Ivano-Frankivsk Institute of Oil and Gas - a centre of scientific-technical work and industrial relations of Ukraine

Abstract

There are three stages of development in the Ukrainian oil and gas science. They were primarily defined by the political position of Ukraine rather than by the needs of industry and the general level of science and technology. The first or primary stage is connected with the establishment of oil and gas, chemical and wood industries and with the specificity of the activities under the conditions of the Austrian and later Polish state system in Western Ukraine. The Austrian period was very favourable to the works of the Ukrainian researchers. However, the work was carried out in the interests of the ruling state, and the Ukrainian writers gained the glory as the Austrian or Polish scientists. The second period was very durable, lasting from 1939 till 1991. It was determined by the establishment of many scientific centers, schools and directions. Its distinguishing feature was the fact that the Ukrainian oil and gas science, as well as other sciences, has been a part of the Soviet (Russian) one. All the main scientific centres, which have directed the research lines and applied their basic results, were located in Moscow and Leningrad.

During the period of Ukraine's Independence such summarized works as "Nafta I Gaz Podkarpacia. The Oil and Gas of the Precarpathian Region", "The History of Ukraine's Gas Industry in the Memories of Contemporaries", "Ivano-Frankivsk National Technical University of Oil and Gas. The Names of Glorious Contemporaries", "Ukraine: 20 Years of Independence" and others were published. The collective work "The Ukrainian Oil and Gas Science. 1899-1999" deals with the centenary history of the Ukrainian oil and gas science, the main stages of its development, gives respect to the famous figures of the oil science of the past, and directions of its development in the future. The domestic scientists M. Stasiv, R. Mysyovych, O. Malyarchuk in their publications cover the process of establishment and development of oil and gas industry of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialistic Republic in the XX century.

The oldest industry branches in Western Ukraine, together with forest exploitation, are oilfields, which were established almost a century ago and are concentrated round the towns of Boryslav, Drohobych, Nadvirna, Dolyna. In the reconstructive post war period they were recovered and partly rebuilt. In the overall oil production in USSR the relative weight of the Precarpathian oil was low, but its role in the national economy of the Ukrainian SSR was very high. The Western Ukrainian oil and gas region was situated in the considerable distance from basic USSR oil regions. The availability of "own" deposits enabled to refuse from inefficient delivery of oil products.

During the period from the late 40-s till the mid 60-s of the XX century in the Western Ukrainian regions the branching network of scientific organizations was established, which have become the background for the scientific and technical potential of the region. At the beginning of the 1960-s at the initiative and direct involvement of Professor T. Yeremenko and at support of the experts of the Committee on science and technology of the Council of the USSR Ministers, the leading scientists of the oil department of Lviv Politechnical Institute (LPI) established the working group for preparation of concept of the gradual transformation of the oil department into independent higher educational establishment of oil and gas profile. With this objective the construction of the separate educational building and dormitories in Lviv was initiated. However, this plan was failed. In 1960 Stanislav general-technical department was established, which in 1963 was reorganized into Ivano-Frankivsk branch of Lviv Politechnical Institute (IFBLPI) with departments of oil and gas industry and general-technical one. During 1963/64 academic year the oil department together with subdepartments, laboratories, equipment and facilities, and geological museum was taken from Lviv to Ivano-Frankivsk. In September 1, 1963 the teaching process for I-III year students began.

The development of IFBLPI was determined by the increasing need in masters of oil and gas profile and has put on an agenda an issue on its reorganisation. Under the resolution of the Council of USSR Ministers from December 23, 1966, at the premises of IFBLPI in January 1, 1967 Ivano-Frankivsk Institute of Oil and Gas (IFIOG) was established. The first director of IFIOG was Yevhen Hnatovych Shelepyn. In 1967 in IFIOG the professional training courses for engineers and post graduate training centre, in 1969 - preparatory division, in 1971/72 academic year - extramural department were introduced.

The development analysis of the Precarpathian oil and gas industry and scientific-technical potential testifies that in the second half of the XX century the branching network of research centres was established. During these years the qualitative and quantative membership of scientific workers, as well as their experience level has raised. In the research period one of the most burning problems was solved, that is, the centre of scientific-technical work and its industrial relations was established. Ivano-Frankivsk Institute of oil and gas has played the complex and deep scientific policy, the considerable role in accelerating the scientific-technical progress. Today the university is a powerful educational and scientific establishment, which is popular all over the world. During its existence over 45000 masters were trained. Practically all the biggest projects in the oil and gas field have been implemented by its graduates.