sop for MSc in Process System Engineering
My fascination with crude oil began way back in 2004 in the Odori Okot River in Ukanafun Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. I was only eleven years and there I was taking my first swimming lessons from my father. But instead of swimming with my father, what captured my fascination was a darkish slick oily film on the water surface. My father told me that that dark liquid was crude oil that had leaked from some of the drilling rigs in the area. He told me how precious a liquid crude oil is and how it is a source of many different chemicals. That experience and the things my father taught me left me with dreams of someday working in an oil company with the opportunity of playing around with this dark oil. As I grew older and progressed in school, I naturally gravitated towards the Sciences. Then when we started to learn about the fractional distillation of crude oil, I soon figured a clear path towards the actualisation of my childhood dreams. Eventually, I completed my O Levels. And so it was that with a clear sense of direction, I applied to study Chemical Engineering at the University of Uyo.
I had a beautiful time studying under my lecturers at UniUyo during my undergraduate studies and graduated with a beautiful academic record under my belt. Process Control Dynamics was one area I particularly enjoyed and excelled at, never scoring below 90% and managing to set a departmental as well as institution record at the time. I also never scored below a "B" in Thermodynamics, Transport Phenomena, Separation Processing, Plant Design, Heat Transfer, Engineering Law and Management, Optimisation and Simulation. I also acquired sound practical experience in addition to theoretical knowledge in these areas. I enjoyed a six-month internship training with the University of Uyo Chemical Engineering Laboratory. During that internship I committed myself to carrying out various laboratory experiments ranging from fractional distillation of crude oil to testing the cloud point of dual purpose kerosene and kinematic viscosity of crude oil. I used Aspen Plus and Aspen HYSYS to carry out simulations of how this laboratory models can be scaled up, I case-studied different operating conditions for the decision-making process and also used these simulation packages to specify control tower internals for my fractional distillation models and also design a plant that can convert coal to electricity. (This design also included a well-detailed HAZOP analysis.)
After my undergraduate studies, I figured out that I still needed to develop an up-to-date technical knowledge and skill set required for achieving the best management, design, control and operation of efficient process system in the oil and gas industry. Thus MSc in Process System Engineering happens to be the best route for me as it will give me the opportunity to learn Process Design Simulation, Process Measurement Systems, Plant Operation, and Management for technology. I really savour the opportunity this scholarship will afford me via this MSc programme to be equipped with the technical knowledge and skills to solve major engineering challenges at process design stage, as well as operation and control stages. I also like the fact that, the programme focuses on the development of methodologies and models of both performance prediction of the engineered systems to support investment decision-making processes, as well as helping to design, operate, optimise and control of all kinds of chemical, physical and biological processes through the use of systematic computer aided approaches.
Furthermore, process System Engineering is a technologically base course requiring industrial scale learning facilities, with lectures that have both industrial and academic experience like Dr. Liyun Lao of Cranfield University, UK. I consider Cranfield University to be the best institution for this course, since it is sitted at the citadel of technology. Their impressive process system Engineering laboratory is equipped with industrial scale facilities. And I want to study under Dr. Liyun Lao who has experience working with Nigerian students and who is currently working on the mixing and separation in multiphase flow in oil and gas industry, multiphase metering technologies and management of the three phase flow test rig. I want to be part of this his research work since it directly relate with my field of study and will help me achieve my goal.
Upon completion of my MSc in Process System Engineering I would have developed and Up-to-date technical knowledge and skills that will help me to become a fully independent professional in Plant Design, Control, Operation and Optimisation of efficient chemical, physical and biological processes. I will use this knowledge to work in the oil and gas industry to help in the production of a more convenient and cleaner energy-harnessing as well as contributing positively to investment decision making-process and also thereby fulfilling my childhood dreams.