A RECORD number of pupils from schools across the north-east are expected to compete to become successful oil&gas operators in the UK heat of a major international competition.
All 33 secondary schools across Aberdeen City and Shire have been invited to take part in The Oil & Gas Academy PetroChallenge, a dynamic online educational event which sees pupils around the world battle it out as oil barons.
About 500 S5 and S6 students are expected to compete in the two-day challenge, which will be hosted by The Robert Gordon University on September 1-2.
Formally known as OilSim, the 2009 challenge has been re-launched with help from OPITO – The Oil & Gas Academy and educational specialist Simprentis.
Each team plays an energy company entering a new oil&gas province. Starting with $200million in funds, their challenge is to maximise the return on investment by finding oil or gas and investing in other teams’ opportunities.
The competing teams study seismic surveys, bid for licences, farm out shares of licences to other teams, compete to get rigs, contract service providers and choose where to drill wells.
The winning team will go on to represent the UK in the international final in London, where they will face fierce competition from other finalists from schools around the globe, including the Faroe Islands, Norway, Greenland, Denmark, the US and Canada.
Last year’s Scottish heat, in which 130 pupils took part, was won by Meldrum Academy, however they lost out on lifting the top title at the international final after being narrowly beaten by a team of pupils from Iceland.