WASHINGTON – The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) is collaborating with three University of Houston (UH) engineering students on a capstone project. The project enables the students to study BSEE well data and incident reports to evaluate barrier failure during the release of hydrocarbons.
'It’s about mentorship,' said Michael Pittman, chief of the Risk Assessment and Permit Policy office. 'The Department of the Interior has a variety of youth-based initiatives such as this opportunity that gives engineering students a chance to get some practical experience while benefiting the American public.'
There is no formal agreement between the university and BSEE. The BSEE staff provides mentoring during the project to review a draft capstone report, and to consider whether findings and conclusions fit the data. Undergraduate papers are not often cited but could be considered for posting on the BSEE website if the findings are well supported.
The bureau is considering a second research project that involves the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), which will provide students an opportunity to study pipeline operations.
