Dwight Look College of Engineering

Curriculum in Petroleum Engineering

Petroleum Engineering is primarily concerned with the economic extraction of oil, gas, and other natural resources from the earth. Producing oil and gas is accomplished through the design, drilling and operation of wells and well systems, and the integrated management of the underground reservoirs in which the resources are found.

The petroleum engineering program has three educational objectives:

  • graduates will be competitive in the petroleum engineering job market or in continuing their education;

  • graduates will be skilled practitioners of petroleum engineering as employees; and

  • the program will be regarded as excellent.

In essence, the goal of the petroleum engineering curriculum is to provide a modern engineering education with proper balance between fundamentals and practice, and to graduate engineers prepared for life-long learning but capable of being productive contributors immediately. The curriculum includes study of:

  • design and analysis of well systems and procedures for drilling and completing wells;

  • characterization and evaluation of subsurface geological formations and their resources;

  • design and analysis of systems for producing, injecting and handling fluids;

  • application of reservoir engineering principles and practices for optimizing resource development and management; and

  • use of project economics and resource valuation methods for design and decision making under conditions of risk and uncertainty.

There is a heavy emphasis on mathematics, computer applications, communication skills and interdisciplinary problem solving. As a result, Aggie petroleum engineers are in high demand in the industry, and their starting salaries are consistently among the top in the University and the nation.

The department is well-known for its curriculum, facilities and faculty, and its undergraduate program was recognized as the best in the nation by US News and World Report in 2003. The faculty comprises more than 20 professors and lecturers, many of them widely known and globally involved in the petroleum industry. Four of the faculty are members of the prestigious National Academy of Engineering, and twelve are Distinguished Members of the Society of Petroleum Engineers.

The department encourages its students to work as interns during the summer months. A minimum of six weeks of approved experience is required for graduation. The department also participates in the Cooperative Education Program.

In addition to the Bachelor of Science degree in Petroleum Engineering, the department also offers both master’s and doctoral degrees, including the Master of Science and Master of Engineering, and the Doctor of Philosophy and Doctor of Engineering (see the Texas A&M University Graduate Catalog).

(See Freshman Year1 )

SOPHOMORE YEAR

First Semester (Th-Pr) Cr   Second Semester (Th-Pr) Cr
COMM 205 Comm. for Tech. Professionals (3-0) 3   CVEN 305 Mechanics of Materials (3-0) 3
GEOL 104 Physical Geology (3-2) 4   MATH 308 Differential Equations (3-0) 3
MATH 251 Engineering Mathematics III (3-0) 3   MEEN 315 Prin. of Thermodynamics (2-2) 3
MEEN 221 Statics and Particle Dynamics (2-2) 3   PETE 311 Reservoir Petrophysics (3-3) 4
PETE 225 Petroleum Drilling Systems (1-3) 2   University Core Curriculum elective2   3
University Core Curriculum elective2   3       16
    18        

JUNIOR YEAR

First Semester (Th-Pr) Cr   Second Semester (Th-Pr) Cr
GEOL 404 Geology of Petroleum (2-2) 3   PETE 321 Formation Evaluation (3-3) 4
PETE 301 Petr. Engr. Numerical Methods (2-3) 3   PETE 323 Reservoir Models (3-0) 3
PETE 310 Reservoir Fluids (2-3) 3   PETE 324 Well Performance (3-0) 3
PETE 314 Transport. Processes in Petroleum Production (3-3) 4   PETE 325 Petroleum Productions Systems (1-3) 2
PETE 335 Technical Presentations I 3 (1-0) 1   PETE 403 Petroleum Project Evaluation (3-0) 3
    14       15
             

SUMMER

PETE 300 Summer Practice

SENIOR YEAR

First Semester (Th-Pr) Cr   Second Semester (Th-Pr) Cr
ECEN 215 Principles of Electrical Engineering (2-2) 3   ENGR 482 Ethics and Engineering (3-0) 3
PETE 401 Reservoir Development (2-3) 3   PETE 322 Geostatistics (3-0) 3
PETE 405 Drilling Engineering (3-0) 3   PETE 400 Reservoir Description (2-3) 3
PETE 410 Production Engineering (3-0) 3   Technical elective 4   3
PETE 435 Technical Presentations II3 (1-0) 1   University Core Curriculum elective 2   3
University Core Curriculum elective 2   3       15
    13        
NOTES:
  1. PETE 201 is also required during the first semester of the freshman year.
  2. To be selected from the University Core Curriculum. Of the 18 hours shown as University Core Curriculum electives, 3 must be from visual and performing arts, 3 from social and behavioral sciences, 6 from U.S. history, and 6 from POLS 206 and 207. The required 6 hours from international and cultural diversity may be met by courses satisfying the visual and performing arts, social and behavioral sciences, and/or U.S. history requirements if they are also on the approved list of international and cultural diversity courses (see University Core Curriculum, item 6). In addition, ENGR 482/PHIL 482 must be taken.
  3. Independent study of a petroleum engineering problem, the solution of which will be documented by a technical paper and an oral presentation at the departmental student paper contest held during the same academic year.
  4. Select from GEOL 312, GEOP 421, PETE 406 or 416, or other as approved by the department head.

The following certificates from the Dwight Look College of Engineering are available for students pursuing this degree: Engineering Scholars Program Honors Certificate, Energy Engineering Certificate, Engineering Project Management Certificate, and Systems Safety Engineering Specialty.