MortenA:
I also know and am familiar with well kill operations. However, like you, I also try to instill professional engineers with the basic concept that since we are all responsible for our designs (& our participation in such designs) we have to take a serious stand in drawing a line where we feel we can take responsibility in the results of something we participate in in order to ensure our client gets the results he deserves.
I strongly feel that giving advice and counsel to a client (or even to inquiries to this Forum) is a serious action for any engineer and we are always liable (at least morally) for the results. That's why, as you state, a young engineer should always be mindful that, in an organization that sells technology, he should never be alone until the time comes when he has had sufficient experience and results to accept the total responsibility. It is not surprising that you and I, although separated by vast distance, concur on the principle of always sharing information, questions, uncertainties, and even critiques with our colleagues (& supervisors) on projects where we are not the leading experts. That not only expands our learning scope, it also stimulates and keeps the technology leaders and owners on their toes and mindful that they hold a serious responsibility in communicating and sharing the useful and safe manner of passing on the final product to the client. I have noted that, in the present era, not enough of this training/learning process is being passed on to young and smart engineers recently graduated. We used to call this process "being squirrely -i.e., not sharing information. It is these young engineers who will be our future leaders and unless they are brought into the center of communications, we can't expect them to do us all a fair job.
Although others may feel we have not addressed this query, I feel that we have done the best service by stressing the importance of where the best answer for young reiszal is: right in the hands of his supervisors and colleagues that can do both themselves and their company a great service by helping him. The ultimate product the client receives will come from them, so that is where the best answer is.
Regards
Art Montemayor
Spring, TX
