Offshore oil exploration companies are to present a powerful computer with seismic investigation software to NUI Galway today in an attempt to improve the training standards of Irish geo-science students.
The computer software is believed to be only one of its type to be presented to an Irish university, and NUI Galway was selected because it has departments of both geology and geophysics.
The Irish Offshore Operators' Group, which is the umbrella body for exploration companies, has been concerned about the lack of sufficient training in use of such equipment. It also maintains that Irish students are not familiar with software for the analysis of three-dimensional seismic data.
Seismic work is the first step in mineral exploration. Powerful computers are applied to map great depths below the sea floor, and pin-point trapped oil and gas. Sensitive microphones are used to pick up sound waves, which are dispatched by small explosions into the bedrock.
"The result is rather like the familiar ultra-sound scans of a baby in a mother's womb," Prof Paul Ryan of NUI Galway's geology department explains. "Interpreting reflection seismic records to find possible oil or gas targets requires great skill, patience and expertise on specialist computers", he says.
The oil industry's support to the university, valued at £200,000, is also being used to fund postgraduate studies. Three Ph.D students enrolled in 1997, and three more will begin this year. NUI Galway runs a specialist M.Sc course for students who want to join the exploration industry.
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