Industry and University Collaboration Progresses the Concept of a Citizen Engineer

Abstract

The Society of Petroleum Engineers Sustainability Task Force (SPE-STF) was created in 2014 and immediately developed Sustainability content including a strategy, curriculum, and course offerings. The opportunity for a collaboration between SPE-STF and Colorado School of Mines Petroleum Engineering (CSM-PE) graduate students was quickly identified with beneficial outcomes for both parties. Over a three-year period and with SPE-STF guidance, graduate students analyzed a variety of resource plays in global geographic locations and ultimately, the role of the Citizen Engineer in sustainable development. During this timeframe, students worked in multinational teams and researched probable technical and non-technical issues, potential interactions between those issues, and the options for managing those issues. SPE-STF provided feedback to students based on industry experience. SPE-STF and other industry representatives engaged with students in the classroom on topics of health, safety, security, environment and social responsibility (HSSE-SR), sustainability, stakeholder engagement, and risk identification. In technical memoranda, final reports, and presentations, CSM-PE graduate students defined the role of the Citizen Engineer, provided integrated case study analysis including technical and non-technical risk assessments, recommendations for sustainable development, and the feasibility of the financial business case. This academic and industry collaboration informed the SPE's growing sustainability conversation on integrating sustainable development into operational business plans and provided opportunity for improved sustainability competency and skill development for employees and students.