Program for university students underscores BP's commitment to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education across the U.S.

HOUSTON - BP announced today the launch of the 2015 Ultimate Field Trip (UFT) competition, in which teams of undergraduate students solve a real-world global energy challenge. Teams from universities in the U.S., U.K., Canada and Angola are invited to take on the 2015 challenge.

This year's UFT challenge is focused on water, the global supply and availability of which is an increasing issue for businesses and the environment alike.

"This year's challenge is especially pertinent given the potential ramifications of a global water shortage," said Julia Harvie-Liddel, group head of resourcing at BP. "We hope that this will give students a real insight into our industry and show them that a career in oil and gas is a platform from which they can make a real difference."

Now in its sixth year, the UFT competition challenges university students from diverse backgrounds to put their skills to the test in a real-world challenge. The competition will not only give them a window into the issues facing the energy sector but also allow them to learn what a career in the oil and gas industry involves.

This year, the winning teams from the U.S., U.K., Canada and Angola will take part in a two-week field trip to visit BP's natural gas operations in Trinidad and Tobago. The trip will give them the opportunity to experience a snapshot of life in the oil and gas industry, and to learn from each other as well as from interns and graduates already working at BP.

Students from U.S. universities are asked to register a team of three at www.bp.com/uft/us and are required to complete a short technical quiz by Oct. 10.

A short list of teams will be selected and asked to send in their competition entry to address this year's challenge. The successful teams will progress to a campus final in November and December 2014. The U.S. National Final, where teams will go head-to-head, will take place on April 9-10, 2015, at BP's U.S. headquarters in Houston.

An overview of the 2015 Ultimate Field Trip challenge:

The problem

The production and processing of oil, gas and biofuels both use and produce large volumes of water. Much of the produced water contains contaminants that must be treated before the water can be disposed. Tightening regulations and increased demand for water in many parts of the world are resulting in increasing costs and risks. The ability to reuse produced water or treat it more efficiently could help manage environmental and energy sustainability challenges.

The challenge

Identify and develop a novel technical solution that will reduce the amount of water utilized and/or find an effective use for water produced from operations.

The prize

This year's prize is a two-week field trip to Trinidad and Tobago, where the winning teams will have the opportunity to visit a BP offshore platform, as well as a BP onshore processing facility. The teams will also spend time visiting sites in Tobago and the Pigeon Point Heritage Park.

Note to editors
  • BP's Ultimate Field Trip was launched in the U.K. in 2010 and is now in its sixth consecutive year.
  • To date, 3,849 students have participated and winning teams have come from universities in the U.S., U.K., Canada and Angola.
  • The competition was extended to the U.S. in 2013, and to Angola and Canada in 2014.
  • The competition is open to students from the following universities: Georgia Tech; the University of California - Berkeley; the University of Illinois - Urbana Champaign; Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT); Michigan State University; Pennsylvania State University; Rice University; Texas A&M University; the University of Houston; the University of Michigan; the University of Oklahoma; and the University of Texas.
About BP:

Over the past five years, BP has invested nearly $50 billion in the U.S. - more than any other energy company. BP is a leading producer of oil and gas and provides enough energy annually to light the entire country for a year. Employing approximately 20,000 people in all 50 states, BP supports more than 260,000 jobs total through all of its business activities. For more information, go to www.bp.com/us.

Name: BP US Press Office
Phone: (281) 366-4463
Email: uspress@bp.com 

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