The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has recently received the network licences for six software – Kingdom Geoscience Bundle, Harmony Enterprise, Piper, WellTest, SubPump and PERFORM: a development that is expected to further bridge the gap between industry and academia.
These software licences, estimated to be worth US$1.2million, were presented by S&P Global – a leading intelligence service provider, in partnership with Reservoir Management Group (RMG) Limited – a provider of petroleum geosciences and reservoir engineering services.
The implementation of these cutting-edge engineering and geoscience software will enable researchers and students at KNUST to conduct more complex analyses and simulations, leading to accurate and groundbreaking discoveries within the academic setting and better-preparing them for the job market.
To ensure successful installation and usability of the software, the management team from RMG, along with their partners from S&P Global, paid a visit to the university where they engaged in discussions with the Provost of the College of Engineering and Vice-Chancellor of KNUST.
Nana Akwasi Ankamah, Managing Director-RMG, emphasised the significance of these software licences in the petroleum industry, as many National Oil Companies and International Oil Companies utilise them in their operations. He expressed the importance of introducing students at KNUST to these software tools before they enter industry, thereby closing the gap between industry and academia.
“One of the things we realised in our consulting space is the heavy usage of these software in the industry for real-time decision-making. We felt it was fit for the students to be introduced to it before they get into the industry – making them ready to fully utilise these software and bring value to any organisation they will be attached to,” Mr. Ankamah said.
He also mentioned the possibility of extending this initiative to other universities, and expressed the intention to invite S&P Global for webinars and training sessions in the future.
Samuel Asiedu Duah, Business Development Manager-RMG, highlighted RMG’s commitment along with S&P Global to advancing education in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
He stressed the need to equip the next generation of oil and gas professionals with the hands-on skills and tools required to navigate the most advanced industry software.
“In our experience of providing petroleum geosciences and reservoir engineering services, we see the need to equip next-generation oil and gas professionals with hands-on skills and tools for navigating these most advanced industry tools, he said – adding that the goal is to reduce the learning curve for students as they enter the industry, ultimately increasing their market value and employability in the highly-skilled oil and gas sector.
Nalin Vatte, Associate Director for S&P Global, expressed confidence that the software licences will optimise production and enhance the students’ capabilities.
Also, Professor George Yaw Obeng, representing the Provost of the College of Engineering, commended RMG and S&P Global for their generous contribution; noting that it aligns with KNUST’s mission. He highlighted the importance of modern software tools for training students, conducting research and engaging with communities to effectively transfer knowledge and contribute to national development.
“This is a very good gift, and it is consistent with the mission of KNUST. We require modern tools in software for training students. Also for our research and engaging with communities, because the knowledge we generate from the research is that which we transfer to the community in order to engage it effectively and build the nation. So, these software are very key for both faculty research as well as the students’ training,” he noted.
Prof. Emmanuel Donkor, Head of Petroleum Engineering at KNUST, highlighted the licences’ significant impact on the academic work of students, providing them with the necessary skills for the industry. He explained that the validated licenses will allow for unrestricted usage, enabling academic work and research to be published without any hindrances.
Highlighting the advantages of using authorised licences, which ensure compliance and the ability to openly reference and utilise the software for academic purposes, he remarked: “Imagine you use a software, and because you know it is pirated you cannot make mention of it in any publication. When you have a validated license authorised without any restrictions from usage, you can do anything. The only thing is that because it is free, you cannot commercialise it. But we can use it anyhow for academic purposes”.
About S&P Global
S&P Global connects trusted knowledge to customers’ workflows – mitigating risk, increasing efficiency and accelerating innovation. For more than 60 years, leading Research and development (R&D) and engineering-intensive organisations have relied on us to achieve on-time, on-budget delivery of complex projects and new products.
S&P Global delivers an unparalleled combination of technical content and Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies to surface answers from the vast universe of technical knowledge, both inside and outside the organisation. In a single interface, we connect the dots between information scattered across many different sources; allowing technical professionals to make better, more informed decisions faster.
About Reservoir Management Group Limited (RMG)
Reservoir Management Group Limited (RMG) is a 100% Ghanaian-owned company registered under the Companies Act, 1963 (Act 179). The company is also registered and licenced by the Petroleum Commission of Ghana.
Reservoir Management Group Limited provides a complete range of petroleum geosciences, subsurface and reservoir engineering services, offering full field lifecycle solutions from exploration through appraisal, to development and production – with the aim to maximise profitability for Exploration and Production (E&P) operators and National Oil Companies.
RMG’s integrated solutions are also focused on developing new or under-evaluated plays and prospects with reserve potential capable of affecting the growth profile in both frontier and mature basins. Our consulting services are aligned toward training, capacity-building and competency development for the local workforce. Serving the oil and gas industry in Ghana, we aim to be the preferred provider of expert consultancy services in Africa.
About KNUST
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) is a university located in Kumasi, Ghana. It is the second public university established in the country. The university is currently ranked the best in Ghana & West Africa by the www.webometrics.info university ranking.
The vision of KNUST is to be globally recognised as the Premier Centre of Excellence in Africa for teaching Science and Technology for development; producing high-calibre graduates with knowledge and expertise to support the industrial and socio-economic development of Ghana and Africa.
