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Gas & Oil
October 2012 Edition - Dix Communications
www.OhioGO.com
OSU students getting involved in gas & oil industry
I
n the fall of 2011 The Ohio State University Earth Science Professor Jeff Daniels teamed with industry professional Joe Greco to host a shale play panel discussion and networking event at the university. At this event, Joe met Vince Melillo; a junior engineering student from the Youngstown, Ohio area. Vince, along with several classmates, had a growing interest in the shale industry in Ohio. After meeting and talking, Vince and Professor Daniels decided to create a student organization at OSU to bridge the gap between the academia of the university and the shale development industry. The Buckeye Shale Energy Organization was formed in the winter of 2012 and officially became a school organization in the spring. The original roster included Civil Engineering and Earth Science students but has since expanded to encompass students from Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Business and Communications. The group’s focus is to educate and to connect the OSU student body to the shale energy boom happening in our very own backyard. The four official goals of the group include: • Educate interested students on the various and extensive topics associated with the industry. • Assist in networking opportunities between employers and hardworking students interested in their field. • Support professors, companies, researchers, etc. in projects/events affiliated with the BSEO’s concentrations. • Unite students and/ or professionals who are interested in energy exploration in Ohio. In spring 2012, the BSEO began bi-weekly meetings and quickly increased its enrollment. The group also brought in a few guest presenters from the industry to help educate the members. Toward the end of the school year, Ohio Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee Chairman David Hall invited BSEO members to the Ohio Statehouse where the students met with Ohio Oil and Gas Association Executive Vice-President Tom Stewart. The students were then fortunate enough to sit in on the Ohio Senate’s Public Utilities Committee hearing on Senate Bill 315. This past spring, the organization got off to a fast strong start, but this coming fall, the BSEO expects to ramp activities up even more. On Thursday, Aug. 30, the organization started bi-weekly meetings. There will be one industry professional giving a presentation at each of these meetings (If anyone reading this is interested in coming to do a presentation, contact bseorg@
gmail.com, however spots are filling up rapidly). The group will also be heading to the field to complete the first BSEO rig site visit. The biggest day on the fall calendar is the date of The Buckeye Shale Energy Organization Networking Event. On Thursday, Nov. 8, in the Ohio Union Great Hall Meeting Room at The Ohio State University, the BSEO will be hosting over 20 shale industry related companies for a networking event with Ohio State Students and college students from across the state of Ohio. Expected attending parties include, but are not limited to: Halliburton, Chesapeake Energy, BP, Hammontree & Associates, Tetra Tech, Honeywell, Excalibur Machine, IA Construction Corporation, Steptoe & Johnson PLLC, Ohio Department of Development, Bureau of Land Management, Business Resource Services, The Sunday & Daily Jeffersonian, United Rentals Trench Safety, Nicolozakes Trucking & Construction, INC. Organizers said that every day that passes, more companies are signing up, noting, “This affair is looking very promising for young and excited students to maximize their worth and potential for their futures in a career involving the shale play industry by connecting with such stronghold companies.” The event will be situated in the middle of an immensely important week in the state of Ohio. On Nov. 7-8, Professor Jeff Daniels will be hosting a Utica Shale Geology Workshop at Ohio State. There will also be an important industry safety related event at OSU on Nov. 9. The details for this third event are currently still under work, and therefore, cannot be mentioned by name. This early week in November is shaping up to be quite a lineup for anybody interested in the oil and gas industry in Ohio. Any company or student wishing to contact the BSEO my send an email to BSEOrg@gmail.com. Also, be sure to visit the group’s facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/ BuckeyeShaleEnergyOrganization The current officers of the Buckeye Shale Energy Organization include Vince Melillo, President; Pat Moore, Co-Vice President; Dana Rose, Co-Vice President; Alex Sava, Treasurer; Laura Merugula, Chemical Ambassador; Chris Vasel, Operations Management; Drew Janek, Technical Manager. The faculty advisor is Jeff Daniels, and Earth Science PHD student Kyle Shalek is also a key group founder.