SMG Hosts Sustainable Offshore Drilling Oil Rig Project as Part of Summer Research Projects 2025
This summer, Nazarbayev University’s School of Mining and Geosciences (SMG) proudly hosted one of the most dynamic and hands-on initiatives within the Summer Research Projects 2025 (SRP 2025) — a unique opportunity for high school and university students to engage directly with scientific research.
The SRP 2025 program featured nine interdisciplinary research projects across a wide range of fields such as ecology, geology, physics, chemistry, AI, linguistics, and entrepreneurship. SMG’s contribution stood out with its Sustainable Offshore Drilling Oil Rig Project, led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sonny Irawan and Assist. Prof. Dr. Umer Mian Shafiq.
🛠 Project Overview
The goal of the SMG-led project was to allow students to design and construct scale models of offshore oil drilling rigs — such as semi-submersibles and jack-up rigs — using eco-friendly and recyclable materials. The project emphasized both engineering innovation and environmental sustainability.
Over the course of three weeks (June 12 – July 4, 2025), students worked in teams of three to build their prototypes and present them to a panel of judges. Designs were tested for stability in a wave simulation basin, allowing students to evaluate real-world performance under challenging conditions.
Key learning outcomes included:
Designing functional drilling oil rigs using recyclable materials;
Understanding engineering trade-offs related to efficiency and structural stability;
Applying project management, Gantt chart planning, and task delegation;
Gaining hands-on experience with model construction and testing.
Students designed models based on rig types such as:
Gravity-Based Structures (GBS)
Fixed Platforms
Jack-Ups
Semi-Submersibles
Drill Ships
🗓 Project Agenda Highlights
June 13 – Welcoming session and technical briefing (7 student teams formed)
June 16–20 – Group construction phase
June 23 & 27, July 1–4 – Mentor sessions with Dr. Sonny and Dr. Mian
July 3 – Final competition: Evaluation by four judges
July 4 – Closing ceremony, certificate and gift distribution
🧪 Technical Evaluation
Student teams were evaluated based on a 100-point score sheet, with criteria including:
Project layout and structure (10 points)
Background and objectives (20 points)
Methodology and analysis (20 points)
Results, discussion, and conclusion (40 points)
Project management and task planning (10 points)
This accounted for 25% of their final SRP project grade.
💡 Innovation in Action
Each team presented detailed slide decks showcasing:
Design methodology and sustainability strategy
Material breakdown (e.g., biodegradable glue, cardboard, bamboo)
Engineering decisions and structural analysis
Suggestions for future model improvements
The entire experience was not only technically rich but also creatively stimulating — integrating design thinking with real-world constraints.
🎤 Student Testimonials
“This program helped me strike oil in multiple ways: through both our prototype and the creative process behind it.”
— Alibek Alzhanov, Haileybury Almaty
“Building a rig from recycled material showed how innovation and sustainability can coexist in modern engineering.”
— Bakdaulet Kanatov, IQanat High School, Burabay
“This project sparked and inspired my passion for engineering. I truly recommend it to anyone interested in teamwork and construction.”
“As an International Relations student, this was my first technical program. I now understand how deeply sustainability and geopolitics are connected.”
— Ayaulym Kassymbekova, SDU Almaty
Students came from across Kazakhstan — from Astana, Atyrau, Taraz, Aktobe, Almaty, and more — with institutions such as Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools, Haileybury, Bilim Innovation Lyceums, and universities all represented.