Colombians Daniel Medina and Daniel Figueroa have been getting to know different Tecpetrol sites, adjusting to the demands of their roles and to life in a new city.

When Daniel Medina and Daniel Figueroa first joined Tecpetrol, they knew little about the company. What drew them in was the JP Pool program: its structure, and the opportunities it offered to grow professionally. Two years on, Daniel Medina, an environmental engineer, and Daniel Figueroa, a mechanical engineer, are based at the Central Processing Facility in the Pendare Field. Looking back, they speak with pride about the journey they’ve taken and the goals they’ve achieved.

How did you get into the JP Pool?

Medina: When I first heard about the program, I didn’t know much about the company, so I started looking into it. I found out that Tecpetrol is a key player in Argentina’s energy sector and has been present in Colombia for several years. What really caught my eye was the chance to rotate through different areas, which gives us the opportunity to grow professionally and build a broader outlook.

Figueroa: I’d already been working in the sector but was looking for new challenges. I began the process to join Tenaris, but in the end I was offered a position at Tecpetrol. I immediately felt it was an exciting path to take, because working with an operator opened up opportunities that went far beyond my previous experience.

How would you describe your experience on the JP Pool program?

Medina: It’s really been a mix of everything, of so many emotions. For me, this is my first time working in the sector, so it feels like I’m starting with a blank slate. Rotating through different areas has been key: it’s how you learn what the company does as a whole, how each department works, and how the team keeps the wheels turning to deliver results. It’s quite challenging as you have to step out of your comfort zone to learn new things and meet the goals expected of you. Another big change for me was leaving home. I’d always lived in Cartagena and suddenly I was making frequent trips to Puerto Gaitán, in the Department of Meta, more than 1,200 kilometers away. Spending such long stretches on site was a shock at first. But then I met people from different backgrounds, started joining new operations, and faced that mix of uncertainty and excitement about what was coming next. What made the difference was finding a group of amazing colleagues who supported me and taught me along the way. With time and with that kind of human quality, you begin to feel at home. That motivates you to give your best every day.

Figueroa: I come from Valledupar, a city on the northern coast of Colombia, so it was also a long 1,100-kilometer commute to my new job. I found the JP Pool to be a very challenging process, but in a good way. The program encourages you to constantly ask questions and study. At Tecpetrol, you can see there’s a real concern for people's well-being. It's a culture that embraces all staff and brings people together with a sense of team spirit. It’s been a truly enriching journey, filled with learning in addition to well-being.

How was your experience in the different areas you visited?

Medina: I started out with eight months in Production Operations, where I got my first real look at what the company does. From there, I moved into Health, Safety and Environment (HSE). That felt more familiar, since I’m an environmental engineer by training, and I spent six months there. After HSE, I transitioned to Facilities, where I’ve been focused on project monitoring and the supply chain.

Figueroa: I’m now back in Maintenance as an engineer, supporting reliability, planning, and scheduling. My first stop was Drilling, where I spent six months assisting the team with both administrative and technical management. From there, I moved into Maintenance, a role that fit well with my background as a mechanical engineer. I worked on projects I’m proud of, like implementing metrology formats. After that, I took on a role in Planning, in Bogotá, focused on carrying out financial and economic studies. It was quite different from the more technical work I’d been doing, but it gave me another perspective.

What is the achievement of which you’re most proud?

Medina: When I joined the HSE area, I took on the challenge of developing a project to optimize and improve processes in the area. I designed an initiative to increase rainwater harvesting instead of relying on river water, and it ended up winning the HSE Award. The project budget has already been approved so we’ll be building the system soon. Even though I came up with the idea, it feels like a collective achievement, because I’ll be implementing it together with my colleagues.

Figueroa: For me, the highlight was implementing metrology formats. In Maintenance, every intervention means you have to fill out a form to record measurements like clearances, tolerances, and interferences. But some key data wasn’t being captured, whereas other information that was included wasn’t totally accurate. My project focused on setting up a system that properly recorded all data. Today, I’m delighted to see that the format I created is still in use.

What opportunities did participating in the JP Pool give you?

Medina: We were always asked what we wanted to do and where we’d like to be. And if that aligned with the company’s needs, we were given the chance to grow in that direction. What I value about Tecpetrol is that it not only supports us in the work we’re doing now, but that it also encourages us to think ahead and build a future. I want to keep growing here.

Figueroa: I think it’s a real advantage for the company to have people who’ve gone through the JP process as it means they’ve been thoroughly trained and have an in-depth understanding of how everything works. For us, it also creates opportunities to connect with colleagues from different areas and build strong relationships. The program offers huge benefits, especially for those of us who want to build a long-term career at Tecpetrol. However you look at it, being a JP is a big plus.