HOUSTON, Sept. 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- International
energy company Statoil (NYSE: STO) and the University of Texas at Austin (UT) have signed an
Energy Partnership agreement providing the university with an
annual funding of USD 1 million for 5
years.
The agreement is Statoil's largest of its kind outside
Norway, and UT has been chosen as
the company's pilot university in the
United States.
"We are very pleased to enter into this agreement with UT, a
world-class academic institution, renowned for its leading research
and education within several important areas for us," says
Bill Maloney, executive vice
president for Statoil in North
America.
"Statoil wants to further develop its position in the market for
talented women and men to join us. We plan to significantly grow
our activities in the United
States and Canada.
Universities and academic institutions in North America represent important arenas for
Statoil in research and competence development, both on a regional
and global level," says Maloney.
"Statoil is a world-class energy company with a commitment to
research and education, and we look forward to working with them in
the years to come to develop talented young people who will become
the energy leaders of tomorrow," says Scott
Tinker, the director of UT's Bureau of Economic Geology. He
will sit on the strategic board helping to guide the program.
The agreement was signed in Austin on September
19 by Statoil executive vice president Bill Maloney and UT research vice president
Juan M. Sanchez.
"Statoil technology is world leading in many areas. However, the
oil and gas industry is changing with more complex technological
challenges. Increased global focus on research and development is
needed to close technological gaps. Academia agreements are of
strategic importance to Statoil in order to maintain a rapid pace
of technological innovation and continue developing a business
mindset," says Hersvik.
UT has for many years been an important partner for Statoil
within research and technology development, especially in the areas
of geology, geophysics and petroleum engineering. Four strategic
areas are identified in the new agreement:
- Integration of geological, geophysical and petrophysical data
in earth models
- Trap integrity in salt basins – sub-salt imaging and seal
versus pore pressure challenges
- Drainage of deep marine reservoirs – static and dynamic
reservoir models and drainage methods
- Unconventionals – improved development and drainage of shale
plays
"This agreement is vital for Statoil's long-term ambitions in
the US," says Helge Haldorsen, vice
president for strategy in Statoil North America.
"We are in a growth mode, and this agreement will allow us to
access world-class research and long-term recruitment
opportunities. By extending and formalising our collaboration with
UT, we aim at stimulating research and competence development
within strategic important areas both for UT and Statoil," he
says.
Statoil's academia programme consists of 11 bilateral
agreements. Of these, eight are with Norwegian institutions and
three are international. In addition to the UT agreement, Statoil
has formalised collaboration with Imperial College in the UK and
Delft University of Technology in the
Netherlands.
Statoil is an international energy company with operations in 34
countries. Building on more than 35 years of experience from oil
and gas production on the Norwegian continental shelf, Statoil is
committed to accommodating the world's energy needs in a
responsible manner, applying technology and creating innovative
business solutions. Statoil is headquartered in Norway with 20,000 employees worldwide, and is
listed on the New York and
Oslo stock exchanges.
In North America, Statoil is
established with US offices in Houston,
Texas; Stamford,
Connecticut; Washington DC
and Anchorage, Alaska, and
Canadian offices in Calgary,
Alberta and St. Johns,
Newfoundland and Labrador.
Statoil is one of the largest holders of deepwater acreage in
the US Gulf of Mexico, where it also has interests in six producing
fields. Onshore US, the company holds material positions in the
Marcellus and Eagle Ford shales. In Canada Statoil is operator for the Kai Kos
Dehseh project in Alberta and has
interests in two producing fields offshore Newfoundland.
Statoil's Research and Development department has about 700
employees. Statoil is devoting approximately USD 430 million to research activities in 2011,
and has research centres in Norway
(Trondheim, Karsto, Bergen, Porsgrunn), a heavy oil technology
centre in Canada (Calgary) and technology activities in
Beijing, Rio de Janeiro and Houston.
(Logo:
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20101006/STATOILLOGO)
CONTACT: Ola Morten Aanestad,
+1-713-498-0585, oaan@statoil.com
SOURCE Statoil