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GDF SUEZ E&P UK is sponsoring a course at the University of Aberdeen to help further oil and gas education.

The £40,000 funding was announced today (Friday 5 October) at the Operations Geology Workshop at the University of Aberdeen, and will be enough to run the university’s operations geology short course for three years.

The course is core to the curriculum in the exploHUB MSc in Hydrocarbon Exploration and the MSc in Integrated Petroleum Geology. It has been run for the past three years with support from GDF SUEZ E&P UK and the new funding pledge underlines the North Sea operator’s commitment to education in the oil and gas sector.

Stuart Archer, Director of exploHUB at the University of Aberdeen, said: “With there being so many specialised aspects of the oil industry, we need funding to allow us to bring in the industry-recognised experts to deliver courses such as operations geology. This interactive, modern course puts the University of Aberdeen a step ahead of the competition, and better prepares our students to deal with the challenges they face when entering their first job. We are delighted to have developed a long-standing strategic partnership with GDF SUEZ E&P UK which allows us to sustain the course as part of the curriculum.”

The exploHUB training centre at the University of Aberdeen focuses solely on hydrocarbon exploration. In partnership with the Petroleum Exploration Society of Great Britain, it provides a more practically-focused, industry-facing MSc for oil company employees wishing to continue their professional development.

Students on the one-week operations geology course gain valuable experience through a real-time operations project.  In this project students work in teams and experience being on-call during an immersive simulation of drilling a well - without having to go offshore. It provides focused expertise in the complexities of drilling wells, and helps students understand key information from wells which is vital for successful oil and gas drilling operations.

Stewart Easton, Central North Sea Area Development Manager at GDF SUEZ E&P UK, said: “It is important for us to have ties with local academic institutions to support the next wave of entrants to our industry.  The operations geology short course is the only one of its kind in the UK and we are proud to continue our support. The course provides specialised teaching in operations geology which is crucial to exploration and production, and the energy industry going forward.”

Notes to Editors

Photo shows Barry Page (left) and Stewart Easton of GDF SUEZ E&P UK with (centre) Dr Stuart Archer

GDF SUEZ E&P UK Ltd is an increasingly significant player in oil and gas exploration and production in the UK Continental Shelf. Since entering the region in 1997, the company has built up a substantial portfolio of assets in the Central and Southern North Sea, and West of Shetland, comprising over 40 licenses, 16 as operator.

Issued by the Communications Team, Office of External Affairs, University of Aberdeen, King's College, Aberdeen. Tel: (01224) 272014.

Issued on: 05 October 2012

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Contact: Shaunagh Kirby