BP EXPLORATION ALASKA SHOWS SUPPORT FOR UAF WITH $25,000 DONATION<

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 26, 1998

Fairbanks, Alaska - The University of Alaska Fairbanks Petroleum Engineering Program has received a $25,000 donation from BP Exploration Alaska Inc. to enhance oil and gas research activities at UAF.

"Our intent is to provide research funding that will promote efficient development of Alaska's resource potential, " said company president Richard Campbell. "Academic and research excellence in various aspects of petroleum engineering enhances UAF's ability to attract top-caliber high school students and graduate program candidates, as well as being a key source of qualified employees for the state's petroleum industry."

Natural resources research at UAF's petroleum engineering laboratory have led to innovative techniques aimed at boosting Alaska's oil recovery efforts. According to Godwin Chukwu, head of UAF's petroleum engineering department, partnerships with industry make good sense for Alaskans and for students studying to become petroleum engineers.

"There are about 50 UAF petroleum engineering students in Anchorage and Fairbanks, " said Chukwu. "Graduate and undergraduate courses are offered by UAF in Anchorage at the UAA campus and at BP facilities throughout the state to serve working engineers and technicians. Working with industry, we are able to provide hands-on training opportunities for students while at the same time meeting the research and training needs of Alaska's oil producers."

Chukwu said the recent corporate donation from BP is the third donation received from the company in the past three years. The money will be used to fund research projects identified by the School of Mineral Engineering's Petroleum Advisory Board, which was created in 1994. Board members represent industry, state agencies and the university.

According to Chukwu, research projects will likely fall into any of four niche areas: gas utilization, field development optimization with engineered wellbore, drilling technology and wellbore stability.

UAF's Petroleum Development Laboratory was established in 1984 and is a research branch of the School of Mineral Engineering. Faculty and students are involved in practical research to develop and improve technology to maximize the recovery of Alaska's petroleum and natural gas resources, including the production of heavy oil through thermal recovery and miscible oil displacement.

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CONTACT: UAF Petroleum Engineering Dept. Head Godwin Chukwu (907) 474-7748.

DPD/6-24-98/98-074