Petroleum engineering students from the Faculty of Geosciences Engineering (FICT) at the Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral (ESPOL) participated in the PetroBowl Regional LACSS 2026 international competition, organized by the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE). The event took place on Friday, May 15, 2026, in the Jacarandá Room of the YPF Tower, located in Puerto Madero, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The delegation consisted of Francis Patricio Cabrera Tonato, Paula Antonella Rojas Morla, Sebastián David Chiquito Puno, Diana Carolina Noboa Mora, and Esther Abigail Guananga Guananga, members of the SPE–ESPOL Student Chapter. The team was accompanied by Andrés Guzmán, M.Sc., Faculty Advisor for the SPE–ESPOL Student Chapter and professor in the Petroleum Engineering program at ESPOL.
The team’s participation was made possible by their second-place finish in the PetroTest 2025–2026 national competition, organized by the SPE Ecuador Section in Quito in November 2025. This result allowed the chapter to represent ESPOL and Ecuador at one of the most important regional student gatherings in the energy sector.
During the competition, the students demonstrated technical knowledge in petroleum engineering, analytical skills, and the ability to work collaboratively, competing against universities and student chapters from various countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. In addition, they strengthened their ability to perform under pressure and built international connections in a specialized academic environment.
Although the team did not advance to the final round, the experience provided an opportunity for academic and professional growth for its members, helping to strengthen competencies related to the energy industry and enhancing the international standing of ESPOL and the Petroleum Engineering program.
The participation of the SPE–ESPOL Student Chapter reaffirms FICT’s institutional commitment to the comprehensive education of its students and to the university’s active presence in academic and professional forums with an international reach.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, by strengthening professional skills related to the energy sector.
SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, by promoting technical training and student participation in specialized industry settings.
SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, through collaboration between ESPOL, SPE, the SPE Ecuador Section, and international stakeholders in the energy sector.
