Emergency Response and evacuation training for offshore oil and gas workers has traditionally been performed using land-based test facilities and live exercises. Due to risks associated with practicing drills using live exercises, this training has been limited to controlled environments and benign weather conditions. As offshore oil and gas activities move into harsher environments including deeper waters and ice covered waters, operators are required to demonstrate to regulators that personnel are prepared for emergencies in these conditions. Simulation technologies have been specifically created for offshore personnel to practice emergency scenarios in harsh environments using representative equipment and immersive virtual environments. A specific example includes the use of a simulator to practice launching lifeboats in severe sea states and ice. As simulation is adopted by the oil and gas industry as a supplement to existing training or as an alternative to replace specific drills, operators will be required to demonstrate that simulators are effective training tools. Human factors studies have been performed to assess how simulation technologies improve the performance of offshore personnel. These studies assess the value of simulation as a means to reduce time-to-competence. Validation studies are carried out to measure how students become immersed in the simulation environment and how accurately the virtual environment matches the real world. This paper discusses a case study of how a lifeboat simulator was created for the oil and gas industry and how the technology is used to allow oil and gas personnel to practice safely and effectively to increase the competence of offshore personnel. The paper also addresses the design philosophy for developing training technologies to maximize value to the operators, which includes designing simulators to achieve learning objectives which are derived from recognized training standards and regulated courses.