STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

In this essay I will outline my academic and work accomplishments. Also

conferring what is my motivation to pursue the graduate program in Oil and Gas
Engineering at the Memorial University of Newfoundland. An enormous
number of challenges, thrown out by rapid developments in science and
technology, which have made me, choose engineering profession. I take this
opportunity to describe my educational background and career objectives that
motivated me to pursue a career in Oil and Gas Engineering. My undergraduate
education has provided a thorough exposure to the various specialties available
in Oil and Gas Engineering, thus stimulating my interest in advanced research.

My formal education in pre-engineering started with my Intermediate program

with subjects like mathematics, chemistry and Physics at the Army Public
Degree College and B.Sc Chemical Engineering at NFC Institute of
Engineering and Technological Training Multan, Pakistan. As it is often said,
the journey of exploring the realm of knowledge and probing into the unknown
is infinite and strenuous. However, to me, the desire to fulfill ambitions and the
joy from discoveries prevailed over any sense of hardship. My undergraduate
program was as rewarding as it was a joyful.

I believed that the most important task as an undergraduate was to lay a firm
groundwork in terms of the basic knowledge and experimental techniques so
that more advanced studies could be pursued. Based on this awareness, I
decided that a good job in all the core courses, including experiment courses,
was primary. I tried to understand the principle underlying each chemical
phenomenon and how each principle was derived. To do so, I had to understand
the textbooks thoroughly and supplement my classroom education with
information from the Internet, the library, the lectures and other sources. This
way of learning allowed me to become familiar not only with the core courses
like Physical Chemistry, Principles of Chemical Engineering, Analytical
Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Heat Transfer, Mass Transfer etc. But also
with quite courses not offered to students of majoring in chemical engineering
at undergraduate level such as Gas Engineering, Environmental Engineering,
Process Simulation. My dedicated academic efforts paid off—I was awarded
scholarships for three times.

In addition to this, during my chemical engineering a newly established Coal

Research Centre gave me a chance to work on Underground Coal Gasification
Technology under the supervision of highly skilled professional Engineers. The
Reason behind the selection of such an important topic for research because we
are going through a phase in which Energy crisis is in its worst situation in
Pakistan and Thar coal reserve comprises of 175 billion tons of coal i.e. world’s
134 largest coal reserves. The underlying principle behind my research was to
produce synthetic gas from underground coal gasification. My experiments
examined the effect of creation of coal seam on production of syngas and
working on a grid design for underground coal gasification was indeed a great
step. So far, even though we have been living in the shadow of global energy
crisis, no effective alternatives have been unraveled. If we can discover through
chemical engineering feasible substitutes for fossil fuels, immense contributions
can be made to human advances as a whole.

As the research has not been conducted on an extensive scale in Pakistan I had
to formulate research plan, consult technical literature, set up the laboratory,
procure necessary equipment, and fix technical problems.

More over coming onto my final year dissertation I chose to produce Hydrogen
from Natural Gas because it is a very efficient fuel as well as due to higher
calorific values and low emissions Hydrogen is considered to be an efficient and
clean fuel. The process I chose was Steam reforming which is the most efficient
process. Low maintenance and easily maintainable. The best part of the project
was that nearly everything is recovered and can be efficiently used. The major
products were Hydrogen and Carbon Dioxide. Both the gases have vast range of
uses. As hydrogen was our basic goal so we manufactured Hydrogen using
steam reforming & purified it. The paramount of separating and purifying
Hydrogen was using Pressure Adsorption Technique which is a proficient
technique. Overall it was a good experience working in designing of Plant. Thus
Producing the most capable, competent, economical, cost effective & useful
fuel.
Coming on to my career, I have worked on erectioning and commissioning
projects at Safi Chemicals and Fertilizers that gave me capability to design
facilities. Currently, I am working as a Production Engineer in an E & P
(Petroleum Exploration (pvt) Ltd). My major duties in company are Well
Completion, Well Intervention, Workover and Testing Operations. My current
job inspired me to increase my knowledge in the same field so that I may excel
properly with advance knowledge.

I am deeply interested in Oil and Gas Engineering as a lifelong career and I am

determined to develop myself into a well-trained Oil and Gas engineer. Yet I am
clearly aware the immense efforts I have to make in order to fulfill this
aspiration. This constitutes the very motivation behind my present application
for a Master program for the Department of Oil and Gas Engineering of the
Memorial University of Newfoundland. There are some important reasons for
my choosing your esteemed university. The most important reason is that its
research on Oil and gas is one of the strongest research orientations, which
perfectly matches my past research experience. Your strong faculty is also an
important factor, faculty/student ratio promises to give each student sufficient
instruction and attention, allowing for close communication. Finally, your
curriculum is scientifically designed, requiring students not only to focus on
core subjects within their own discipline but also go beyond their discipline to
attend courses in other departments in order to develop a broad ken of
knowledge. All those make me believe that I will receive the best education I
can expect.

I am convinced that I am a worthy candidate for your program. I have received

a B.Sc Chemical Engineering degree for my undergraduate program. Last but
not least, I have evolved a strong ability to perform independent research,
Together with my sound academic foundation; my important research potential
will make me very successful in your program as in my past programs.

Yasir Ahmed Peerzada