FUTO Petroleum Engineering Student Emerges Second Globally in SPE International Student Paper Contest

Cherish Onyedikachi Chukwu, a final-year student of Petroleum Engineering at the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), has emerged second globally in the Undergraduate Division of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) International Student Paper Contest.

The contest was held on October 21, 2026, in Houston, Texas, USA, during the SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition (ATCE), a major technical gathering of professionals in the global oil and gas exploration and production industry.

Representing Africa at the global finals, Cherish secured second place with her paper titled "Reactivating Depleted Gas Reservoirs for Biogenic Methane Production: A Microbial Stimulation Framework Integrating Monod Kinetics and Finite Difference Reservoir Simulation."

Her research investigates a potentially sustainable approach to generating biogenic methane from depleted gas reservoirs by stimulating indigenous microorganisms with low-cost nutrients derived from Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME) and glycerol. The study integrates Monod kinetics with finite-difference reservoir simulation to evaluate the potential for additional methane production from mature fields using existing subsurface infrastructure.

Commenting on her achievement, her departmental SPE Faculty Adviser, Engr. Prof. Stanley Onwukwe, described Cherish as "an exceptional and hardworking student who had brought honour to the Department through her performance in various competitions."

Cherish's global achievement follows a series of successes at national and continental levels. In March 2026, she emerged national champion in the Undergraduate Category of the SPE Nigeria Council Student Paper Contest held during the Students Technical Symposium and Exhibition (STSE) at the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun, Delta State.

In July 2026, while representing Nigeria at the continental level, she clinched first position at the SPE Africa Regional Student Paper Contest during the SPE Africa Annual Student Congress (SAASC 2026) at Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya. The victory earned her the opportunity to represent Africa at the global final.

At ATCE 2026 in Houston, Cherish competed against other regional representatives from North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East, ultimately securing second place globally in the undergraduate division.

Earlier, she also secured second position at the inaugural Renaissance Africa Energy Business Challenge in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, where she competed against undergraduate and postgraduate teams.

Speaking with FUTONews, Cherish reflected on what the recognition represents to her. "To me, this recognition is a direct reflection of the exceptional mentorship from my lecturers and the strong academic foundation provided by the FUTO community," she said.

On what she wants other students to take from her journey, she said: "I hope it serves as a quiet reminder to my fellow students that innovative engineering research from our local classrooms has the power to make a meaningful global impact."

The Vice-Chancellor of FUTO, Prof. I.N.S. Dozie, congratulated Cherish on her outstanding performance, describing the achievement as "a proud testament to the excellence, innovation, and global competitiveness that define FUTO."

The achievement has been welcomed within the University community, and further highlights FUTO's commitment to academic excellence, research, innovation, and the global recognition of its students.