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The University of Louisiana at Lafayette has launched a concentration for petroleum engineering majors preparing for jobs in an oil and gas industry that increasingly relies on evolving technology for efficient, safe and environmentally sound exploration and production.
Registration is under way for UL Lafayette petroleum engineering majors who pursue the College of Engineering’s new smart oilfield concentration. Courses for the concentration will begin this fall. It is the only program of its kind in the country, said Dr. Ahmed Khattab, dean of the University’s College of Engineering.
The smart oilfield concentration will integrate the college’s current petroleum engineering degree program’s sub-surface expertise with smart drilling, machine learning, and data analytics,” he explained.
“Its addition is part of our comprehensive plan to address conventional and renewable energy by providing cutting-edge degree programs, minors and concentrations that augment our traditional energy base and meet industry and community needs,” Khattab added.
The smart oilfield concentration features a blend of courses and labs that focus on coding, statistics, machine learning, automation, predictive capabilities, carbon capture, computational fluid dynamics, smart drilling, and the economic feasibility of exploration in specific locations.
The curriculum was developed based on extensive data-driven research, said Dr. Rafael Hernandez, who leads the Department of Petroleum Engineering. It was created with input from professionals who work in an industry that has “undergone a significant transformation in recent years.”
“It now relies on a system of sensors, networks, and integrated operations that generate and communicate field and data analyses to ensure more environmentally friendly, safe and cost-efficient oil exploration, production and management,” Hernandez said.
The new smart oilfield concentration is among nine concentrations the college has added in the last two years to address industry trends and needs in fields growing faster than the national average, he added.
According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment opportunities for petroleum engineers is projected to increase 8 percent through 2029. Employment opportunities for engineers is projected to increase 6 percent through 2029.
In addition to smart oilfield, the new concentrations are bioengineering; water resources and environmental engineering; secure smart systems; power and sustainable energy; computer engineering; autonomous and robotic systems; sustainable energy systems; and engineering management.
“These are strategic additions implemented to ensure we continually give our graduates the knowledge and skills they will need for the jobs they want, and that will position them to thrive and advance in their careers,” Khattab said.
For more information about UL Lafayette’s smart oilfield concentration, contact Dr. Rafael Hernandez at rhernandez@louisiana.edu.

ERATH – A Mass of Christian Burial for Mrs. Elizabeth LeMaire Richard, 72, will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July, 13, 2022 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church with Fr. Clinton Sensat officiating. Interment will follow at Our Lady of Lourdes Cemetery.
Visitation will be at David Funeral Home of Erath on Tuesday, July 12, 2022 from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. with a recitation of the rosary 7 p.m. visitation will resume on Wednesday, July 13, 2022 from 8 a.m. until the time of the services.
A native and resident of Erath, Mrs. Elizabeth died at 3:10 p.m. on Saturday, July 9, 2022 at her residence. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, daughter, and friend to all. She loved dancing, playing cards, traveling to the beach and the casino. She was also a Jimmy Buffet fan. She will be missed by many.
She is survived by her husband of 54 years, Michael J. Richard of Erath; a son, Heath J. Richard and Katie of Erath; a daughter, Michelle R. Landry and her husband Brad of Erath; two sisters, Aleata LeMaire and Myra Fontenot; and four granddaughters, Kaitlin Voisin and her husband Jacob, Hanna Richard, Madison Landry and her fiance’ Monty Rogers, and Mollie Rose Landry.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Leonce and Lorena Dubois LeMaire; her in laws, Andrew and Nelia Richard; and a sister in law, Dolores Richard Hebert.
Serving a pallbearers will be Brad Landry, Jacob Voisin, Monty Rogers, Glenn Gary, Jace Richard, and Buddy Richard.
Serving as honorary pallbearers will be her granddaughters.
You may sign the guest register book and express condolences online at www.davidfuneralhome.org
David Funeral Home of Erath at 209 E. Putnam St. (337) 937-0405 will be handling the arrangements.

KAPLAN — On June 26, at the Kaplan administration’s swearing-in ceremony, there were many new faces in the audience because of new aldermen and a second-term mayor.
However, one familiar face has attended Kaplan City Council meetings for at least eight to 10 years. That person is Pastor Farley Painter of Faith Christian Church in Kaplan.
Under two different Kaplan mayors, Pastor Farley is the person called on to say the opening prayer before the city council meeting. He attended the swearing-in ceremony and opened the ceremony with a prayer.
He began saying the opening prayer at the Kaplan meeting under former Mayor Kirk Champagne. When Mike Kloesel won his first term four years ago, Kloesel visited with Painter to see if he could continue saying the prayer.
“Pastor Farley has become a wonderful friend and offers a quiet and calming presence for me when things get hectic or out of control,” said Mayor Kloesel. “Sometimes, all I have to do is look his way and feel calmer.”
“I like and enjoy it,” said Pastor Farley about attending the once-a-month meeting. “Each prayer is different at every meeting. But, first, I pray to the Lord to give me a prayer.”
Pastor Farley, 71, did not start the tradition of a pastor leading off the Kaplan council meetings with a prayer. Instead, pastor Noah Langley, a Baptist pastor from Kaplan, began the prayer tradition.
Then the two pastors would alternate each meeting and eventually, Pastor Noah passed away, and Pastor Farley took over.
Pastor Farley has attended around 90 Kaplan meetings in the last eight years.
He has the Kaplan council meeting dates marked on his calendar. If he can not make a meeting, he calls the Mayor to look for backup.
Pastor Farley, from Gonzales, stays for the meeting and pays attention to what is said.
He has been pastor of the Kaplan non-denomination church for 43 years.
Pastor Farley has no plans to quit saying the lead-off prayer in Kaplan.
“I will continue to do it until I can’t,” said Pastor Farley.

BATON ROUGE — The Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) is reporting the first detected case of monkeypox infection in a Louisiana resident. This individual is from LDH Region 1 (Orleans, Plaquemines, Jefferson, St. Bernard). In addition, an out-of-state resident visiting Louisiana also tested positive for monkeypox. No further information will be shared about these cases to protect the patients’ privacy.
LDH will hold a technical briefing for media this afternoon to discuss monkeypox in Louisiana. Additional details are forthcoming.
There are likely more undiagnosed human cases of monkeypox existing in Louisiana than have been formally tested and identified to date.
LDH is working closely with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the patients’ healthcare providers to identify and notify individuals in Louisiana who may have been in contact with the patients while they were infectious. LDH has kept providers in Louisiana up to date, urged providers to be on the lookout for symptoms in patients, and shared specific monkeypox reporting and specimen submission guidance.
Since May 2022, 605 monkeypox cases have been identified in 36 states. Globally, more than 7,200 cases have been reported from 54 countries; the case count continues to rise daily. Information about international cases is available from the World Health Organization and information about U.S. cases is available from the CDC. There have been no deaths in the U.S. to date.

What is monkeypox?

Monkeypox is a potentially serious viral illness that typically involves flu-like symptoms, swelling of the lymph nodes and a rash that includes bumps that are initially filled with fluid before scabbing over. Illness could be confused with a sexually transmitted infection like syphilis or herpes, or with chickenpox. Most infections last two to four weeks.

How is monkeypox spread?

Monkeypox spreads in different ways. Monkeypox virus is most often spread through direct contact with a rash or sores of someone who has the virus.
It can also spread through contact with clothing, bedding and other items used by a person with monkeypox, or from respiratory droplets that can be passed through prolonged face-to-face contact, including kissing, cuddling or sex.
It is also possible for people to get monkeypox from infected animals, either by being scratched or bitten by the animal or by eating meat or using products from an infected animal.
People who do not have monkeypox symptoms cannot spread the virus to others.
According to the CDC, early data suggest that gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men make up a high number of cases. However, anyone who has been in close contact with someone who has monkeypox is at risk.

What should individuals with concerns do?

People can take basic steps to prevent the spread of monkeypox. Anyone with concerns that they have been exposed or infected should refrain from intimate or close personal contact and seek medical attention. If you do not have a healthcare provider, you can visit a parish health unit near you. Standard household cleaners and detergents are effective at cleaning environmental surfaces and linens.
If you are waiting for test results, follow the same precautions.
If your test is positive, stay isolated until your rash has healed, all scabs have fallen off, and a fresh layer of intact skin has formed.
What are the symptoms of monkeypox?

Symptoms of monkeypox can include:
• Fever
• Headache
• Muscle aches and backache
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Chills
• Exhaustion
• A rash that can look like pimples or blisters that appears on the face, inside the mouth, and on other parts of the body, like the hands, feet, chest, genitals or anus

Sometimes people get a rash first, followed by other symptoms. Others only experience a rash. Some cases in the current U.S. outbreak have experienced only isolated rashes in the genital region or other body parts.