Houston Students Take on Energy Challenge at International Conference

Scholarship amounts totaling $12K will be awarded to winners at Offshore Technology Conference

HOUSTON, Texas, USA (30 April 2019) — Seventy-one high school students from the Houston metro area will develop and present solutions to real-world energy challenges at the internationally attended Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston, Texas, May 7. The teams are paired with industry mentors to solve complex energy problems and the winners will be awarded scholarships totaling $12,000. 

This year’s conference — the 50th anniversary — brings together E&P experts and leaders from across the world to exchange ideas and opinions to advance scientific and technical knowledge for offshore resources. 

“For the third year at OTC, the Energy Challenge will inspire the students, their teachers, their mentors and our conference attendees,” said Wafik Beydoun, Chairman, OTC Board of Directors. “These are the young minds that will shape the future of our industry, and we have much to learn from their perspective. We hope this next generation of engineers and scientists will take full advantage of the STEM opportunities in the energy industry, and this is one step in that journey.”

The 10 challenges include using AI to optimize production; designing an app to optimize offshore logistics; designing a carbon neutral coastal city powered by offshore resources; using 3-D printing to manufacture equipment in-situ; developing an offshore system to deal with ocean plastic waste; the use of ocean energy to power an offshore production platform; finding additional uses for flood protection structures; designing/building an offshore algae farm and product line; repurposing a depleted offshore oil and gas field to capture CO2; and designing an offshore facility that is run via an onshore ‘twin’ facility.

The winning teams receive a scholarship prize of $5,000 for first place, $4,000 for second place and $3,000 for third place. Schools competing this year include Awty High School, Chavez High School, Dulles High School, Energy Institute High School, George Ranch High School, Harmony High School, Kinkaid High School, Lamar Consolidated High School, Memorial High School, Milby High School, Paetow High School, Seven Lakes High School, Stratford High School, Stephen F. Austin High School, St. Johns High School, The Village School, Westside High School and the Young Women’s College Preparatory Academy. Cities represented include Houston, Sugar Land, Richmond, Big Sandy, Rosenberg and Katy.

Energy Challenge sponsors include BHP Billiton, Independent Petroleum Association of America, Society of Petroleum Engineers International Gulf Coast Section, BP and The American Petroleum Institute.

To register and for more information regarding OTC 2019, visit http://2019.otcnet.org. 

###

ABOUT OFFSHORE TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE
The Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) is where energy professionals meet to exchange ideas and opinions to advance scientific and technical knowledge for offshore resources and environmental matters. Founded in 1969, OTC’s flagship conference is held annually in Houston.  OTC has expanded technically and globally with the Arctic Technology Conference, OTC Brasil, and OTC Asia. For more information, visit www.otcnet.org.  

MEDIA CONTACT
Offshore Technology Conference
Gina Quevedo, Marketing Manager
+1.713.457.6866
media@otcnet.org