Petroleum engineers for Industry 4.0
SEVENTY industry leaders, academics, alumni and students gathered at the Heriot-Watt University Malaysia campus in Putrajaya to discuss how disruptive technologies and challenges in the petroleum industry are creating opportunities to enhance how we prepare students for future petroleum engineering jobs.
“In an era where robots can do almost everything that humans can, will future graduates be ready to undertake the challenges in the petroleum industry?” asked Dr Khalik Mohamad Sabil, associate head for the School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society (EGIS) of Heriot-Watt University Malaysia, during the university’s ‘Petroleum Revolution 4.0: Watt’s Next?’ forum.
Despite the rise in oil prices, coupled with the industry revolution, panellists made up of experts from the oil and gas sector emphasised the viability of a career in petroleum engineering and the fact that there is still 300 years’ worth of petroleum resources in the earth.
While there has been some disruption in the field over the past few years following a slump in oil prices, the oil and gas industry has been adapting and exploring new opportunities.
Currently, 58,000 petroleum engineering jobs are being advertised on a leading recruitment website, hardly a sign of an industry in decline.
“Energy demand will still continue to increase as it is driven by large population growth. Therefore, the future will require graduates to explore effective methods to lower costs and squeeze more value from mature assets, as well as discovering ways to exploit new remote and more difficult resources,” elucidated industry panellist Azmel Rasheed.
Max Padolyak of Core Laboratories emphasised that with the adoption of technology “we are drowning in big data, but starving for knowledge”.
The development of tools for big data management, with the assistance of artificial intelligence, provides support for increasing operations, but human capabilities are still extremely essential in the decision-making process.
In spite of the fact that renewable energy production will increase, it will complement the petroleum industry – which will remain the biggest energy supplier over the next 30 years – and not overtake it.
Universities need to develop graduates with appealing softskills, including communications and critical thinking skills, as well as the ability to adapt to change and constantly upgrade their knowledge and skills to meet industrial advancements.
Rohaizad Darus, president of Velesto Energy Berhad (formerly UMW Oil and Gas), believes that resilience and emotional intelligence are essential. “The Industry needs people who can implement the Blue Ocean Strategy; people who dare to be different.”
The Heriot-Watt – Velesto Petroleum Engineering scholarship is a joint scholarship to uplift undergraduate students passionate in Engineering.
Due to the upturn in demand for skilled petroleum engineers, Heriot-Watt University is offering high-achieving students – with at least 2As and 1B at A-Levels or equivalent – scholarships worth 50 per cent to 100 per cent for its September 2018 intake.
To find out more about the university’s Engineering programmes, the Heriot-Watt – Velesto Petroleum Engineering scholarship, as well as other programmes or scholarships on offer, or to register for its upcoming September intake, visit its campus during the upcoming Application Days on Aug 25 and 26, or during consultation hours from 9am to 5pm on Mondays to Fridays, and 10am to 4pm on Saturdays. Alternatively, log on to www.hw.edu.my or call +603 8894 3888/e-mail hwum@hw.ac. uk.