Strathclyde Launches Oil And Gas Institute

Institute to specialise in supporting the oil and gas sector.

A new institute dedicated to supporting the oil and gas sector, and helping companies compete internationally, is to be launched at the University of Strathclyde today.

Developed with industry, for industry, the Strathclyde Oil & Gas Institute will build on the University's work with companies to address key challenges in the sector while enabling them to access world-class research and innovation capability, highly-skilled graduates and leading-edge facilities.

The Institute will be based in the University's £89 million Technology and Innovation Centre, due for completion later this year, and will have a particular focus on oil & gas asset integrity, from the design of platforms and associated equipment, to the condition monitoring of equipment through to its operation and final decommissioning.

Professor Sir Jim McDonald, Principal of the University, said: 

"The Strathclyde Oil & Gas Institute represents an important step forward for the University's contribution to the sector. It will respond directly to industry needs, and will help to address key business drivers including continuously improving safety and environmental performance, reducing costs, and increasing production efficiency.

"The oil and gas sector is recognised globally for its impressive levels of expertise and the high-calibre of its people. The new Institute will work in partnership with industry to further support innovation and deliver economic impact."

The Institute will draw on academic expertise from across the University's four faculties of Engineering, Science, Business and Humanities & Social Sciences. In addition to offering sponsored research programmes, consortium partnerships and bespoke consultancy, it will also build on the University's work as a major provider of education and training for those in the industry.

Melfort Campbell OBE, Chairman of IMES Group, has been among the industry partners helping to drive the direction of the new institute. He said:

"It has been a pleasure supporting Strathclyde on the development of its Oil & Gas Institute.

"The focus on Asset Integrity aligns well with the University's proven strengths in this area and resonates strongly with many of the key challenges that the sector is facing."

The continued operation of ageing infrastructure is one of the major challenges the industry is facing. Around 30% of the 7,000 platforms in operation around the world are more than 20 years old, and many are operating beyond their original design life.

The Strathclyde Oil & Gas Institute brings together expertise in the technologies and processes needed for the effective management of assets, in areas including:

• Structures, materials and manufacturing
• Condition monitoring and inspection
• Corrosion and erosion
• Power, micro-grid and control systems
• Fluid flow, measurement and assurance
• Decision support
• Decommissioning

The focus on asset integrity will better enable the University to support industry, as well as its role as a member of the new Scottish Oil and Gas Innovation Centre that will provide support to industry from all Scottish universities.

The launch of the institute will take place at the University, and will include guest speakers Melfort Campbell, Dave Dickson, VP Safety & Operational Risk (North Sea) for BP Exploration and Production, and Bob Keiller, CEO of the Wood Group.