About Houston Community College: A Leader in Workforce Education
Houston Community College (HCC) is one of the largest community colleges in the United States, serving over 100,000 students annually across its multiple campuses. Known for its commitment to workforce development and innovative training solutions, HCC’s Northeast Global Energy Centers of Excellence stands out as a hub for energy-related education.
Offering a diverse portfolio of programs, including petroleum engineering technology, process control technology, and electronics engineering technology, HCC equips students with the skills needed for successful careers in the energy sector. These programs facilitate students pursuing associate degrees, levels of certifications, credentials of value training, and industry professionals seeking continuing education opportunities and or satisfying professional development for maintaining licensure requirements.
HCC’s mission is clear: bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world applications, providing students and professionals with critical hands-on tools needed for exceling in a dynamic energy upstream, midstream oil and gas industry.
The Challenge: Bridging the Gap Between Theory and Real-World Application
HCC’s programs are robust and distinctive in meeting industry challenges in replicating the dynamic and complex nature of real-world drilling operations. Fast tracking students’ workforce preparation have long been supported and actively correlated with leading industry practitioners’ tools and products. One such example, the focus of this article, is 3t Drilling Systems Simulation Software product.
Collins Nwaneari, a petroleum engineer and instructor at HCC, highlighted the issue: “Before we introduced simulation, students were limited to theoretical learning. They didn’t truly understand the practical side of drilling or how to handle critical operational scenarios. There was a gap between the classroom and the field.”
Moreover, HCC sought to address critical industry concerns considering case study revelations of disasters impacting the Gulf Coast drilling industry in recent times. “Situational awareness” and “Human Factors” considerations are intentionally taught, examined in detail, intuitively assessed, and carefully deployed in test scenarios under the watchful eye of experienced industry practitioners; all of which are welcomed gatekeeper key performance indicators (KPIs) onboarding workforce personnel ready to perform at a high level of proficiency.
“Situational awareness and human factors are huge in this industry,” explained Dean Homer Stewart. “Before simulation, we were limited in our ability to visually address multiple scenarios in a comprehensive way. Students were learning abstractly and challenged by isolated take aways instead of experiencing a truly authentic sandbox environment which empowers them to take ownership of their learning.”
The Solution: Advanced Simulation with 3t Drilling Systems
HCC partnered with 3t Drilling Systems, a global leader in simulation technology, to transform its training program. HCC integrated state-of-the-art simulation tools, the DrillSIM:20 simulator and an Educator platform, into its curriculum.
How the DrillSIM:20 Changed the Game
The DrillSIM:20 provides an immersive training environment, enabling students to interact with realistic drilling scenarios. Instructors can simulate various operational challenges, such as
- kick scenarios,
- equipment failures,
enable students to
- monitor data trends
- troubleshoot issues, and
- make informed decisions in real time.
“The DrillSIM:20 gives students a hands-on experience, allowing them to observe all the components of a drilling operation,” said Nwaneari. “They see the symptoms of issues and learn how to identify and correct them. It’s as close to the field as you can get without being on-site.”
The Educator Platform
The Educator platform afford HCC Instructors to customize
- enabling smaller, individual simulations that replicate multiple drilling environment scenarios.
- aligned its curriculum with industry standards (API and IADC)
- exploring advanced training elements such as
- Managed Pressure Drilling (MPD) and
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) in operations.
- Participate as beta testers for new module deployments
Life After 3t Drilling Systems: A New Era of Training Excellence
Students are empowered having now gain applicable practical skillsets that mirror industry demands. “Students love the simulations,” said Nwaneari. “It’s not just more work—it’s meaningful work. They can see how things operate, capture real-time data, and analyze it. When they graduate, they have a real edge. Many reported back how much this hands-on experience has helped them in their careers.”
“With the simulators, students now are more able to think critically, link, and effectively respond deterministically to operational challenges,” said Stewart. “It’s not just about doing a job—it’s about understanding the ‘Why’ and the desired ‘Outcome’ behind every decision.”
The Future: Setting the Standard for Energy Training
“We see this partnership growing significantly,” said Stewart. “With 3t Drilling Systems, we’re not just responding to industry’s technology driven changes—we’re collaboratively taking part in leading and shaping the future of energy training.”
Aaron Bolch, Business Development Manager at 3t Drilling Systems, echoed this sentiment: “HCC has taken a proactive approach to training, and it’s been an honor to work with them. Their dedication to preparing students and professionals for real-world challenges is inspiring. Together, we’re building a foundation for a safer, more efficient energy workforce.”
Conclusion: A Model for Excellence
As HCC continues to evolve its Petroleum Engineering Technology program, its partnership with 3t Drilling Systems remains central to its success. Integrating innovative simulation technology with an industry best practices curriculum enables an authentic learning environment for students engagingly taking ownership of their learning.
Dean Stewart concluded, “With the tools and support from 3t Drilling Systems, our students are not only ready for today’s challenges but are equipped to be among the leaders of the industry into the future.”