morning, we were given thirty minutes to review, then we started the exam afterwards. Our exam was an objective type of exam, consisting a series of multiple choice, enumeration, and essay. We were given one hour to finish the exam. After our examination, we proceed to the laboratory to start testing the samples that arrived. There were I think, more than thirty samples for us to test that day. These samples were all lubricants or used oil. So with that number, me and my other co-trainees were each assigned different test. I was assigned with the TBN test or the Total Base Number Test. The significance of this test is to know the reserve alkalinity or the base level of the lubricating oil. The higher the TBN, the better, meaning it can neutralize the acids formed during the combustion process. These acids are undesirable qualities of oil, since these can cause corrosion over time. The TBN requirement ranges of lube oils varies, depending on the type of lube oil (e.g. marine, au-tomotive). I’ve learned that since we are dealing with used oil already, the TBN (mg/g) is expected to be low-er than the fresh lubes’ actual TBN. So when the TBN is lower than the range specified, it is rejected and the sample is subjected for re-test just to confirm the result. I started my TBN tests. This test is easier compared to other test methods. The procedure somewhat goes like this: You weigh a sample in a TBN cup, pour a TBN solution to it, put the cup with the sample to the TBN analyzer, then after a few minutes, the result will appear on the machine’s small LCD screen. However, when I recorded my results already, an analyst inspected my results and said they were unaccepta-ble/rejected so I have to do a re-test. I did re-test my samples, but I get inconsistent results even after 2-3 retests. So I consulted one our quality analyst, he inspected the machine first and he said that maybe the ti-trant in the machine is contaminated already or the machine is not standardized properly. So he first cleaned the machine and standardized it again. Then afterwards, I did a re-test again, and I got good and consistent results already. He also taught me how to detect an error in the machine based on the graph showing on its LCD during titration so that next time I will know if I do get accurate results. -Danielle Marie I. Barte Noted by: Engr. Ivy Theresa Saavedra Quality Control Analyst Research & Development Department
D A Y 6 – A P R I L 2 8 , 2 0 1 4
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W e have no samples for this day. So one of the QC analyst made me do their KPI or Key Per-formance Indicator from March to April. The task was to tabulate or count if the analysts were able to finish testing their samples in a specific amount of time required to finish a specific test. Like for instance, some tests are given 2 hours and some tests must be finished within just 30 minutes. So I was given a list of tests, time it was started and time it was finished, and I will just tabulate if they fall within the required range or not. After the KPI task, we were asked to do some inventory, or list down the samples that have been test-ed. After writing them down to their log book, we then arranged these samples in their proper places in the storage room. After we’re done with the tasks mentioned above, we spent the remaining time to review for our sec-ond exam in the training department tomorrow. -Danielle Marie I. Barte Noted by: Engr. Ivy Theresa Saavedra Quality Control Analyst Research & Development Department
D A Y 7 – A P R I L 2 9 , 2 0 1 4
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W e started our day with our second exam. At exactly 8 am, we went to the training depart-ment to have our exam. The exam was objective type which was about our discussion during day 1. It was about product knowledge and safety orientation. The exam consists of identification, enumeration and essay. The results of our first exam and second exam were given later that day by Ms. Lea Cruz. After the one-hour exam, we went back to the laboratory. Since there were still no samples to test by the OJTs that day, I was assigned to do some paper works. I was asked to transfer the data from the data cards of Re-blended Lubricants since year 2013 until present. My other co-trainees were tasked to do other paper works or documentation too. -Danielle Marie I. Barte Noted by: Engr. Ivy Theresa Saavedra Quality Control Analyst Research & Development Department
D A Y 8 – A P R I L 3 0 , 2 0 1 4
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S ince there were still no samples today for the OJTs, I started my day by continuing my unfin-ished task yesterday, which is to transfer the re-blended lubricants from the data cards. I finished this task after a few hours and arranged the cards back to its shelves. One of our QC analysts suddenly announced that she will give us an exam after 5 minutes. This was a surprise exam for us. We started the exam inside the laboratory. The exam was about the different tests again, but this time it has some items that requires calculations. The exam consists of enumeration, essay and calculation parts. And after the exam we checked our papers afterwards. After the exam, since there were no samples for us, I asked one of our QC analysts if I can assist them in anything. Fortunately, there was something I can do. I was permitted to do some tests on the moisture content of their samples of diesel oil. The test goes like this, I just have to weigh an amount of the sample in the syringe, then I will inject the sample to a moisture content analyser, input the weight of your sample, and the machine will display the result after a few minutes. After doing the moisture content, one of the new an-alysts demonstrated to me and taught me the procedures on how to do the Sediments and Water test. But I haven’t practiced it yet. -Danielle Marie I. Barte Noted by: Engr. Ivy Theresa Saavedra Quality Control Analyst Research & Development Department
D A Y 9 – M A Y 2 , 2 0 1 4
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D uring the first half of our morning duty, my co-trainee gave me a short introduction on how to do the grease test. How to identify the scent, texture and colour of greases. Next, I did a density, vapour pressure and moisture content tests on a few gasoline samples. The density test of gasoline uses the hy-drometer method. The vapour pressure of gasoline is measured by an analyser. At about 11 am, the sample used oils have arrived. There were about forty samples that day for us to test. I was assigned to do the PINS (pentane insolubles) test on those samples. In the PINS test, the amount of insoluble in the used oil/lubricant is determined. These insolubles are wear metal contaminants derived from the oxidation of resins, dust, soot etc. which can plug oil filters, leading to piston deposits, bearing wear and engine failure. High percentages of insolubles are, therefore, undesirable. The PINS test follows the ASTM method D893. That day, I only finished 16 samples out of 40. This test is one of the long test of oils be-cause of the drying part in the oven. -Danielle Marie I. Barte Noted by: Engr. Ivy Theresa Saavedra Quality Control Analyst Research & Development Department
D A Y 1 0 – M A Y 3 , 2 0 1 4
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T oday is Saturday. Every Saturday, at least 2 OJTs are required to report in the laboratory. I vol-unteered to be working today. We just continued the unfinished tests of yesterday’s sample lubes. I finished my remaining PINS test from yesterday. Additionally, I also did an Open-cup Flash Point test (ASTM D92) on some sample lubes. In this test, a sample is poured in an open container. We put a thermometer and then we heat the sample. After some time, or when the sample is starting to boil, we pass a flame on it. We pass a flame side by side, until we can produce a “spark” in the oil/air mixture. And then we record the flash point (temperature) at that instance. After today’s tests, we just tidied up the laboratory. -Danielle Marie I. Barte Noted by: Engr. Ivy Theresa Saavedra Quality Control Analyst Research & Development Department
D A Y 1 1 – M A Y 5 , 2 0 1 4
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M y third week at Petron Research and Testing Center started with a lot of samples. And for this week, I was assigned to do tests for Kinematic Viscosity of used oils. Kinematic Viscosity is the fluid’s re-sistance to flow. The test method we use for the kinematic viscosity follows the ASTM method D445. The KV is measured through the use of a calibrated glass viscometer. We pour a sufficient amount of oil sample in the viscometer which has 2 types: (1) sil-type viscometer, for clear fluids; and the (2) reverse-type viscometer, for dark fluids/used oil and submerge it in a water/oil bath at 40°C/100°C for at least 10 minutes. After that 10 minutes, we can already “run” the sample. The running methods for the reverse and sil-type viscometers are different, but the purpose is the same: to measure the time for the oil to travel from a certain mark on the tube to another mark. This time is then multiplied to the given viscometer constant to get the Kinematic Viscosity, KV= time(sec) x constant(cSt/sec). Kinematic viscosity is reported in centistoke, cSt. I only did KV tests for this day until all the sample were finished. -Danielle Marie I. Barte Noted by: Engr. Ivy Theresa Saavedra Quality Control Analyst Research & Development Department
D A Y 1 2 – M A Y 6 , 2 0 1 4
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O ur technical or used oil samples usually arrive at 10 am or in the afternoon, or whenever someone delivers. Usually before 10 am, it’s either we clean the lab, standardize the TBN analyzer, retain the finished samples in the retention area, or clean the retention area and put the samples there to the storage room. Today I did the retaining part. In retaining, we just transfer the samples we had yesterday or few days ago, from the testing area to the retention area, which are done with all the tests they require. We put the “freshly tested” samples into the retention area first, rather than the storage so that we can easily find these samples whenever they’re needed again, like for instance, when the account calls for a re-test of their sample, or if there were some errors in the test results. 10 am arrived, and unfortunately, we have no samples to test for today. We just helped in doing a little bit in the fuels and lubes section, like doing a few TBN tests for our analysts, running some KV tests and some moisture content tests for fuels. -Danielle Marie I. Barte Noted by: Engr. Ivy Theresa Saavedra Quality Control Analyst Research & Development Department
D A Y 1 3 – M A Y 7 , 2 0 1 4
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T oday we have no samples in the technical section, so I asked an analyst in the fuels section, to give me some work. And luckily, I was tasked to do some color tests for diesel fuels. But I don’t know how to do that test yet, not too much. So one of the analyst taught me how to. I’ve learned that the color test for gasoline, diesel and aviation fuels are different. In gasoline, we only do visual tests for color and the results will be like red, orange etc. In diesel, we follow the ASTM D1500 method, which uses a colorimeter. In the colorimeter, we have two color standard/reference, and we com-pare it to our sample. In Aviation fuels, we use the Saybolt method using the Saybolt Color Tester. -Danielle Marie I. Barte Noted by: Engr. Ivy Theresa Saavedra Quality Control Analyst Research & Development Department
D A Y 1 4 – M A Y 8 , 2 0 1 4
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W e do not have any technical samples that arrived in the morning. So we only did cleaning, washed some glass wares used by other analysts, and transferring the unused chemicals back to their respec-tive places in the storage room. We also filed and sorted some documents from different accounts. However in the afternoon, a few hand blends have arrived from the technical planning department (TPD) that needs to be tested. As I was assigned to, I did the Kinematic Viscosity tests for these fresh samples using the sil-type viscometer. -Danielle Marie I. Barte Noted by: Engr. Ivy Theresa Saavedra Quality Control Analyst Research & Development Department
D A Y 1 5 – M A Y 9 , 2 0 1 4
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T hank God it’s Friday at the Petron Research and Testing Center (PRTC). I was expecting a lot of samples this day since we do not have much samples for the past few days. And you get what you expect. More or less twenty technical samples arrived that morning. So I started doing my KV tests right away. Since technical samples are used samples and very dark, I used the reverse-type viscometer. Both the sil-type and reverse-type viscometers have their own viscometer ID, and their corresponding constants. You can’t just use any viscometer for any sample, there are considerations like (1) the type of sample/lubricant, (2) the sample’s expected viscosity and (3) how currently viscous the sample is, just by observing it. With our current samples I must use only the number 5 viscometers. Unfortunately, we only have two number 5 viscometers, so I can’t really test many samples at the same time, instead I can only test 2 samples per batch. I only finished almost half of the samples before lunch time. I am only working half day today to prepare and pass some requirements for school, so I asked my co-trainee to finish my remaining KV tests. -Danielle Marie I. Barte Noted by: Engr. Ivy Theresa Saavedra Quality Control Analyst Research & Development Department
D A Y 1 6 – M A Y 1 2 , 2 0 1 4
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T oday is the last day of my three friends/co-trainees from De La Salle University: Frances, Janelle and Tammy (I promised to include them in my daily report). They are biochemistry students. These girls became my first and eventually, became my closest friends during my summer internship. Their summer internship training requires only 120 hours since they will resume classes a week from now. We had a pizza party at the PRTC during lunch with all the QC analysts as their farewell party. While they prepare for their final presentation at the training department, me including the other OJTs, transferred the retained samples last week to the storage area. The storage area is where we put the retained samples when the retention area is full. We have to record the sample ID in the log book, before we transfer it, for easy searching in case the sample is needed again. We only had less than ten samples for the day. But since there are only three OJTs left in the technical section, including me, we are assigned to do two or more tests now. I did the KV tests and flash point tests. Luckily, we managed to finish everything on that day. -Danielle Marie I. Barte Noted by: Engr. Ivy Theresa Saavedra Quality Control Analyst Research & Development Department
D A Y 1 7 – M A Y 1 3 , 2 0 1 4
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O ur morning routine went as usual: standardize the TBN analyzer, and a little bit of arranging and cleaning. Since there are only three of us left as trainees, our assigned test doubled. I was assigned to do the KV and flash point tests for the week. The QC analysts in the technical section are always ready to help us in case we have so much samples and we can not manage to do everything. Our objective always is to avoid turnovers to the night shift as much as possible, and finish everything before our shift ends. However, some tests really take a long time to finish, like for instance: the water by distillation, which requires an hour per sample, and there are only three distilling apparatus available to use. Hence, the unfinished tasks in the morning shift is turned over to the night shift. There are no samples that arrived for the technical this day. So I just did a few density and moisture content tests of diesel oils and gasoline for the fuels section. -Danielle Marie I. Barte Noted by: Engr. Ivy Theresa Saavedra Quality Control Analyst Research & Development Department
D A Y 1 8 – M A Y 1 4 , 2 0 1 4
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W e have about fourteen samples today. We labeled first the samples that arrived before we start the tests. I did the KV tests first, while one analyst did the flash point tests since we have too many. We finished the tests in advance, so after doing the tests for the technical section, I helped in some tests for the lubes (fresh) section. This time I was asked to test for the Neutralization number of two samples. I do not know yet how to do that test, so I asked my co-trainee to teach me. She started her OJT earlier than me so she was able to learn more tests than I. The Neut. No test follows the ASTM D974 procedure. The test is con-ducted to measure the acid value or acidity of a lubricant by titration. This number is used as a guide in quali-ty control of lubricating oil formulation. -Danielle Marie I. Barte Noted by: Engr. Ivy Theresa Saavedra Quality Control Analyst Research & Development Department
D A Y 1 9 – M A Y 1 5 , 2 0 1 4
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F or today, we only got, more or less, six samples for the technical section. I did the KV tests and flash point tests. After finishing all the tests, the other trainee in the technical planning department asked our help in determining or comparing the “scents” of their freshly hand-blended lubes. Scents are added to some lubri-cants, there are strawberry-scented lube, cherry etc.. So our task, which I enjoyed very much, is to compare the scent of one lube to a sample reference. She asked us many questions like, “which is sweeter?”, “is it cherry?”, “which is more intense?”, “which of the samples more or less have the same scent?, etc.. -Danielle Marie I. Barte Noted by: Engr. Ivy Theresa Saavedra Quality Control Analyst Research & Development Department
D A Y 2 0 – M A Y 1 6 , 2 0 1 4
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F riday again in PRTC and I am only working half-day for today. Good thing there were only few samples arrived at 10 am, and the usual thing, I did the KV tests. I was also the one who standardize the TBN analyzer. I was able to finish the KV tests but not the tests for flash points. I asked my co-trainee to finish the flash point tests for me. -Danielle Marie I. Barte Noted by: Engr. Ivy Theresa Saavedra Quality Control Analyst Research & Development Department
D A Y 2 1 – M A Y 1 7 , 2 0 1 4
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S ince I started a bit late for my summer internship, I had to work on Saturdays to finish my 240-hour training requirement before classes resume on June. Saturdays at PRTC is different compared to week-days. First reason is because there are only 2-3 QC analysts present during this day, and only 2 trainees are allowed to work during this time. Second, no samples arrive during Saturdays for the technical section, only for the fuels and lubes section. What we do mostly is filing of the documents from different accounts. We also did a few density and moisture tests for fuels. And a few color tests of Diesel oils. We also test for TBN from the lubes section. -Danielle Marie I. Barte Noted by: Jacquelyn C. Ipapo Quality Control Analyst Research & Development Department
D A Y 2 2 – M A Y 1 9 , 2 0 1 4
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A start of a new week at PRTC. I am excited for our new test assignment, since I was doing KV tests for about two weeks now. I was hoping to experience doing other tests. My co-trainees felt the same way, so we requested the tests we want to do for the remaining days of our training. I wanted to do the wa-ter by distillation tests since I had only done this test once. Moreover, I was also assigned to do the PINS test again. As much as I was excited to do my new test assignment, I had to wait until tomorrow since we have no samples for today. Usually during Mondays we do the retention of the samples from the previous week. So we cleaned the lab, and transferred last week’s technical samples to the retention area. -Danielle Marie I. Barte Noted by: Jacquelyn C. Ipapo Quality Control Analyst Research & Development Department
D A Y 2 3 – M A Y 2 0 , 2 0 1 4
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S amples have arrived today at the PRTC for the technical section, eight samples that require typi-cal tests. There are only 5 typical tests for used lubricants: Kinematic Viscosity at 40 C, Flash Point, Pentane Insoluble, Water by Distillation, and Total Base Number. The test that I am assigned for the week is Water by Distillation. This test is to measure water contamination in the used oil by separating the water and oil through distillation. Prior to distillation, the oil sample is mixed with a solvent-carrier liquid: Xylene, for easier separa-tion of the water from the oil. The mixture is then charged in a distillation unit comprising a glass still, reflux condenser, and a receiver in which you can directly measure the amount of water separated from the oil. The distillation takes almost an hour to finish and there are only three available distillation units for technical section, so while waiting for my tests to finish I also did PINS and flash point tests for the samples. -Danielle Marie I. Barte Noted by: Jacquelyn C. Ipapo Quality Control Analyst Research & Development Department
D A Y 2 4 – M A Y 2 1 , 2 0 1 4
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W e had no new samples today. So what we did is we transferred all the samples in reten-tion to their respective areas in the storage room. After some time, an analyst needs to find specific samples that were tested a long time ago, since a customer asked for it. She asked me and another trainee to find the samples in the storage area. Out of the three samples asked, we only found two. After lunch, the analyst also asked me to create a file organizer. The file organizer was for the records of the different types of lubricants. After that, I did some TBN tests for the lubes section. -Danielle Marie I. Barte Noted by: Jacquelyn C. Ipapo Quality Control Analyst Research & Development Department
D A Y 2 5 – M A Y 2 2 , 2 0 1 4
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S even samples for typical tests arrived this morning at 10 am. I started the long tests first: water by distillation test , followed by the PINS test. After lunch, I continued the two tests: started another batch for distillation, and then I got the PINS out of the oven and transferred it into the dessicator to cool. I spent my waiting time doing flash point tests. Luckily, I finished all tests before my shift ends. -Danielle Marie I. Barte Noted by: Jacquelyn C. Ipapo Quality Control Analyst Research & Development Department
D A Y 2 6 – M A Y 2 4 , 2 0 1 4
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Y esterday was the “graduation” of the two trainees in the technical planning department, they are chemistry students from UP Diliman. Unfortunately, I was not able to witness their last day at PRTC since I need to be at my university for enrollment. So there’s only three OJTs left at PRTC: me, and the two stu-dents from UST, Nikhola and Josef. Normally, only two trainees are allowed to work on Saturdays. But this time, all three of us were permitted to work, since next week will be the last week of our training. Again, during Saturdays, what we usually do is filing of the documents from this week and cleaning of the laboratory. And do some moisture, color and density tests for the Fuels section. Saturday is also a good time to get to know and chat while working with my co-trainees and bosses, since we are all not too busy and there are only few of us in the lab. -Danielle Marie I. Barte Noted by: Jacquelyn C. Ipapo Quality Control Analyst Research & Development Department
D A Y 2 7 – M A Y 2 7 , 2 0 1 4
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T oday is the start of my last week of training at Petron Research and Testing Center, and this week started with no samples. But I did something new today: Inventory. Nikhola and I were tasked to check the remaining chemicals in the chemical storage area, and those that were stored in the analytical room. The analyst taught us first on how to do it. I was assigned to the chemicals in the analytical room. The task was simple, she gave me a record of all the chemicals that were stored here, which will serve as my checklist. What I will do is to estimate, just by looking, the amount in mL of the chemicals left, as well as the number of bottles left and their expiration date. -Danielle Marie I. Barte Noted by: Jacquelyn C. Ipapo Quality Control Analyst Research & Development Department
D A Y 2 8 – M A Y 2 8 , 2 0 1 4
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A nother day when one of the OJTs graduates. Today is the last day of Josef from UST. He and I were the only chemical engineering students from this batch of trainees. This week is also a new shift sched-ule for the QC analysts, which means that we have a new set of bosses for the rest week. We only had five technical lubes samples requiring typical tests, and two samples of fuels: XCS and turbo diesel. The OJTs have the same assignments as last week, and the fuels were tested by the analyst. Again, I did the water by distillation, PINS and flash point tests. A After the tests, I was able to witness how a test engine for measuring the Research Octane Number (RON) operates. PRTC have one in the laboratory. Only the analysts are allowed to touch or operate the en-gine. As I’ve noticed, the engine is new and the analyst are still practicing on how to operate it step-by-step using a manual. I consider this one of my favorite experiences inside the lab. -Danielle Marie I. Barte Noted by: Jacquelyn C. Ipapo Quality Control Analyst Research & Development Department
D A Y 2 9 – M A Y 2 9 , 2 0 1 4
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T here are only two of us left as trainees. However, today I will be the only OJT present since its Nikhola’s college enrollment day. The first thing I did in the morning is standardize the TBN analyzer. There were only two sets of fuel samples today, XCS and turbo diesel. The analyst asked me to do a marker test on them, density test, and moisture content test. The marker test is done for identification of fuels, and to de-tect any contamination of gasoline and diesel fuels: gasoline contamination in diesel, or diesel in gasoline. The marker test is simple, you just have to mix a small amount of fuel sample in a vial and a small amount of a reagent, and then you shake it well, allow to settle, until some observed color changes appear at the bottom of the vial. We finished the fuel tests early, so for the rest of the afternoon, I just cleaned the lab a little while waiting for other instructions from the analysts. One of the analyst in the Technical Planning Department (TPD) arrived and asked me if I’m doing anything for the QC department. Since I was free, he asked me and my boss if I can do tests for TPD. He asked me to do the following tests for diesel fuels which are from other oil companies: color and appearance, density, KV at 40 C, moisture content and two tests that I will be doing for the first time in my whole OJT experience: Sulfur Content and Sediments & Water. I was never taught to do the sulfur content test so I asked one of the analyst to teach me first. The sulfur content test (ASTM D4294)was simple thought you need to be really careful since the analyzer is using X-Ray, you just have to put a small amount of sample in a the tiny sample cell equipped with a replaceable X-ray transparent plastic film. You have to make sure that you don’t touch or contaminate the transparent film because it may affect the results. Another thing to be considered is to make sure the X-ray is turned off when you open the lid of the analyzer for safety. The analyzer is controlled using a computer, and the results will be displayed after a short time of 3-5 minutes.
-Danielle Marie I. Barte Noted by: Jacquelyn C. Ipapo Quality Control Analyst Research & Development Department
D A Y 3 0 – M A Y 3 0 , 2 0 1 4
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T his Friday was the busiest Friday I’ve ever experienced during the course of my training. A lot of samples arrived: approximately ten samples of technical lubes for typical tests, and seven samples of tech-nical fuels for one analyst and two trainees. For lubes, I did the water by distillation, PINS, and flash points. For fuels, I was assigned the marker and moisture content tests. This Friday also is when we are supposed to pass our final requirements to the training department. We were supposed to do a presentation in front of our training coordinator and QC supervisor, however, due to some conflicts in schedule we were not able to do the activity. So instead, we were just asked to pass a written report and a soft copy of our PowerPoint presentation. We finished all other tests except the Kine-matic Viscosity and Water by distillation test. -Danielle Marie I. Barte Noted by: Jacquelyn C. Ipapo Quality Control Analyst Research & Development Department
D A Y 3 1 – M A Y 3 1 , 2 0 1 4
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T oday was our last day at PRTC. It is a Saturday so we do not have any samples. But fortunately, just before I end my training in PRTC, I am able to have one more new experience in the lab. I was able to do the test for grease consistency and penetration (ASTM D217). Though you will really put an effort doing the grease test, doing the test is so much fun, especially when it is your first time. The test was first demonstrat-ed to us by Sir Dan. It is done using a grease worker and a penetrometer. After that, we cleaned the lab and finished everything early. We spent the rest of our last day having fun chatting over food with the analysts, our lab technicians and guard at PRTC.
-Danielle Marie I. Barte Noted by: Jacquelyn C. Ipapo Quality Control Analyst Research & Development Department