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INAUGURATION OF THE SCHLUMBERGER PROFESSIORAL CHAIR IN PETROLEUM ENGINERING AT UTP
25 JANUARY 2007
On 12 June 2006, PETRONAS signed a strategic alliance with Schlumberger covering four major areas for collaboration in education, research and technology development. One of the main features of the agreement included a sponsorship of a Professorial Chair in Petroleum Engineering at Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS which is aimed at developing the university credentials in academic and research and development programme. A ceremony to mark the inauguration of the Professorial Chair was held at UTP on the 25 January 2007 which was attended by the Vice President of Research and Technology Division, YBhg Datuk Abdul Rahim bin Haji Hashim, Vice President of Education, YBhg Datuk Dr Rosti Saruwono, Rector of UTP, Dr Zainal Abidin bin Hj Kasim, Senior Advisor Schlumberger Human Resource, Mr Pierre Bismuth and senior officials from UTP, PETRONAS Research and Technology Division and Schlumberger.
Prof Birol M.R Demiral, who is an expert in the area of reservoir engineering, was appointed as the first holder of the chair position. He obtained his PhD from Middle East Technical University, Turkey back in 1986 and he was a professor in the area with the same university prior to joining UTP. The establishment of the chair is timely not only to UTP but also for PETRONAS group in view of the aggressive development in the technology needed to support the PETRONAS Corporate Agenda. In addition to the sponsorship of the Professorial Chair, Schlumberger also pledged to provide access to their technical expertise through the undertaking of joint research and development project.
Earlier that day, YBhg Datuk Abd Rahim b Hj Hashim presented the PETRONAS Technology Agenda to UTP senior academics. The areas identified will serve as the technology focus for PETRONAS in the future. The briefing by Datuk Rahim is part of an ondoing road show initiative by the Research and Technology Division to share the PETRONAS Technology Agenda groupwide.
A tour to UTP facilities including the Chancellors Complex and laboratory facilities was conducted for all the delegates after the event.