KEMAMAN, 8 May – The Society of Petroleum Engineers – Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Student Chapter (SPE-UTM SC) successfully conducted an industry visit to Kemaman Supply Base (KSB) from 5 to 8 May 2025, engaging with five prominent oil and gas companies: Geowell Sdn. Bhd., Dimension Bid Sdn. Bhd., Halliburton (M) Sdn. Bhd., AsiaPac Oil & Gas Sdn. Bhd. and Weatherford (M) Sdn. Bhd.. This four-day visit aimed to bridge academic learning with real-world industry practices, offering petroleum engineering students hands-on exposure to upstream operations and technologies.
As a major regional oil and gas logistics hub, KSB plays a crucial role in supporting offshore activities in the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Its infrastructure and strategic location provide essential services, including storage, transport, and coordination for upstream operations. This made it an ideal learning ground for students to witness the backbone of oil and gas logistics.
At Geowell, students were introduced to slickline operations and learned about Electronic Data Acquisition System (EDAS) and Geowell Slickline Interface (GSI), both crucial in monitoring and controlling downhole tools during well intervention. The visit to Dimension Bid focused on coiled tubing and well servicing operations, where participants explored how coiled tubing is deployed and its role in maintaining and enhancing well performance.
During the session with Halliburton, students gained insights into Measurement While Drilling (MWD) and Logging While Drilling (LWD) technologies. They were also exposed to the various tools used in subsurface formation evaluation, helping them understand how real-time geological data supports informed decision-making during drilling. At AsiaPac Oil & Gas, a company known for its specialization in local wellbore services, the group learned about fishing operations, plug and abandonment (P&A) procedures, and tools such as spirals and grapples used in the retrieval of downhole equipment.
The final visit was to Weatherford, where students were introduced to tubular running services, well completions, and wireline logging. These sessions highlighted the importance of precision, safety, and technological integration in the overall well lifecycle.
The visit helped enhance student’s practical knowledge and soft skills. Through direct interaction with field engineers and industry professionals, students gained real-world insights and strengthened their communication, teamwork, and adaptability—skills that are equally important as technical knowledge in shaping a well-rounded petroleum engineer.
Student feedback highlighted the value of the visit. “It was exciting to see how the theories we learn in class are applied in the field,” said one student. Another noted, “This experience gave me a clearer picture of what to expect in the industry and boosted my confidence moving forward.”
SPE-UTM SC extends its heartfelt appreciation to all host companies and to Kemaman Supply Base for their warm hospitality and generous support in nurturing the next generation of energy leaders. Looking ahead, SPE-UTM SC is committed to organizing more industry-engagement activities that continue to inspire and prepare students for successful careers in oil and gas.