When the Robert L. Bolin Graduate School of Petroleum Geology began in 2015, it received valuable gifts that would prepare its students for jobs in the industry - tools like those used by professionals that would give students hands-on experience.

One of those tools was software donated by Schlumberger - a worldwide provider of technology for reservoir characterization, drilling, production, and processing to the oil and gas industry. The donation includes Software Integrated Solutions Petrel* E&P software platform, ECLIPSE* industry-reference reservoir simulator, and other industry software with a three-year multi-seat license and maintenance agreement.

Schlumberger has renewed the license and maintenance agreements for an additional three years - a gift of more than $13 million.

"Once again, the generous support of Schlumberger will enable our students to use industry-standard software for their graduate research," said Dr. Scott Meddaugh, the Robert L. Bolin Distinguished Professor of Petroleum Geology. The software also provides faculty with the opportunity to incorporate high-end software in its courses and in research.

The ECLIPSE simulator enables geologists to build models of underground reservoirs, which aids petroleum engineers in developing a forecast. The Petrel platform enables discipline experts to work together to make the best possible decisions - from exploration to production, according to the company's website.

Also included in the package is the Techlog* wellbore software platform, which analyzes the intricate data from well sites for more accurate interpretations, and the PetroMod* petroleum systems modeling software that combines seismic, well, and geological information to model the evolution of a sedimentary basin.

"Faculty and students alike are benefiting from the real-world experience provided by this software, and we are grateful to Dr. Meddaugh for helping us connect in a powerful way through software tools from an industry leader such as Schlumberger," said Dr. Marcy Brown Marsden, Dean of the McCoy College of Science, Mathematics & Engineering.

According to Graduate Coordinator Jesse Carlucci, enrollment has exceeded projections in its three years, with 29 students total, past and currently enrolled. He said that students are not limited to using the software in class, but they are also using it in undergraduate and graduate research projects.

The software packages are primarily used in the petroleum geology lab for courses that study seismic interpretation such as Solid Earth and Exploration Geophysics, Petroleum Geology, and Applied Petroleum Geology.

Visit the Schlumberger website for more information.

Contact Meddaugh at scott.meddaugh@msutexas.edu for more information about MSU's program.

This contribution is part of the Campaign for MSU Texas, and supports the campaign pillars of enriching the lives of students, enhancing teaching and learning, and investing in the university campus and community. To learn more about the seven-year, $50 million Campaign for MSU Texas, contact Tony Vidmar, Vice President for University Advancement and Public Affairs, at 940-397-4782 or tony.vidmar@msutexas.edu.

*Mark of Schlumberger