The University of Wyoming School of Energy Resources is working to forge a relationship with Saudi Arabia’s national oil and gas company, Saudi Aramco, and King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals. Saudi Aramco is the biggest oil and gas company in the world and invests heavily in research and development. SER Director, Mark Northam, just returned from a trip to Saudi Arabia. He says Wyoming and Saudi Arabia face similar challenges when it comes to unconventional reservoirs and water shortages, and he says they would both benefit by sharing their resources.
“What we have that they want is world-leading technology in understanding imaging, doing experimental work and computational work on flow through porous media,” says Northam. “We can leverage that capability into a well-funded program that will move the understanding ahead much more quickly.”
Northam says SER students will potentially have the opportunity to live and study in Saudi Arabia.
Northam was accompanied by Governor Matt Mead on last week’s trip; he says having the Governor on the trip opened doors and was a sign of commitment from the state to develop the relationship. Representatives from Saudi Aramco and King Fahd University will visit Wyoming at the end of May.
