Schlumberger announced today it has donated state-of-the-art Petrel* seismic-to-simulation software valued at US$5.59 million to the Faculty of Engineering at King Abdulaziz University (KAU), in a commitment to bring on-ground experience and support skills development of future oil and gas professionals in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).
The technology, originally created to help increase reservoir performance by improving asset team productivity, will enable engineering students gain experience in developing collaborative workflows and integrate operations to streamline processes in upstream oil and gas operations.
The Faculty of Engineering Dean at King Abdulaziz University, Dr. Abdul-Aziz bin Abdullah Al Hamed, said: “Theories are important to build oil and gas apprentices, but experience and training by people in the field is what builds industry professionals. We thank Schlumberger for their role in enriching geoscience and engineering graduates’ skills and contributing to the increase of their competitiveness on a global scale.”
The donation follows a series of technology donations made by Schlumberger geology, geophysics, petrophysics, drilling, and reservoir engineering at King Abdulaziz University and King Fahad University.
Schlumberger Information Solutions (SIS) Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Bahrain Manager, Mr. Abdel Wahab Chebata, said: “Education is the foundation for building generations of professionals who will have a role in sustaining natural resources and bringing energy to people. However, we believe that sustainable development can be best accomplished with the partnership between theoretical education and professional training, or in other words, between education and the industry. We look forward to working closely with the universities and students here to help them acquire experience and develop their capabilities for the benefit of the industry in KSA.”
The Faculty of Earth Dean at King Abdulaziz University, Dr. Mohammed R. Moufti, said: “This marks another milestone in the relationship between our University and Schlumberger, and we look forward to further collaborations for the advancement of research and development in the oil and gas industry and apprenticeship of students in the Kingdom.”
King Abdulaziz University is one of the top universities in KSA offering educational programs in sciences, engineering, earth sciences, marine sciences, meteorology and environmental sciences, medicine, environmental designs, economics, arts and humanities. The university was also the first Saudi university to set up a Deanship for Distance Learning, allowing the student to study according to a flexible schedule and balance professional and family obligations.
Schlumberger and KSA have over 65 years of partnership in oilfield servicing, technology sharing and social involvement.
Sherif Foda, Schlumberger Vice President added: “Schlumberger has made several software donations to universities in KSA as well as in Kuwait, Oman and others. The oilfield services leader also organizes yearly internship programs for students in the Middle East, workshops and seminars at universities, and contributes to local high schools with the Schlumberger Excellence in Education Development (SEED) program, a worldwide program that engages students in science education”.
