QU and QSRTC establish Faculty Internship Program
Mar 28, 2016
Doha, 28 March 2016: Qatar University (QU) and Qatar Shell Research and Technology Centre (QSRTC) have established a Faculty Internship Program enabling faculty members from the university to work at Qatar Shell for a period of three months where they will receive hands-on industry experience related to their field of expertise.
The signing ceremony took place at Qatar University and was attended by Dr. Mazen Hasna, Vice President and Chief Academic Officer at QU, and Youssif A. Saleh, Vice President of QSRTC.
Following a tight selection process, Assistant Professor Dr. Ujjal Ghosh was selected as the faculty representative from QU. Dr. Ghosh will evaluate various options to prevent dust and silt from entering the Pearl GTL Cooling Water system and find potential alternatives to the existing Cooling Water system chemical programme. The purpose of the Pearl GTL Cooling Water system is to provide a reliable supply of chemically-dosed, correctly-mineralised and corrosion-inhibited water to users around the Pearl GTL at the correct temperature, and to receive and cool the returned warm water. Developed in partnership with QatarEnergy, Pearl Gas-to-Liquids (GTL) is the world’s largest GTL plant.
The Faculty Internship Program is the latest in a series of collaborations between QSRTC and academia to increase its knowledge-transfer to local universities. QSRTC’s goal is to broaden Qatar’s research capacity through curriculum lectures, departmental alumni gatherings and Research & Development projects to find innovative solutions for the management of water, brine and salt at Pearl GTL.
In 2015, Qatar University, Imperial College London and QSRTC signed a research and development agreement on corrosion prevention in wet sour gas pipelines. The work uses state of the art analytical techniques and focuses on the mechanisms behind pitting corrosion and how best to prevent it.
Commenting on the programme, Dr. Mazen Hasna said: “The faculty internship provides a new and unique opportunity for collaboration between our university and QSRTC and reflects our determination to work hand in hand with QSRTC to devise long term and sustainable solutions for domestic challenges in the fields of energy and environment.”
Youssif A. Saleh, Vice President of Qatar Shell Research and Technology Centre, Qatar Shell, stated: “We are extremely proud to collaborate with Qatar University as part of our commitment to enhancing local research capacity and delivering sustainable impact in support of the Qatar National Vision 2030.”
QSRTC works closely with universities and schools to develop local Qatari talent and enhance technical capabilities, and will be extending the Faculty Internship Program to Texas A&M at Qatar in the current academic year. Dr. Bilal Mansoor has been selected as the Texas A&M at Qatar faculty representative and will be analysing the feasibility of a local oxygen service materials testing facility. The air separation unit at Pearl GTL produces 30,000 metric tonnes per day of oxygen, making it the largest oxygen plant in the world. Currently testing of oxygen service materials is conducted abroad but Qatar Shell’s objective is to have a local test facility of international standard and this would facilitate research into an improved materials for oxygen service.
QSRTC is the anchor tenant at Qatar Science and Technology Park, where it is playing a vital role in shaping the future of R&D in Qatar, through ground-breaking research and thought-leadership. Its programme of dynamic collaborations with both the local and international academic community enables Shell to remain steadfast in its support of the QNV2030 and the Qatar National Research Strategy.
About Texas A&M University at Qatar
Texas A&M University, recognized as having one of the premier engineering programs in the world, has offered undergraduate degrees in chemical, electrical, mechanical and petroleum engineering at Qatar Foundation’s Education City campus since 2003, and graduate courses in chemical engineering since fall 2011. Texas A&M at Qatar has awarded more than 635 degrees since 2007. In addition to engineering courses, Texas A&M at Qatar provides classes in science, mathematics, liberal arts and the humanities. All four of the engineering programs offered at Texas A&M at Qatar are accredited by ABET. The curricula offered at Texas A&M at Qatar are materially identical to those offered at the main campus in College Station, Texas, and courses are taught in English in a co-educational setting. The reputation for excellence is the same, as is the commitment to equip engineers to lead the next generation of engineering advancement. Faculty from around the world are attracted to Texas A&M at Qatar to provide this educational experience and to participate in research activities now valued at more than $224 million, and that address issues important to the State of Qatar. Visit www.qatar.tamu.edu.
About Qatar Shell
Shell is the largest international investor in Qatar having invested USD 21 billion over the past decade. QatarEnergy and Shell have jointly delivered two of the largest energy projects in the world in Ras Laffan Industrial City. Pearl Gas to Liquids (GTL) is the world’s largest GTL plant and cements Qatar’s position as the GTL capital of the world. At an investment of up to USD19 billion it represents the largest single investment in the Shell Group’s global portfolio.
The Qatargas 4 Liquefied Natural Gas project (QE (70%) and Shell (30%) combines Shell’s global leadership in LNG with Qatar’s position as the world’s largest LNG supplier.
Shell has established a world-class research and development facility and a learning centre, the Qatar Shell Research & Technology Centre, at the Qatar Science & Technology Park. Shell has a financial commitment to invest up to USD100 million on programmes in support of energy and the environment at the Centre over a 10-year period.
Qatar Shell contributes to the objectives of the Qatar National Vision 2030 not only through our economic investments, but also through our investments in national talent and capability development, both internally through the professional development of our Qatari employees, and externally through our extensive Corporate Social Responsibility programme, positively impacting Qatar, in partnership with Qatari institutions.
For more information please visit: www.shell.com.qa, and to learn how we #ImpactQatar please follow us on Twitter: @Shell_Qatar and Instagram: shellqatar