Oil firm gives WVU $18M in software grants
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — An oil industry services company is giving West Virginia University nearly $18 million worth of grants for geology and geophysics software.
The gift from Schlumberger will benefit students in the colleges of engineering and arts and sciences. Software plug-ins, licenses and maintenance are provided under the latest agreement.
Texas-based Schlumberger made its first in-kind software donation to WVU in 2007.
WVU President Jim Clements said Monday it will help students in petroleum and natural gas courses, as well as geology and geography. Officials say some of those departments are growing rapidly as West Virginia’s oil and natural gas deposits are developed.
Schlumberger vice president David Seabrook said that students trained on industry-standard software will be better able to make valuable contributions to the industry when they join the workforce.