Energy Transitions: An Academia Take on Shaping the Future Professionals of Oil and Gas
Authors: Passalacqua Herminio , Turki I Alsaba Mortadha 
Published: October 2020

We rely on academia to shape the profiles of the future professionals, and to lead the vision of what knowledge is required to work in the different segments that shape the modern industrialized world. But this is particularly tricky and complex in the case of the oil and gas sector. The sector has evolved, as some of the most technology-dependent and specialized in industrial segments. Accordingly, and as it happens with other disciplines, the need for adapting and enhancing the academic forging of graduates is apparent. Interdisciplinary and integrative approaches now shape profiles never envisioned just 10 years ago, and the speed with which academia responds to the demands of the energy transition may be too slow. This article proposes solution paths, based on the comparison of syllabi across regions, versus the demands of the regional energy markets, to establish conclusions grounded on factual data.

A comparison of syllabi across regions is established, focusing on petroleum engineering departments. Universities and colleges are selected in limited numbers, as representatives of their countries or regions, not implying ranking or quality, but just an example of typical study programs. The results are compiled and then a comparison is established. Possible gaps in the formation and building of the knowledge base of the graduates at stake will be highlighted, to exemplify what skills or competencies would be missing in the readiness of fresh graduates to succeed in the new kinds of roles the energy industry has to offer.

The energy transition implies a continuum of opportunities in non-conventional crude oil production, based on heavy oil, enhanced oil recovery processes, deep reservoirs, high temperature and tight reservoirs, water injection and fracking of shales to produce with incrementally efficiency oil and gas following environmental constraints. Additionally, the energy transition implies the utilization of new approaches to production, in partnership schemes, but also with consulting firms, to shape study teams that commit to project-based timeframes. Incrementally, the solicitation of temporary work teams, that are dismembered after project or construction decommissioning is more common.

The envisioning of solutions involves the creation of joint committees, shaped by academia as well as industry representatives, and possibly facilitated by organizations like SPE, to pinpoint the needed enhancers, enablers, and actions that would effectively accelerate the creation of the needed new graduates' profiles for the sector, in constant evolution.

Considering the long timings and complex workflows required by academic organizations to implement changes in the syllabi, and research programs to create new professional graduate profiles, our envisioned solution, consisting in joint committees need to be launched with immediate action.

This paper is a contribution into enhancing the comprehension of the academic and industrial sectors related to oil and gas about the need of collaboration, for mutual benefit, and above all, for the very sustainability of oil and gas into the future of energy transition.