University of Calgary offers energy industry training programme

The University of Calgary, is introducing five industry training courses at its Global Research Initiative in Unconventional Hydrocarbon Resources - Beijing Site for research, education and training. The customised courses have been designed for professionals working in the Chinese private sector, academics who may want to upgrade their skills, and senior graduate students looking to enhance their educational experience related to oil recovery processes, reservoir simulation, heavy oil carbonate systems, and tight rock and hydraulic fracturing. The training programme will also help China move away from its dependency on coal and meet global demand for energy by developing unconventional oil and gas resources with the expertise to use new technologies and processes that reduce environmental impacts.

Earlier today in Beijing, the Energy Industry Training Programme (China) was unveiled by the University of Calgary at a ceremony that included the Alberta Minister of Energy, Honourable Marg McCuaig-Boyd, Alberta government officials, students, faculty and staff from the University of Calgary, along with government and industry representatives from Canada and China.

"The University of Calgary aims to transform energy industry training in China," said Elizabeth Cannon, President and Vice Chancellor of the University of Calgary. "This unique Canada-China research partnership will help solve the environmental and economic challenges of unconventional oil and gas development."

Delivered by University of Calgary's top faculty, the courses provide advanced level training opportunities to professionals working in the Chinese private sector, academics who may want to upgrade their skills, and senior graduate students looking to enhance their educational experience.

"Alberta is home to world-class expertise when it comes to unconventional oil and gas extraction, and I'm pleased to see the University of Calgary sharing that expertise with the world," said Honourable Marg McCuaig-Boyd, Minister of Energy for Alberta. "This training programme will offer local professionals, as well as academics and students the opportunity to enhance their working knowledge and research in this field, while also providing enormous research opportunities for both countries."

China has the world's largest resources of shale gas -- 134 trillion cubic metres including more than 25 trillion m³ of reserves (economically recoverable with current technologies) -- and needs advanced research and technologies to produce this resource.

"These courses will help advance breakthrough development and production technologies for recovery of unconventional resources in China," said Junfeng Li, president of Hunan Huasheng Energy Corp. "We have been producing shale gas for some time in China and we are looking forward to sending several employees to this training programme and advancing our company’s ability to work in this sector."

"Our Beijing Site is home to some of the most advanced research laboratories in hydrocarbon research, and gives training participants an opportunity to gain hands-on-experience in the use of the latest technologies available in the world," said Dr. Zhangxing (John) Chen, Director, Global Research Initiative for Research in Unconventional Hydrocarbon Resources -- Beijing Site. "Learning with University of Calgary experts, participants will receive lectures in classroom settings combined with conducting research in laboratories on state of the art equipment," Chen added.

Beginning in January 2016, the three to five day long courses will focus on engineering, sciences, English for Academic Purposes (ESL), project management, public policy development, business and law. Courses will be based off programmes already in place at the University of Calgary and will offer credits as part of a broader programme. The university is currently finalising the course offerings and programme calendar. The courses will be offered on a regular basis over the spring, summer and winter/fall. Twenty or more participants will be taught in each course. Participants will receive a certificate of participation from the University of Calgary.

Edited from press release by Angharad Lock

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