GEOLOGY students of Universiti Malaya (UM) will, for the first time, get to do their course work with actual equipment used in the energy industry, thanks to Murphy Sarawak Oil Co Ltd and Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas).
Four sophisticated and specialised computer equipment used to visualise and interpret sub-surface data in the exploration and development of hydrocarbons were presented to the university recently.
The workstations, each comprising a central processing unit and two 21- inch monitors costing RM100,000, were handed over by Murphy Oil Corporation Malaysia senior exploration manager Jack Kerfoot to UM deputy vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Alias Daud.
“The workstations will give students a broader perspective of what is in store for them when they eventually join the workforce,” said UM head of geology department Dr Wan Hasiah Abdullah.
“There is a shortage of geologists specialising in the oil and gas industry in Malaysia. As such, we hope that this will encourage more students to take up geology,” she added.
The geology department at UM falls under the Faculty of Science and is the oldest in the country. The department is also the hub for the exchange, discussion and dissemination of geological knowledge in the country and region.
Murphy Oil Corporation explores and produces crude oil and natural gas around the world. The corporation also operates refining, marketing and transport facilities in the US, Canada and the United Kingdom.
Original article posted on The Star Online