Purdue's Shell Energy Day to highlight new frontiers of natural gas exploration and renewables

September 19, 2012  


WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue University's Shell Energy Day 2012 will spotlight the potential for developing natural gas and renewable energy reserves and the career opportunities in oil and natural gas exploration.

Shell Energy Day, sponsored this year by Discovery Park's Energy Center and Shell Oil Co., will run from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sept. 27 in the Dean's Auditorium at Pfendler Hall. A poster session on student energy-related interdisciplinary research projects is from 1:30-3:30 p.m. that day.

This year's event, titled "A Symposium on the New Frontiers in Natural Gas and Renewables," is free and open to the public, but registration is encouraged by Monday (Sept. 24), because seating is limited. To register, go to: http://www.purdue.edu/discoverypark/energy/shell_energy_day_2012/

"We are building on our successful history of Shell Energy Day to offer a timely, topical event again this year as we build the bridge to advance research from fossil fuels to the next generation of energy production," said Energy Center managing director Pankaj Sharma. "A networking lunch and careers presentation also will give Purdue students the chance to meet with Shell recruitment staff to learn more about scholarships, internships and career opportunities."

Panel discussions are scheduled on Renewables: Wind Energy (8:15-9:15 a.m.), the Keystone Pipeline/Oil Sands (9:15-10:15 a.m.), and Fracking (10:30-11:30 a.m.).

Fracking, or more technically called hydraulic fracturing, is the process of drilling and injecting fluid into the ground at high pressure to fracture shale rocks for releasing natural gas inside.

Speakers from Shell are Brad Bracewell, business analyst for Onshore North America; Geoff Gauthier, business opportunity manager for Shell Pipeline Co.; and Dick Williams, general manager at Shell Wind Energy.

Scheduled speakers from Purdue are John Cushman, professor of earth, atmospheric, and planetary sciences; Cliff Johnston, Purdue agronomy professor; and Doug Adams, professor of mechanical engineering.

For a complete list of speakers and more information on Purdue Shell Energy Day, go to https://www.seeuthere.com/rsvp/invitation/inforegistration.asp?id=/m2625a72-3YLDA4QIHXVY0&sutGuid=41165

Shell representatives also will conduct an information session during lunch from noon to 1:30 p.m. Free pizza will be provided to registered students.

Houston-based Shell Energy, a subsidiary of Shell Oil, has 93,000 employees worldwide. It operates 30 refineries and chemical plants globally, producing 3.3 million barrels of gas and oil daily. Forty-eight percent of Shell's production is natural gas. The company also has 43,000 Shell service stations worldwide.

Purdue's Energy Center, which was launched in 2005, brings together more than 75 Purdue experts, focusing on the areas of biofuels and clean-coal research. The center is bolstering Purdue's expertise in alternative energy sources and storage technologies, such as those involving hydrogen, batteries, power electronics and renewable energy devices like solar cells. Researchers also are studying how to harness the wind and make nuclear energy safer.

The Energy Center is part of the university's Global Sustainability Institute, which was launched in Discovery Park to coordinate Purdue's research efforts in sustainability challenges such as climate change, energy, food security, the environment and water. 


Writer: Phillip Fiorini, 765-496-3133, pfiorini@purdue.edu     

Source: Pankaj Sharma, 765-496-7452, sharma@purdue.edu

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