Championing Petroleum R&D in Ghana

Welcome to the Petroleum Research and Entrepreneurship Lab (PREL). PREL is a centre of research, development, innovation and training at the Department of Petroleum Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Ghana. We provide (1) cutting-edge oil and gas research and development (R&D) solutions (2) reliable oilfield laboratory tests (3) practical oilfield training and certification programs and (4) trusted consultancy services. Our mission is to become the premier local research partner in the oil and gas industry.

The practice of flying samples overseas for routine laboratory testing and seeking research solutions from distant shores have long been marred by challenges. Companies incur substantial costs, jeopardize sample integrity, and often compromise the quality of results. The importation of materials and chemicals creates a drain on resources, both financially and in terms of self-sufficiency. Additionally, sending employees abroad for certification programs that can be delivered in the country is not only expensive but also disrupts operations and productivity. PREL offers a comprehensive solution that not only saves costs and time but also aligns with local content laws, fosters capacity-building, and propels economic growth.

We invite you to explore our website to learn more about our research projects, collaborations, and team members. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or would like to learn more about our work. Thank you for visiting PREL’s website.

R&D Services

Our local oil and gas industry is facing many technical challenges, pushing both local and international companies to seek solutions from distant shores.

Lab Services

In the global landscape of oil and gas operations, precision, reliability, and efficiency are paramount.

Certification Training

In the dynamic world of the oil and gas industry, staying ahead requires continuous learning and up-to-date expertise.

Consultancy Services

In the rapidly changing oil and gas industry, informed decisions and strategic insights are the linchpins of success.

Boosting Local Content and Local Participation in the Oil and Gas Industry.

Cumulatively, the oil and gas industry has directly contributed over USD 8 billion to the Ghanaian economy since its inception, establishing itself as one of the highest contributors to the country’s GDP. Local content and local participation in the oil and gas industry is one of the topmost priorities of Ghana as the country strives to take full advantage of its resources. However, after more than 15 years of oil and gas exploitation, Ghana has achieved little in terms of advancing R&D in the sector, providing R&D services and retaining R&D related contracts. The oil and gas industry still imports most of the technical materials, chemicals and agents used in its operations and outsources almost all its R&D tasks to companies and institutions outside the country.

To address this challenge, the government of Ghana has invested about USD 12.9 Million to build and equip Petroleum Research Laboratories in the Department of Petroleum Engineering and the Chemical Engineering Department at KNUST. Additionally, for the past four years, GNPC has invested USD 1 million to further equip the laboratories and establish a robust research program in the Department. Through the World Bank Oil and Gas Capacity Building Project, KNUST has trained highly skilled researchers with capabilities spanning almost the entire petroleum value chain.

The Department of Petroleum Engineering has established PREL to operationalise these ultra-modern facilities and capabilities to provide cutting-edge R&D solutions to the Ghanaian oil and gas industry to boost local content and retain R&D contracts and jobs in the country.