Palawan State University (PalSU) is home to the Philippines’ first petroleum engineering R&D laboratory, according to the Philippine Information Agency. The laboratory is known as the Drilling Fluids Research and Innovation (DFRI) laboratory. It was established at the university by the Department of Science and Technology’s (DOST) Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD). The laboratory is funded through the Institution Development Program of DOST-PCIEERD and includes specialized equipment.
The Philippines currently has few R&D outputs in the oil and gas sector.
“The implications of the growing geopolitical tension in the Middle East are already becoming evident. Given the ongoing instability in global oil supply chains and persistent fuel price hikes, the ability to develop local substitutes for critical drilling materials becomes strategically important to secure our future,” said DOST Secretary Renato Solidum Jr.
PalSU researchers are utilizing the DFRI lab to develop drilling fluids enhanced with nano-iron oxide and nanosilica through laboratory testing. Drilling fluids play a critical role in ensuring efficient and safe drilling operations. The production process also supports circular economy principles, one of DOST’s strategic priorities.
These drilling fluids are part of ongoing research focused on developing low-cost, environmentally sustainable alternatives using locally sourced materials, compared with conventional drilling fluids.
“Through the DFRI lab, we believe that high-quality research will play a critical role in enabling the Philippines to develop its own natural gas resources and reduce the country’s reliance on imported energy,” said Niñaliza Escorial, DOST-PCIEERD deputy executive director and officer-in-charge of the Office of the Executive Director.