MUSCAT: A student team from Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) has won the 2026 IBA Technical Innovation Excellence Award at the finals of the Imperial Barrel Award Global held in Houston, US. The team qualified to represent the Middle East Region after securing first place regionally.
The Imperial Barrel Award Global, organised by the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG), is one of the most prominent international awards for earth and petroleum science students. It aims to develop the students’ abilities in analysing geological and geophysical data, evaluating oil and gas reservoirs, and making technical decisions related to exploration operations.
The team comprises Abdullah al Mahrooqi, Abdulrahman al Awaid, Sarah al Saadi, and Muzna al Qasmi from the Department of Earth Sciences, along with Jasim al Aradi from the Department of Petroleum Engineering. The team was supervised by Dr Mohammed Farfour, Associate Professor in the Department of Earth Sciences, and supported by Khadija al Maimani from Petroleum Development Oman (PDO).
It took the participants in the competition eight to ten weeks to analyse a range of complex geological and geophysical data, study exploration opportunities, and assess reserves and risks before presenting their findings to a judging panel comprising experts and specialists from global energy companies and institutions.
Muzna bint Khalifa al Qasimi, a graduate from SQU and a member of the team, said that winning first place in the Middle East Region and qualifying for the world finals in Houston was a significant scientific and professional milestone for the team members who represented not only the Sultanate of Oman and SQU but the entire Middle East Region, as well.
She noted that the competition allowed students to experience a simulation of the actual work environment in exploration by working with real geological and geophysical data, assessing opportunities and risks, and making technical decisions before industry professionals.
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