The University of Aberdeen's College of Physical Sciences has further strengthened its international research links following confirmation of a new three year research agreement worth over £200,000 with the West African state of Angola.
The new deal announced by the University confirms the sponsorship of three postgraduate research students by Angola's national oil company, Sonangol Pesquisa e Producao. This three year contract will allow detailed work to be carried out in Angola's promising deep offshore area and will look to develop new methods and techniques in reservoir prediction and recognition, ultimately benefiting local oil exploration.
The three students (Hercinda Ferreira, Vladimir Machado and Alberto Martins) are all recent graduates of the University, two of whom earned first class degrees last year in Geology and Petroleum Geology. All three will now be working with top Aberdeen scientists in the field of offshore West African hydrocarbon systems.
The project will be managed by Dr Gordon Walkden of the University's Department of Geology & Petroleum Geology, who said: "These new research projects are an exciting product of the University of Aberdeen's world focus and international expertise. Our three Angolan students are bright and strongly committed, chosen in Angola for their scientific and management potential. We anticipate much exchange of personnel and ideas throughout the three years of the project and expect to make a significant contribution to the success of Angolan oil exploration and to the overall understanding of offshore West African hydrocarbon systems."