МурманшельфИнфо. 2009, N 5.

30 ÿíâàðü 2009 ¹ 5 ÌóðìàíøåëüôÈíôî The question of whether the economy of our region is ready for the coming large- scale projects is being actively discussed now both on the governmental level and by other interested parties. Murmanshelf Association is an active participant of this process. Together with Government of Murmansk region our Association is putting a lot of effort into creation of favorable conditions for realization of oil and gas projects and facilitating international cooperation in our region. One of the main factors determining sustainable development in the Northwestern Federal District of Russia is presence of domestic professionals qualified for efficient and safe extraction and processing of hydrocarbon resources. Awareness of this fact has made the issue of professional training for oil and gas industry to one of high priorities in our Association’s activities. Together with competent experts in this field the Association has taken part in development of Oil and Gas Education Concept for our region. The idea is to build up a system of complex training of workers and engineers for offshore well drilling and completion, field facilities construction and operation, for sea transport of hydrocarbons (including navigators, marine engineers and other special personnel), construction and operation of offshore facilities and natural gas liquefaction plants, storage of hydrocarbons and their products, administration of complex offshore petroleum projects, specialists on risk assessment and decision making, economicmanagement of complex offshore projects incl. international ones. To accomplish this goal it is reasonable to establish a specialized higher education institution for training specialists of relevant qualification. We are convinced that Murmansk as a center of Arctic shelf development in the Northwestern Federal District is a natural aspirant for location of such an educational institution. According to some rough estimates, the university will be able to train yearly 200 - 300 specialists of different qualification who in their turn will strongly contribute to effective and safe utilization of hydrocarbon reserves located in this region of Russia. Such big international oil and gas companies as Gazprom, StatoilHydro and Total - partners in realization of the first Shtokman project phase - expressed their support and readiness to contribute to establishment and development of the new university. A number of other petroleum companies as well as some leading international oil and gas universities also are prepared to take part in this project. I order to minimize the time for starting up the new university, we suggest to do it step-by-step starting from opening a branch of the Gubkin Russian State Oil and Gas University in Murmansk and then gradually developing new departments and units getting the best training practices transferred, inviting world-class professors and expanding number of graduates. Thus, in the course of its development this specialized educational institution will transform into the Murmansk University of Arctic Technologies. The Concept of Oil and Gas Education Development in Murmansk Region provided establishment of an Arctic Oil and Gas Training Center parallel with the new university to accumulate existing professional potential. In October 2008 Murmanshelf Association founded this Center as autonomous non-profit organization. The Arctic Oil and Gas Training Center is intended to accomplish the following tasks: Professional development and ● extended education in the field of subsea technologies; Arrangement of traineeships for ● Russian specialists in foreign petroleum companies; Short-term courses given by leading ● Russian and world professionals; Training of highly qualified teachers ● and transfer of international experience; Coordination of actions and ● promotion of ideas presented in the above mentioned Concept in legislative and executive bodies of different levels, educational institutions and big oil and gas companies. In September the Oil and Gas Education Development Concept was handed over to the Education Committee of Murmansk region. Upon its public hearings and discussions it will be presented to Yuri Evdokimov, Governor of Murmansk region. Only timely and advance solving of specialist training problem will allow efficient and safe development of oil and gas resources in the Arctic. Murmanshelf Association invites all interested organizations to cooperation in this very important sphere. Development of oil and gas education in Murmansk region G. STRATIY, Director General Murmanshelf Association of Suppliers for Oil and Gas Industry Huge oil and gas reserves explored on the Western Arctic shelf, together with potential hydrocarbon resources of these water areas form a resource base for development of both Russian national oil and gas industry and the north-western region of the country for many years to come. Analysts believe the Shtokman project starting up now as well as development of other fields will become a growing point for the whole economy of Northwest Russia. It will gradually draw huge intellectual, financial, technical, and human resources into its orbit. Education