Students from Oslo Handelsgym experienced geoscience in practice
Last week, we were pleased to welcome students from the 2nd and 3rd year geoscience classes at Oslo Handelsgym VGS. The students had a unique opportunity to see how geoscience is applied in practice outside the classroom and how their knowledge is highly relevant in our industry.
One of the highlights was the insight into an ongoing drilling operation, where the students were able to follow the activity live and learn more about geosteering and what actually happens when we collect subsurface data. In addition, they met several of our subject specialists who shared insights from their areas.
From geology in Oslo to field development in the North Sea
Mathias Dahl Venberget is a geophysicist and opened the visit with an introduction to the company, the industry and how different disciplines work together.
Geologist Anders Torp gave an introduction to the Solveig field and explained how geoscience plays a central role throughout the field development process, from early assessments to production. Solveig is a subsea tie-back to the Edvard Grieg installation in the North Sea. The students also had the opportunity to see real oil from the exploration well that discovered the Solveig field in 2013.
Jon Halvard Pedersen analyses petroleum systems and took the students back in time, explaining how traces of oil can be detected in the Oslo area, based on the geology and the same principles used in today’s exploration and field understanding.
Practical learning that creates motivation
Steinar Halvdan Hansen Møkkelgjerd is the teacher for the geoscience classes at Oslo Handelsgym. He greatly appreciated giving the students an insight into how the subject is used in practice.
– For the students, it is very useful to be able to see what can be done with the subject in working life. And that it is not just theory on paper, but something we actually use for something meaningful. The hope is that more students will consider an education in the sciences as more relevant, and based on the conversations I have had with students today, I think we may be able to encourage more in a scientific direction, says Møkkelgjerd.
Important to meet young people
For Aker BP, such visits are both important and inspiring. They provide us with the opportunity to show how we work and how theory from school is actually turned into practical decisions in the field. It is also rewarding to meet engaged young people who are curious about how the industry works. We believe that showing relevance early is one of the keys to creating interest and perhaps motivating some to choose a geoscience direction later.