The University of Aberdeen and global energy group Halliburton have signed a strategic partnership agreement today (Monday July 26).
The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) comes as Halliburton announces a donation of equipment valuing £200,000, towards the creation of a new 3D visualisation suite at the University.
Halliburton has also pledged £30,000 over three years in support of scholarships to nurture new talent for the future of the oil and gas industry.
These latest donations add to software totalling over £7million gifted by Halliburton to the University since 2001.
The MOU will see the organisations work collaboratively on research and on equipping students with the skills to meet the future demands of the energy sector.
The signing of the MOU was attended by Halliburton Chief Executive Officer Dave Lesar, Halliburton UK Vice President Simon Seaton, Halliburton Region Vice President Brady Murphy, Eastern Hemisphere Human Resources Director Cindy Bigner, University of Aberdeen Principal and Vice-Chancellor Professor Ian Diamond and Vice-Principal and Head of the College of Physical Sciences at the University of Aberdeen, Professor Albert Rodger.
The new visualisation suite, which will be named The Halliburton Room, will allow seismic data, gathered from surveys of the earth’s crust, to be viewed in 3D for the first time at the University.
The suite will be housed in the University’s Meston Building on its King’s College Campus, and will open later this year.
The facility will enhance research by enabling geoscientists to examine and map the internal structure of the earth’s crust, to improve the understanding of its evolution, and to study methods involved in oil and gas exploration.
Those using the equipment will wear 3D glasses and use a joy stick to navigate through the data which will appear on a large screen.
Welcoming today’s announcement, Professor Ian Diamond, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Aberdeen said, “Halliburton is one of the world’s leading energy companies and establishing this partnership places us in a unique position to work together to attract and develop new talent for the future of the energy industry.”
Professor Albert Rodger, Vice-Principal and Head of the College of Physical Sciences at the University of Aberdeen said, “The signing of this partnership today builds on the strong history of collaboration between the University of Aberdeen and Halliburton, and the benefits this has already delivered for both our students and the industry.”
“The University of Aberdeen is one of our company’s key strategic education partner schools and this collaboration enhances our relationship,” said Brady Murphy, Halliburton Europe and West Africa vice president. “Partnering with the University of Aberdeen will help us meet our global talent requirements.”