Halliburton, one of the world’s largest providers of products and services to the energy industry, has signed a US$2.2 million agreement with the University of Guyana to support the Faculty of Engineering and Technology.
The agreement was signed at the Guyana Marriott Hotel on Thursday afternoon.
The agreement with Halliburton and the University covers staff development, program and teaching support and expert engagements.
It will lead to the provision of specific software support in creating and equipping a Drilling Fluids Laboratory for teaching purposes.
The required lab equipment includes mud balance, viscometers, HPHT filter press, retorts, fume hoods as well as Lab glassware, lab coats, stationery supplies, racking, plastic bottles and other various lab-specific consumables.
Further, the project caters for equipping the faculty of technology and engineering with a complementary full suite of decision space software – The Drilling, Geosciences and IMPT Suites.
Dr Paloma Mohamed, Chair of the University’s Transition Management Committee said that the University is aiming for over US$11 million as it seeks to create a fully-fledged Institute of Energy and Energy Diplomacy.
Franco Delano, of Halliburton, said that the agreement represents the company’s commitment to develop the local community.
“The guys (students) will be starting in September and they might be graduating in four years from now, so they will start using our technology and software.
“So…four years from now, they will be ready to go into the oil and gas environment,” he told the News Room.
“As Guyana prepares for first oil, the University of Guyana (UG), the nation’s national University, is seeking meaningful long-term partnerships as we continue to develop offerings in support of our nascent oil and gas industry,” the University said in a statement.
It added: “UG has assessed that Haliburton could be good willing and capable strategic partner especially with regard to the intense capacity-building work that is necessary for this phase.
“While UG is at the very beginning of the journey, we believe that we may leap-frog our capacities through close collaboration with industry leaders like Halliburton.”
