Jakarta (ANTARA) – A Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) geology team won the 2026 Imperial Barrel Award, a prestigious international competition organized by the American Association of Petroleum Geologists.
The award was presented Monday, August 17, Indonesia’s Independence Day, during the AAPG IMAGE 2026 conference in Houston, Texas, Indonesia’s embassy in Washington said in a press statement received here Thursday.
The ITB team also received a US$1,000 prize, equivalent to about 17.8 million rupiah.
Indonesian Ambassador to the United States Indroyono Soesilo, an ITB geology alumnus, welcomed the achievement.
“Hopefully, this victory will inspire other Indonesian students and open pathways to successful careers in Indonesia’s petroleum geology sector,” Indroyono said.
The ITB team comprised five graduate students — Arieq Bagus Putradinanti, Dinda Putri Khamisah, Mohammad Maghanthis Taqy, Fathan Khoiri Nujaih Siregar and Hammam Muhammad — mentored by Professor Benyamin Sapiie.
The victory demonstrates Indonesian students’ ability to compete on the global academic and professional stage, Indroyono said.
The Imperial Barrel Award tests not only geological knowledge, but also analytical skills, subsurface data integration, teamwork and the ability to present scientific arguments effectively.
The award was established in 1976 by Imperial College London, a leading institution in science, technology and engineering.
“Imperial” refers to the institution, while “barrel” reflects a unit closely associated with the oil and gas industry.
The competition was initially designed to develop geoscience students’ ability to assess subsurface energy resources.
According to the embassy’s statement, universities participating in the competition receive subsurface data packages that may include seismic data, oil and gas well information, regional geology and geochemical data.
Participants analyze the data to assess resource potential, geological risks and development recommendations.
The challenge requires participants to work like professional teams.
They must divide responsibilities, integrate different datasets, develop technical arguments, reach conclusions under time constraints and present their findings convincingly to expert judges and industry practitioners.
The IBA is therefore considered important for preparing future geoscientists for careers across the energy sector.
Skills developed through the competition are relevant not only to oil and gas, but also geothermal development, carbon capture and storage, and other fields requiring deep subsurface knowledge.
The ITB team’s victory also carries broader significance for Indonesia, whose complex geology includes sedimentary basins, hydrocarbon resources, geothermal potential and dynamic tectonic conditions.
Those natural resources require more than physical assets. Indonesia needs scientists and professionals who can apply theory, accurately analyze data, assess opportunities and risks, and make evidence-based decisions.
ITB’s achievement in Houston shows that such capabilities are developing in Indonesia.
Indonesian students demonstrated their ability to interpret subsurface structures, assess resource potential and exploration risks, and communicate their analysis at an international forum featuring top talent from around the world.
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Translator: Katriana, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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