College of Engineering and Physical Sciences Renews MOU with 3t Drilling Systems and Expands Collaborations

Thanks to a long-standing partnership with 3t Drilling Systems, the University of Wyoming College of Engineering and Physical Sciences has been operating a world-class training center for petroleum engineers since 2019.

Recently, representatives of 3t Drilling Systems visited UW campus to talk about further opportunities for collaboration following the renewal of its memorandum of understanding (MOU) with UW this past February.

Support from 3t Drilling Systems was instrumental to the initial setup of the Drilling and Completions Simulation Facility, housed in the Engineering Education and Research Building at UW. The original MOU, signed in 2017, called for both parties to "combine their complementary expertise to generate new, market-leading solutions to the wider energy industry through the use of simulation, visualization, modeling, and subject matter expertise, consulting and training."

Since that time, the simulation facility has hosted an estimated 7,000 students, industry professionals and visitors to show what is possible in cutting-edge petroleum engineering education.

Tawfik Elshehabi, an assistant professor of petroleum engineering at UW, oversees the simulation facility.

"Drilling is the master key that unlocks subsurface energy resources and geomaterials," he says. "This one-of-a-kind simulation facility shapes the frontier of education through hands-on learning and minds-on discussion, preparing future scientists and engineers to lead the energy sector."

Using this technology, students learn how to operate complex drilling, well control and well-servicing equipment to prepare them for the workplace.

The simulation facility gives students fully immersive experiences in real-world scenarios in both offshore and onshore environments. In the facility, students can practice safely in high-risk operational scenarios with direct instructor oversight and real-time feedback. This highly realistic training greatly increases safety in the field.

The center is critical for training not only students at UW, but also industry professionals and those seeking International Association of Drilling Contractors certification.

The renewed MOU between 3t Drilling Systems and UW places an emphasis on collaboration, including keeping the facility at the cutting edge of developments in both drilling and simulation technologies.

"The renewal of our partnership with 3t Drilling Systems reflects a shared commitment to preparing the next generation of energy professionals through access to industry-leading digital technologies and expertise," says Soheil Saraji, an associate professor in energy and petroleum engineering, as well as the Le Norman Endowed Leadership Chair, the Richard and Marilyn Lynch Non-endowed Chair in Subsurface Energy and Digital Innovation, and an adjunct professor in the School of Energy Resources.

Saraji looks forward to the ways this agreement will "strengthen opportunities for collaborative research, workforce development and innovation in digital drilling technologies, ensuring that University of Wyoming students remain at the forefront of an increasingly data-driven and technology-enabled energy sector."

During their visit May 19, Clive Battisby, senior vice president of 3t Technologies, and Aaron Bolch, the business development manager of 3t Drilling Systems, visited the Drilling and Completions Simulation Facility and toured the new Richard and Marilyn Lynch Multidisciplinary Advanced Stimulation Laboratory.

"Our partnership with UW continues to demonstrate the power of collaboration between academia and industry," Battisby says. "Together, we are equipping the next generation of engineers with the skills and confidence needed to operate in complex, real-world environments. We're proud of our long-standing relationship and look forward to continuing our support of a facility that is setting new standards for immersive, high-impact energy education through the use of simulation technology."