OHOR BAHRU, Nov 16 — The Society of Petroleum Engineers UTM Student Chapter (SPE-UTM SC) transformed N11a, DK1, DK2 and N29 DP1 into a vibrant arena of engineering minds as 130 students, judges, lecturers and committee members came together for the SPE-UTM SC Intellectual Day 2025. What unfolded was more than a series of competitions — it was a glimpse into how UTM students are redefining what it means to be industry-ready.
The programme opened with remarks from Dr. Nurul Adilah Manshor, who reminded participants that the energy sector demands engineers who go beyond technical mastery. She highlighted the need for professionalism, agility and continuous learning, qualities essential in a field reshaped by digitalisation, new energy transitions and increasing operational complexity.
The Petrobrain competition immediately set a competitive tempo. Teams raced to answer oil and gas questions under tight time pressure, covering drilling, reservoir fundamentals, production systems and industrial best practices. With judges Ts. Sulaiman Sidek and Shafiq Effendi Jalis from PETRONAS Carigali Sdn. Bhd., the challenge reflected actual field decision-making — fast, precise and unforgiving.
Running in parallel was the Oil Rig Design Competition, where teams presented semi-submersible rig models grounded in real engineering considerations: stability, buoyancy, load distribution and environmental factors. Judges from Johnson Matthey, PETRONAS Carigali and SLB brought diverse professional perspectives. The tension peaked during the Floating Test, where each model faced progressive loading to determine whether it could withstand the pressures of simulated offshore conditions.
Creativity and logic blended seamlessly in the Spaghetti Bridge Design Competition. Participants were challenged to conceptualise, build and defend their structures within a set time frame, before subjecting them to load testing that revealed both strengths and weaknesses. The evaluation combined academic rigour and corporate insight through Dr. Nurul Adilah Manshor and M. Syahin Hazimi Mohd Hazli of Tata Consultancy Services.
One of the most anticipated sessions was the technical sharing by Dr. Ir. Mohd Razmi Ziqri, Reservoir Engineer at PETRONAS Carigali. Having just received his PhD at UTM’s 69th Convocation the previous day, he brought rare authenticity — someone who has walked the UTM academic path and now navigates high-stakes industry environments. His explanations on reservoir engineering and techno-commercial evaluation offered students practical clarity and a deeper appreciation for the discipline.
The success of the event was made possible through the support of sponsors such as Amigo, Julie’s Marketing, Salmi Hj. Tamin Sdn. Bhd., and individual contributors. Meanwhile, a 37-member committee ensured seamless coordination across logistics, technical operations, protocol, registration, prizes and media — the kind of behind-the-scenes execution that makes an event not just run, but run well.
The closing ceremony and prize presentation marked the end of a day filled with collaboration, creativity and engineering grit. As SPE-UTM SC continues to host academically rich and professionally relevant programmes, it reinforces its mission to prepare students for the demands of the industry and the leadership roles they will inevitably take on.
