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GE Oil & Gas donates
subsea model to UH program
 UH
received a valuable donation from GE Oil & Gas in May
that will provide engineering students with an educational tool
and an added edge for students of the already highly-acclaimed
program.
The University of Houston received a subsea model that was
previously housed at Texas A&M University and offered to UH to
use for its Subsea Engineering Certification Program. The subsea
program prepares engineering students for a career in offshore
petroleum production. UH is the only institution in the United
States which offers a certificate training program in subsea
engineering and only one of five offering the program
internationally. The College of Engineering is also in the late
stages of the process to develop a Master of Science degree
offering in subsea.
According to Matthew Franchek, Director of the Subsea
Engineering Program and Professor of Mechanical Engineering,
there are over 70 students currently enrolled in the program.
The subsea model donation will contribute greatly to their
education by providing a real-life example of the technology.
Franchek also hopes to make the subsea model a popular
destination for area schools, industry representatives and other
campus visitors.
Franchek envisions creating a subsea model display which
includes a “water wall” with clear stairs around the subsea
model so it can be viewed from above as well. He would like for
it to become a focal point for the Petroleum and Engineering
building located at UH’s Energy Research Park.
“When we can get a facility and put it in place, this will be an
excellent conversation piece, something we can take high school
students by and use for outreach,” Franchek said.
Currently, the Subsea and Petroleum Engineering programs are
working with the university to discover possible industry
partnerships to support the exhibit for the subsea model in
order to showcase the donation to the university.
“We’re coordinating our development efforts under an umbrella of
petroleum engineering and subsea engineering and looking at why
companies would want to invest, what are their possible outcomes
and how do we provide an added value to them,” Franchek said.
The subsea model is currently being kept in a storage facility
at Energy Research Park. This donation has a great potential to
provide UH students with another edge to secure career
opportunities after graduation with industry leaders. It can
also provide further opportunities for partnerships and
collaborations with oil and gas corporations for academics and
research in subsea and petroleum engineering.
For more information on the Subsea Engineering Certificate
Program, visit
www.egr.uh.edu/subsea.
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