Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University was visited on a working trip by Olivier Houzé, President of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE). This organization is engaged in identifying advanced technologies in the field of hydrocarbon field development and operation, as well as attracting managers and engineers of the oil and gas industry to work on projects worldwide — including graduates of specialized universities. The purpose of the visit was to develop mutually beneficial cooperation. According to SPE’s position, despite the current geopolitical situation, education and science must remain outside of conflicts.
The guest became acquainted with the infrastructure of Russia’s oldest technical university and highly praised its material and technical base, as well as the equipment of its scientific centers and classrooms.
Rector Vladimir Litvinenko and Olivier Houzé discussed the issue of the shortage of qualified engineering personnel for the global oil and gas sector. This is a worldwide trend, SPE emphasizes: “Interest in engineering specialties is declining — largely ‘thanks’ to the questionable policies of many states that are trying to shift to green energy and replace traditional hydrocarbons. This is, at the very least, shortsighted.”
The system of training specialists at the Mining University was of particular interest to the SPE President. Vladimir Litvinenko spoke about the pilot project and the new educational model that the university has been implementing since 2023.
- We stand for the fundamental nature of engineering education. For us, the most important thing is that theory must be reinforced by practice; this is a fundamental principle. According to international standards, universities produce master technologists, but in our case, they will essentially be engineers who have undergone six years of training, - explained the Rector.
He also added that great attention at the university is devoted to the development of science, speaking about the research centers operating at the Mining University and about current projects — for example, the deep geology project and the drilling of two ultra-deep wells.
- This is a very important project, and already a large number of specialists “from outside,” including from China and the United States, wish to join it, - noted Vladimir Litvinenko.
Olivier Houzé highlighted the effectiveness of the academic program presented by the Mining University, particularly emphasizing the optimal combination of practice and theory. He shared his personal experience: after studying for four years in France and two years in the United States, he never once saw an actual production facility or even a drilling rig, despite training as a drilling engineer.
- I greatly lacked practical skills. I arrived in Kuwait, where a field with a high hydrogen sulfide content was being developed. It was extremely dangerous, and thank God my work went successfully and without incident, although the consequences could have been most tragic, - recalls Olivier Houzé.
The guest added that today European universities are in effect “shooting themselves in the foot” — maneuvering, changing their educational systems, and narrowing knowledge in almost every subject. This is a destructive practice, since enterprises need not merely operators or executors, but above all people who think and make decisions.
The parties also touched upon the problem of the use of artificial intelligence by oil and gas specialists. Too often young people believe that new technologies can literally do everything for them.
- The most dangerous thing is that such engineers do not understand what question they are asking, nor what answer they are receiving. They shift their responsibility onto artificial intelligence, and this is a very serious problem. We need people who understand what artificial intelligence is, not those who merely rely on its output, - Olivier Houzé expressed his concern.
In conclusion, Olivier Houzé and SPE Regional Manager Alexey Borisenko met with students and spoke to them about the organization. Membership in SPE provides access to a wide range of events, scientific articles, and webinars dedicated to the oil and gas industry and the energy sector.