MIT-World Peace University breaks new ground with Asia’s first Subsea Research Lab

Pune : MIT-World Peace University, an esteemed institution of higher education in India with over 40 years of rich legacy has built the first-ever Subsea Research Lab in Asia, called the Centre for Subsea Engineering Research (CSER). This ground-breaking initiative, in partnership with Aker Solutions, showcases a working prototype of deep-water offshore petroleum operations, revolutionizing the way in which future workforce can be trained for the energy sector. The state-of-the-art laboratory is the brainchild of the Department of Petroleum Engineering (PE) at MIT-WPU, a pioneering institution in the field of energy and the second-oldest school engaged in imparting Petroleum Engineering education in India.
The Subsea laboratory has a vast range of applications, including hands-on academic curriculum experiments for petroleum engineering UG and PG students, joint professional training programs with industry experts in subsea and Industrial Safety and Health Engineering (ISHE), subsea engineering awareness programs and tours for college and school students as well as industry professionals. The facility also provides hands-on training using real-time drilling and well control systems for drilling and well control simulation experiments. It is an all-encompassing resource for those seeking to enhance their knowledge and skills in subsea engineering. The lab further intends to collaborate with industry and government, both on the national as well as international front, for initiating joint research projects, which can lead to knowledge generation and enhancing the energy security of our country.
Dr. Samarth Patwardhan serves as a Professor in Petroleum Engineering, as well as the Director of Research and Development at the university, also heads the lab. He commented, “At MIT World Peace University’s School of Petroleum Engineering, we strive to empower our students with the knowledge and skills necessary to thrive in the energy industry. With the launch of the Subsea Research Lab, we are taking a significant step towards achieving our goal of providing real-world, cutting-edge training and education to our students. We are confident that this state-of-the-art facility will not only benefit our students, but also the industry as a whole, by producing highly skilled and competent professionals who are ready to tackle the challenges of tomorrow.”
Parag Paranajape, Manager Systems Engineering, Aker Solutions, further added, “As we witness the steady growth of subsea oil and gas development on a global scale, there is an urgent need for skilled professionals who can meet the demand of this dynamic industry. Our partnership with MIT-WPU is a significant step towards addressing this skill gap and nurturing diverse skill sets across multiple disciplines to support the needs of the global oil and gas industry. By introducing subsea engineering as a subject and supporting the development of subsea knowledge and skills, we are confident that we can make a meaningful contribution to the growth and success of this industry.”

Aker Solutions has supported MIT-WPU on this project from concept to completion including the laboratory’s design, procurement, fabrication, installations, assembly, and equipment testing. Aker Solutions is also actively involved in the commissioning of the project and its working modules. A combined group of MIT-WPU faculty members, students, and Aker Solutions engineers have conceptualized the laboratory’s experiments on well performance and remote operating vehicles.