WIRELINE ISSUE 27 SPRING 2014

academia is thereforebroadand ranges from high-level joint researchand support for mastersprogrammes, to sponsorshipof facilities and students. BobSorrell,BPvicepresidentofpublic partnerships, says: “Ourpartnershipswith universities areacorepartofour innovation system.”Hehopes that thecompany’s involvementwill help toensure that BP-ICAM’s innovative researchdelivers real-lifeapplications and solutions. ProfessorPhilWithers,directorof BP-ICAMat theUniversityofManchester, adds: “The fantastic thing is that it brings together fouruniversitieswith complementary skills…withBP staffbeing involvedat aday-to-day level.”

importantwhenoil and gas producers areworking at unprecedenteddepths, pressures and temperatures, and refineries,manufacturing plants and pipeline operators are seeking ever better ways to combat corrosion and improve their operations. Withinoil andgas thework streamsof BP-ICAM include: •Developingnewmaterials forhigh pressurehigh temperatureapplications •Creatinghydrogen-resistant steel for subsea installations •Designingcoatings thatprotect from corrosiveattack,preventbiofilm formulation, self-lubricateand self-heal in response toavarietyofdamagemodes •Producingnewmembranes and separation techniques for low salinityenhancedoil recovery technologies In total, the ten-year$100million programme isexpected to support25 newacademicposts,100postgraduate researchers and80postdoctoral fellows. Joined forces Collaborationandknowledgeexchange withuniversitiesof thiskind iswell established in the industry. It isdrivenby theneed toadvanceR&D, address skills shortages and raise theprofileofoil andgas among students and researchers.The UKoil andgas sector’s interactionwith

“Our partnerships with universities are a core part of our innovation system.”

The investmentgivesundergraduates the chance tocontrol the industrial-standard pilotplant, learningabout instrumentation andprocess automationandgaining practical experienceofplantoperation. Over250 separateprocess instruments provide real-time feedbackon flow, temperature,pressure,pHandcarbon dioxide levels.Thesedataare fed to the control and safety system for real-time processdisplay.Using the latest iPad technology, theplantoperators canalso remotelymonitor the facility. This initiative is supplementedbyABB’s sponsorshipof chemical engineering undergraduates at Imperial tocreate the nextgenerationof industrial engineers. “At theheartofour involvement is the opportunity thatweget to raiseawareness of thebenefitsof acareer incontrol and instrumentationengineering,” says

In thedriving seat ABB is contributing toR&Dand professional development at ImperialCollegeLondon.

The international company,which specialises inpowerandautomation technologies and supplies theoil and gas sector,has20 sites around theUK, employingaround3,000people. In2012, it investedalmost£1millionand signeda ten-yearagreementwith Imperial to support acarboncapturepilotplant teaching facility locatedat theuniversity campus inSouthKensington,London.

Dr JohnFranciswith a fibre laser robotic remote cutting system for research into corrosion at theUniversityofManchester as part of the$100millionBP InternationalCentre forAdvancedMaterials.The centre steers research anddevelopment to advance the fundamental understanding anduseofmaterials in theenergy sector

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THE MAGAZ I NE FOR THE UK OF F SHOR E O I L AND GA S I NDUS TRY