ChampionX inspires Azerbaijan’s next generation of chemical engineers

ChampionX has teamed up with the Azerbaijan Chemical Society (AzeCS) to provide a unique certification in ‘Oilfield Problems and Chemical Solutions’ for Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University’s SPE (Society of Petroleum Engineers) Chapter students, through a series of webinars which runs until May.

The course, which is the first of its kind in Azerbaijan, was designed by Orkhan Hajiyev, an account manager at ChampionX and founding member of the AzeCS. It has been developed to help bridge the gap between the knowledge gained at university and in-house industry experience.

More than 120 students joined the first session including attendees from various Azerbaijan universities – ASIOU, UFAZ, BHOS, BEU, BSU. It also attracted 20 students from educational establishments in the UK, Norway, Turkey, Egypt, India, Philippines, Ukraine, Algeria, Pakistan and Thailand. 

The company’s district manager, Nick Nicotra, said: “Local content and nationalization are some of our most influential key focus areas in Azerbaijan. Collaborations with the local industry chapters of SPE and AzeCS help to promote and inspire the next generation to consider ChampionX as a future employer and set us up for continued success within our customer base in Azerbaijan.” 

ChampionX (formerly known as Nalco Champion Upstream and Apergy Corporation) is a global leader in upstream and midstream oilfield technology solutions, chemistry programmes and services, as well as highly engineered equipment. It helps companies drill for and produce oil and gas safely and efficiently around the world. 

The training is mainly being delivered by the Eastern Hemisphere’s research, development and engineering team in Aberdeen, UK, with each webinar relating to their specialist field. The certification offers a distinctive opportunity for students and graduates to add to their CV, which will help aid their professional development as they transition into industry roles. 

Attracting students throughout their third, fourth and master’s years, the topics are designed to cover the major problems in oilfields for chemists. The course is open to all majors at the university and specifically targeted at those studying chemical engineering, process engineering and chemistry degrees. 

There are nine one-hour webinars with quizzes at the end; students must pass each one above 70% to achieve certification. The first three sessions were held last year and provided insight into oilfield chemicals, hydrogen sulphide and corrosion.

The next online event will centre on wax and asphaltenes and be presented by Kasper Baack, lead chemist in flow assurance for the Eastern Hemisphere at ChampionX. Mr Baack has over 10 years’ experience in oilfield chemistry with specialist knowledge in paraffins and asphaltenes. The remaining sessions will cover water clarifiers, bacteria, produced water separation, emulsions and demulsifiers, scale, and hydrates.

In addition to designing the course, Orkhan Hajiyev is also an Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University alumni. He said: “The idea for the course stemmed from a call with the SPE chapter, who continuously look for industry professionals to share their knowledge. At ChampionX, we were investigating ways to boost our community engagement, so implementing a course which provides experience for students and will benefit their professional development, was an ideal fit. 

“Five of us set up the Azerbaijan Chemistry Society in 2016 for the same reason. It’s a big challenge for young people to land their first job on the career ladder, and we wanted to share what is expected in this sector and create more opportunity for them as they progress with their studies. Our overall aim is to help shape and influence the next generation of chemists and chemical engineers into the energy industry.” 

One of the participating students is Ismayil Alizada. He is studying MSc Physical Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at the French-Azerbaijani University (UFAZ) and said: “I signed up to deepen my understanding of oilfield chemistry in the areas not covered by my university subjects. The topics covered by ChampionX’s experts are providing crucial knowledge for anyone wanting to build a career in this field. I’m also gaining valuable insight into each oilfield chemistry sub-sector, which will help me to decide what I apply for after graduation. 

“I am looking forward to attending all the remaining webinars and working towards achieving the certificate, as I am sure it will be help to progress my career.”