Expanding the reach of critical training

Client

Oilennium

Sector

Utilities, Energy and Training

Tech

Virtual Reality (VR), 360° Video and Virtual Tours

A VR training experience showcasing freefall lifeboat drills

Oilennium provides specialist training services for the oil and gas industry, where safety is paramount. Ahead of Offshore Europe 2019, they wanted to showcase their unique freefall lifeboat training – a rare course with high–stakes learning outcomes. We created a VR experience that simulated the training in immersive 360º film, allowing delegates to feel the intensity of freefall lifeboat drills first–hand.

The challenge

Freefall lifeboat training is a specialist, high–risk course only available at one UK centre. Oilennium wanted to raise awareness of this training at Offshore Europe – the industry’s largest free–to–attend conference – by demonstrating its realism and importance without requiring attendees to undergo the physical experience. The challenge was to replicate the intensity of the training through VR, offering authenticity, excitement and educational value. The solution needed to be impactful, headset–ready, and suitable for exhibition settings, giving delegates a taste of the training’s value while reinforcing Oilennium’s reputation for delivering world–class safety education.

The process

Working closely with Oilennium, we mapped the user journey through workshops before capturing the training at Petrofac’s Aberdeen facility – the only UK centre offering practical freefall lifeboat training. Using 360º stereoscopic cameras, we filmed from multiple perspectives to immerse viewers in both the build–up and high–impact drop. A custom waterproof rig enabled us to capture the dramatic 30ft freefall, combining first–person shots with external views of the boat hitting the water. Layered ambient audio heightened realism, while branded infographics bookended the film to provide context and reinforce key safety messages. The result was an authentic, headset–optimised VR simulation.

The outcome

The VR experience made a strong impression at Offshore Europe, offering a safe yet powerful taste of freefall lifeboat training. Delegates experienced the intensity of the drills without leaving the exhibition floor, deepening their understanding of Oilennium’s expertise and the value of specialist safety education. The project demonstrated how VR can bring high–risk, hard–to–access training to wider audiences – supporting recruitment, awareness and industry best practice. By blending creativity, technical innovation and authentic content capture, we delivered a 360º showcase that reinforced Oilennium’s commitment to safety and positioned them as leaders in oil and gas training solutions.