KUALA LUMPUR: Universiti Malaya (UM) is teaming up with two home-grown oil and gas services companies to jointly work on a project to promote cooperation in research and development in the field of Capacity Building and Local Talent Development.
The university yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Onyx Engineering Sdn Bhd and 3Phase Reservoir Technology Sdn Bhd for a five-year project that will include collaboration in the area of Source Rock and Reservoir Characterisation.
UM deputy vice chancellor (Research and Innovation) Professor Dr Noorsaadah Abdul Rahman said the MoU would allow greater cooperation between the institution and the two companies, apart from paving the way for best practices in the future.
"The collaboration will focus on the development of human capital, give solutions to the challenges of the oil and gas industry, and seek new opportunities.
"This will also benefit final year projects for undergraduates, internship placements for undergraduates, and also research projects for academics and postgraduates in related fields, and any other areas of cooperation agreed by both parties," she said at the MoU signing ceremony here yesterday.
She added that the strategic collaboration will continue to support Malaysia’s goal of becoming a high-income knowledge-based nation by 2020.
The documents were signed by Noorsaadah on behalf of UM, together with 3Phase Reservoir Technology managing director Noor Azimah Mustafa and Onyx Engineering managing director Ahmad Nizar Hamzah.
Azimah said 3Phase envisaged and strived to be the best in the industry in providing complete solutions of laboratory needs to clients in the oil and gas upstream industry.
"We believe that more local talents can be produced and technology in upstream oil and gas services can be upgraded, especially in the Reservoir Fluid & Enhance Oil Recovery study."
Meanwhile, Nizar said their company’s scope of collaboration also created opportunity for graduate research projects and internship placement for UM students.
"This is an interesting proposition on our part, because Onyx Engineering will provide students with practical, hands-on experience and exposure to a realistic work environment in the petroleum industry."
The partnership between UM-Onyx Engineering will be led by the university's Faculty of Science geology department, and UM-3Phase Reservoir Technology will be led by UM’s Faculty of Engineering Centre for Research in Energy Sciences.
The university said both companies are experts in the field of Source Rock and Reservoir Characterisation and the valuable exchange of best practices with UM will provide Malaysian talents an enhanced educational experience to build capabilities through transfer of knowledge and technology, insights, experience and skills, and provide exposure to global markets and work opportunities.
As a partner of Malaysia Petroleum Resources Corporation, the collaboration will also precede the upcoming Malaysia Oil & Gas Exhibition and Conference 2016 to be held from Sept 28 to 30 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.