PNGE Program Receives Software Valued at Nearly $60 Million

Schlumberger, the world’s leading supplier of technology solutions in the oil and gas industry once again made a generous donation of their nearly $60 million software package to be used by Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering undergraduates at Saint Francis University. The donation provides 15 licenses and a maintenance contract for the next three years for different Schlumberger software products such as PETREL, ECLIPSE, PIPESIM, VISAGE, MEPO,INTERSECT, and MANGROVE.

Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering Seniors, Zach Rohland and John Sheesley, started working with the software PETREL in their classes last year. This year, they are using the software independently for their Senior Capstone project where they are modeling the subsurface formations in Greene and Washington counties in Southwestern Pennsylvania. The goal of their research is to utilize the Schlumberger software package to advise local natural gas companies of the optimal areas to drill.

In their analysis, Rohland and Sheesley are utilizing data from existing wells to create simulations that predict the future natural gas production for up to fifty years. Factoring in gas prices and production output, they’ll be able to recommend the exact location for a new well that has ultimate natural gas recovery, while also being economically efficient, which in turn reduces the environmental footprint of  petroleum exploration.  

Although expensive, the Schlumberger software is used commonly in large oil and gas companies. “By giving our undergraduates experience using this sophisticated software in real-life scenarios, they are more prepared and have a cutting-edge advantage upon graduation to be working in the oil and gas industry. Other universities that teach with this software have limited licenses and training and it is usually available only to graduate students.” says Dr. Alireza Shahkarami, Assistant Professor of Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering.

Photo Caption (Left to Right): Dr. Alireza Shahkarami, Zack Rohland and John Sheesley