Western Isles schools compete for the first time

PUPILS from schools across the UK will compete to become successful oil and gas operators in the UK heat of the major international competition, the OPITO PETROCHALLENGE.

A dynamic online educational event, the competition sees pupils around the world take on the role of oil barons. Launched in Aberdeen and designed to encourage students to consider a career in the oil and gas sector, this year the competition has grown with schools from the Northern and Western Isles of Scotland competing for the first time.

Around 120 S5 and S6 students will go head to head during the first two day challenge. being sponsored by Chevron, Taqa, BP and DECC (Government Department for Energy and Climate Change). The event kicks off in the Western Isles and Shetland on June 21.

Teams from the Nicolson Institute, Stornoway; Sgoil Lionacleit, Benbecula; Castlebay Community School, Barra; and from Shetland both Brae High and Anderson High will play the part of an energy company entering a new oil and gas province. Starting with $200 million in funds, their challenge is to maximise the return on investment by finding oil or gas and investing in other team’s opportunities

The competitors use a web-based learning tool to study seismic surveys, bid for licenses, farm out shares of licenses to other teams, compete to get rigs, contract service providers, and choose where to drill wells in a fictitious province.

Around 300 pupils from Aberdeen City and Shire will compete in the north-east heat at Robert Gordon University on June 28th and 29th; followed by 100 pupils from Glasgow competing at the University of Glasgow on August 31st. Later in the year competitions will be held in London, the East of England, Fife, and West Lothian.

The overall winning team will go on to represent the UK in the international final in London in January 2012 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.

OPITO PETROCHALLENGE, which is run in partnership with education specialist Simprentis, provides an interactive and fun way for school pupils aged 16-18 and college students studying maths, science, engineering, IT and business related subjects to gain first-hand experience of what it’s like to be part of an oil and gas company.

David Binnie, managing director of OPITO, said: “We are delighted to welcome schools from the Northern and Western Isles to compete in the 2011 PETROCHALLENGE. The competition is an opportunity for youngsters to gain a hands-on understanding of the oil and gas industry, stimulating the next generation of talented individuals that will drive the industry forward.

“The experience demonstrates the range of skills that can be learned and the huge range of career opportunities on offer. Each participant is tasked with solving complex challenges, working together as a team and gaining an effective insight into the risks and commercial challenges of oil and gas exploration. We hope that the competition will show students how exciting and rewarding it can be to work in the oil and gas industry.”

Last year’s UK heats saw 500 pupils take part with Meldrum Academy in Aberdeenshire going on to the international final.

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