5 December 2024 - Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP) and Weatherford have taken a significant step forward in strengthening academia-industry collaboration with the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA). This milestone underscores a shared commitment to pushing the boundaries of innovation and advancing research in sand control and management.
From the outset, UTP has been dedicated to fostering industry partnerships, a hallmark of its approach to education and research. This collaboration, which began in 2022, represents a convergence of expertise, innovation, and shared ambition. A pivotal moment in this journey was Weatherford’s generous donation of specialised equipment, valued at approximately RM2 million, previously stationed in the United Kingdom. This visionary contribution catalysed the formalisation of the partnership, paving the way for the establishment of the World-Renowned Sand Solutions Laboratory.
.jpeg)
The partnership, led by Ir Dr Mohd Azuwan Maoinser, Research lead and Chair, Petroleum Engineering Department from UTP and Encik Muhammad Fadzli Abdul Rahim from Weatherford, and supported by the Centre of Flow Assurance under the Institute of Sustainable Energy and Resources (ISER), is poised to set new benchmarks in sand control, research, innovation, and commercialisation. Beyond enhancing UTP’s Malaysia Research Assessment Instrument (MyRA) rating, the facility will open avenues for expanded collaboration and business opportunities in this specialised field.
In conjunction with this partnership, Weatherford has sponsored a Professorial Chair in Sand Control and Management, appointing Mr. Bruce Robertson to the esteemed role. The Professorial Chair has significantly bolstered UTP’s profile by bringing invaluable expertise, networks, and international recognition. This appointment underscores UTP’s commitment to remaining at the forefront of petroleum engineering education and research.
This collaboration comes at a time of exceptional achievement for UTP, which recently advanced to the 200-250 band in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2025, solidifying its position as Malaysia’s top university and the leading private university in ASEAN. Additionally, UTP’s Petroleum Engineering programme has climbed into the Top 15 in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings by Subject 2024, reflecting its unwavering commitment to academic and research excellence.
.jpeg)
Expressing gratitude, UTP Vice-Chancellor Professor Dato' Ir Ts. Dr Mohamed Ibrahim Abdul Mutalib said, “This collaboration is a testament to the shared commitment between academia and industry to inspire innovation, empower talent, and redefine the future of petroleum engineering. Together, we are setting the stage for groundbreaking advancements that will benefit Malaysia and the global petroleum sector.”
Looking ahead, UTP and Weatherford aspire to conduct cutting-edge studies on sand control, with a focus on sand screen performance evaluation. The partnership also envisions providing technical training to maximise the potential of the donated equipment and organising joint visits to Weatherford’s screen manufacturing plant in Singapore to enhance knowledge-sharing initiatives.
