Borneo Oil and Gas Symposium brings together students and industry experts

Miri – 15 September 2017 – 40 student delegates from six institutions of higher learning in Malaysia and Indonesia got together recently to discuss and exchange ideas with industry experts at the inaugural Borneo Oil and Gas Symposium (BOGS) 2017 in Miri.

The five-day symposium, the first international oil and gas symposium organised by the Society of Petroleum Engineering (SPE) Student Chapter of Curtin University, Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia), was held at the university’s campus here.

The students were from Curtin Malaysia, UCSI University, Diponegoro University, Bandung Institute of Technology, University of Indonesia and Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology.

Focused on developments in the oil and gas industry, the symposium was aimed at enhancing the students’ analytical, critical and creative thinking skills while also promoting a spirit of healthy competition among the participants.

Present at the opening ceremony was Curtin Malaysia’s Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Beena Giridharan, Dean of Faculty of Engineering and Science Ir. Professor Lau Hieng Ho and Head of Department of Petroleum Engineering Department Dr. Hisham Khaled Ben Mahmud.

The symposium included a technical exhibition by Oceancare Corporation Sdn. Bhd., and talks delivered by Curtin Malaysia petroleum engineering lecturer Dr. Raoof Gholami Mian Poshteh and senior petrophysicist Benard Ralphie from PETRONAS Carigali Sdn. Bhd.

In addition, the delegates participated in a Mud Innovation Competition, Setegap Ventures Paper Contest, Oil Rig Design Competition and Smart Quiz.

Winners of the Mud Innovation Competition, winning a cash prize of RM1,500, were Mansoor Ali Khan, Taj Uddin, Nobel Bonan Kimo and Marwan Mohammed Almurisi from UCSI University. Curtin Malaysia student Kenneth Kho Khai Kiat emerged winner in the Setegap Ventures Paper Contest, taking home RM1,200, while a team from Bandung Institute of Technology came up tops in the Oil Rig Design Competition, walking away with RM1,500. Meanwhile, a team from University of Indonesia won the Smart Quiz and a RM1,500 cash prize.

A gala dinner was held on the last day of the symposium at a leading hotel during which awards were presented to the competition winners. President of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Sarawak Section Scott Brian Goodworth was among the guests at the dinner.

According to organising chairperson Chong Yun Jia, it is crucial for tertiary students to start their professional careers by building their professional networks, and acquire as much industry knowledge and experience, even when they are still in university. He said symposiums such as BOGS 2017 provide an excellent platform for students and industry experts to meet and exchange knowledge and ideas.

“The oil and gas industry is a dynamic industry that demands highly-qualified and talented individuals, hence SPE Curtin Malaysia is committed to giving opportunities to our students and students of other universities to acquire essential knowledge and skills through symposiums like this,” said Chong.

BOGS 2017 was supported by the management of Curtin Malaysia, the Curtin Malaysia Student Council, the Sarawak Convention Bureau, Setegap Ventures Petroleum, Crowe Horwath and Oceancare Corporation Sdn. Bhd.

For more information on Curtin Malaysia, visit its website (www.curtin.edu.my), its Facebook page (CurtinMalaysia), Twitter profile (curtinmalaysia), Google+ page (Curtin Malaysia), Instagram (curtinmalaysia) or YouTube channel (Curtin Malaysia).

Delegates, Curtin Malaysia academics and industry representatives pose for group photo.

Delegates conducting experiment as part of Mud Innovation Competition.

Organising committee and delegates pose for photo during gala dinner.