The Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) ITS SC held a guest lecture program called SPEak Up! Guest Lecture in collaboration with SPE UTM SC from Malaysia and SPE PSU SC from the Philippines. The program aimed to increase the understanding of the members of the three SPE’s regarding the perspective of the oil and gas industry in the energy transition era. 

SPEak Up! Guest Lecture is an annual event that developed by Academia and Competency Development Department SPE  ITS SC. This year, SPEak Up! brought the theme regarding the perspective of the oil and gas industry in the energy transition era. One interesting topic was "CCUS as a Remarkable Solution to Support Emission Reduction" presented by Mutia Khairunnisa Mardhatillah.

Mutia Khairunnisa Mardhatillah is a graduate student from the PETRONAS University of Technology majoring in Petroleum Engineering at the master's degree. Currently she is a Researcher Assistant in the field of carbon capture and storage (CCS) at PETRONAS University of Technology. Also, currently she is working on his dissertation focused on the CO2-Brine-Rock Interactions during sequestration in Saline Aquifer. The observations are on the near-wellbore vicinity and the consequences from the interactions are analyzed.

In her presentation, Mutia said that currently, our world is experiencing a significant increase in the earth's temperature from year to year which is experienced by the large number of greenhouse gas emissions, especially CO2 that rises into the atmosphere. That way, there needs to be a step to prevent it.there are many ways that can be done to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, such as the use of renewable energy, methane reduction, alternative fuels, etc. However, in this case there is one way that is often discussed at this time, that is CCUS.

CCUS stands for Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage. It refers to a set of technologies and processes aimed at reducing carbon dioxide emissions from industrial processes and power generation. Carbon capture involves capturing carbon dioxide emissions from sources such as power plants, factories, and other industrial processes. Utilization involves finding ways to use the captured carbon dioxide, for example, in the production of chemicals, fuels, or building materials. Storage involves storing the captured carbon dioxide in underground geological formations, such as depleted oil and gas reservoirs or saline aquifers, so that it does not enter the atmosphere. CCUS is seen as a promising approach to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating climate change, as it allows for continued use of fossil fuels while reducing their environmental impact.

“CCUS consists of 4 stages, namely Carbon Capture, Transport, Utilization, and Storage. In the carbon capture stage, CO2 released into the atmosphere will be captured from fuel combustion or industrial processes. Furthermore, at the transport stage, CO2 will be transported via a ship or pipeline. After CO2 is transported, there is a utilization stage where it can either be used as a resource to create valuable products or services, but it doesn't stop at that stage, CO2 can also be injected into underground geological formations for the storage stage.” Mutia said. 

However, there are still several obstacles in its application, such as high cost, regulatory framework, and public acceptance. For this reason, Mutia hopes that companies that will later apply this technology and the government can work together with the surrounding community for the implementation of this CCUS technology.

Enhancing the knowledge of SPE’s Board of Committee about materials used in the oil and gas industry, Company Visit Division SPE ITS SC conducted Inspect 3.0. The event was held in Pertamina Hulu Energi West Madura Offshore (PHE WMO) Lamongan Shorebase and involved a site visit, presentation, and discussion about the industry.

Inspect 3.0 that has been conducted on 14th April is a series of company visit events and in this stewardship, visiting PHE WMO became the third company visit that has been conducted. PHE WMO is a subsidiary of PT Pertamina Hulu Energi (PHE), a subsidiary of PT Pertamina (Persero). PHE WMO primary focus is on exploration and production, but it also has a logistics base in Lamongan, which is crucial for the success of its operations. 

The PIC of the event Abdulah Abraham Abror explained, company visit this time provided an opportunity for the students to see and visit the shorebase/warehouse under oil and gas-based companies related to the core values of SPE ITS SC. “Through the visit and discussion with the company representative, the students gained insights into the oil and gas industry and how the company worked,” Abror added.

More specifically, Abror said this event aims to provide knowledge about the materials used in the oil and gas industry, understand material management and handling processes, as well as introduce students to professions observed in the operating environment. “The event also discussed the end-to-end process of delivery material, including material management and how to handle it safely,” Abror explained.

According to Abror, the event started with a safety induction by PHE WMO, followed by an introduction from SPE ITS SC. The opening was then given by PHE WMO, which provided an overview of the company and their role in the shorebase/warehouse. Representative from PHE WMO explained, shorebase management makes remote oil and gas operations more easily managed logistically from nearby ports. 

Furthermore, the role of shorebase as a support for offshore activities can take the form of a port, warehouse, field, or office.  In upstream oil and gas activities, starting from exploration, production, transportation to the refinery, and selling of oil or gas, shorebase is needed. Equipment such as casing and tubing require a long time to order, so supply chain management planning is needed. 

After the introduction, the event proceeded to the site visit. The site visit involved observing the drilling equipment, such as drill bits, various sizes of drill pipes, christmas tree, and other equipments required for drilling process. A discussion of oil and gas from both parties was conducted to exchange knowledge and ideas. “During the visit, the students had the opportunity to ask questions and discuss with the representatives,” Abror added.

Quoting one of the participants in the event, said Inspect 3.0 has been a great learning opportunity for me. He has gained valuable knowledge about the oil and gas industry, especially the materials and equipment used in the drilling process. "The visit to the Lamongan Shorebase has given me a real-life experience that cannot be gained through theory alone," he said.

The event was successful in achieving its objectives, and the participants gained valuable insights into the oil and gas industry. The event was an excellent opportunity for the students to enhance their knowledge, and it was hoped that it would help them to become more competent professionals in the industry. “This event is expected to strengthen the relationship between SPE ITS SC and the oil and gas companies, including PHE WMO,” Abror concluded. 

By: Tyara Novia

In a bid to increase awareness on the importance of health, the Community Outreach Division  SPE ITS SC has taken the initiative to organize a medical check-up event called "FEALING (Fun Healing)". The event has successfully conducted in collaboration with the Asian Medical Students' Association (AMSA) Universitas Airlangga. 

The PIC of the event Jonathan Erland Sihotang explained that the event comes at a time when health awareness is increasingly crucial, especially with the transition from the pandemic era. People overlook the fundamental and essential aspects of health, such as lack of exercise, consuming unhealthy food with high levels of sugar, and barely doing medical check-ups.  "Those behaviors will cause an increase in the prevalence of hypertension and any of the health issues among people our age or actually affect people of all ages,” Jonathan explained. 

Despite the importance of health, many people still underestimate its significance, particularly in developing countries where healthcare can be costly. Therefore, the Community Outreach Division has taken the initiative to provide free medical check-ups for those who cannot afford them. “Conducting this event is also in line with Sustainable Development Goal 3, which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all ages,” Jonathan added.

According to Jonathan, FEALING which took place on Sunday, 13th November 2022 from morning to afternoon at Taman Harmoni Keputih in Surabaya, provided a range of medical check-ups including blood sugar, tension, and uric acid tests. "We hope to accommodate those who are underprivileged, to do medical checkups for free and increase the awareness of local residents about the importance of health." Jonathan said. 

The health check-up event at Taman Harmony was a great success, with a majority of elderly participants from the surrounding area. Within just four hours, the target of 100 participants was achieved due to the overwhelming response, with most of them coming in groups. "I am so grateful for this free health check-up. It's an opportunity for us to monitor our health without spending any money," said one of the participants, who was delighted with the initiative.

The Community Outreach Division and AMSA-Unair believe that events like FEALING will increase health awareness in the local community and ultimately lead to healthier lifestyles. The hope is that the event will inspire more organizations to take similar initiatives in promoting health and well-being in the community.  "I am thrilled to see such an enthusiastic response from the community. It shows that people are taking their health seriously," Jonathan concluded. 

By: Tyara Novia