Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering
Producing oil, gas, and other fluid resources from the earth is the task of the petroleum engineer. This challenging field of engineering requires application of a wide range of knowledge—from the basic sciences of mathematics, physics, geology, and chemistry to the principles of engineering analysis, design, and management.
Petroleum engineers provide the technological expertise to bring oil and natural gas from deep within the earth to the surface for delivery to processing facilities. Petroleum engineers focus on the efficient and safe extraction of fluids from their natural geologic formations.
Once geologists have located potential oil- or gas-bearing formations, petroleum engineers design and monitor the drilling of exploratory and development wells used to locate and produce the fluids contained within these formations. Drilling operations can be extremely expensive and technologically challenging, especially in offshore and remote areas or when drilling horizontal wells. In addition to overseeing drilling, petroleum engineers evaluate the characteristics of oil and gas reservoirs, select and implement recovery methods, develop methods to lift fluids, and design surface collection and treatment facilities to prepare produced hydrocarbons for delivery to a refinery or pipeline. Petroleum engineers are asked to devise novel advanced technologies to recover more oil or gas than what is naturally released from the rock pore system. Advanced computational methods are often used to aid in accurate acquisition and analysis of data, simulation of alternative recovery schemes, and other difficult design problems.
In addition to traditional petroleum engineering career choices, there are other emerging careers for petroleum engineering graduates in pollution cleanup, underground waste disposal (including the subsurface injection of carbon dioxide to reduce atmospheric greenhouse gases), and hydrology. These disciplines increasingly rely on the expertise of petroleum engineers. Additional energy-related applications for which petroleum engineers are uniquely educated include in situ uranium leaching, geothermal energy production, and coal gasification.
Worldwide proved oil and gas reserves are larger than ever before. Experts agree that oil and gas will continue to play an important role in the global energy supply. Because hydrocarbon reserves are found in such diverse areas as Asia, South America, and the Middle East, petroleum engineers will have opportunities for challenging assignments all over the world.
The challenges facing the petroleum industry require large investments in technologically complex projects. The task of making wise and cost-effective investments falls to a great extent upon petroleum engineers, providing them with a high degree of challenge and responsibility.
The objective of the petroleum engineering program is to graduate practical, qualified engineers who can successfully pursue careers in the oil and gas production and services industries or similar areas. Graduates of the program are expected to understand the fundamental principles of science and engineering behind the technology of petroleum engineering to keep their education current and to give them the capability of self-instruction after graduation. They should be prepared to serve society by using the ideals of ethical behavior, professionalism, and environmentally responsible stewardship of natural resources.
The technical curriculum contains the following elements:
- A combination of college-level mathematics and basic sciences (some with experimental work) that includes mathematics through differential equations, probability and statistics, physics, chemistry, and geology
- Engineering topics that develop a working knowledge of fluid mechanics, strength of materials, transport phenomena, material properties, phase behavior, and thermodynamics
- Petroleum engineering topics that develop competence in (1) design and analysis of well systems and procedures for drilling and completing wells; (2) characterization and evaluation of subsurface geological formations and their resources using geoscientific and engineering methods; (3) design and analysis of systems for producing, injecting, and handling fluids; (4) application of reservoir engineering principles and practices to optimize resource development and management; and (5) use of project economics and resource valuation methods for design and decision making under conditions of risk and uncertainty
- A major capstone design experience that prepares students for engineering practice, based on the knowledge and skills acquired in earlier coursework and incorporating engineering standards and realistic constraints
Curriculum
Course requirements are divided into three categories: basic sequence courses, major sequence courses, and other required courses. In addition, each student must complete the University’s Core Curriculum. In some cases, a course required as part of the basic sequence may also be counted toward the core curriculum; these courses are identified below. To ensure that courses used to fulfill the social and behavioral sciences and visual and performing arts requirements of the core curriculum also meet ABET criteria, students should follow the guidance given in ABET Criteria.
In the process of fulfilling engineering degree requirements, students must also complete coursework to satisfy the following flag requirements: one independent inquiry flag, one course with a quantitative reasoning flag, one ethics and leadership flag, one global cultures flag, one cultural diversity in the US flag, and two writing flags. The independent inquiry flag, the quantitative reasoning flag, the ethics and leadership flag, and both writing flags are carried by courses specifically required for the degree; these courses are identified below. Courses that may be used to fulfill flag requirements are identified in the Course Schedule, aviailable at http://registrar.utexas.edu/schedules.
Enrollment in major sequence courses is restricted to students who have received credit for all of the basic sequence courses and have been admitted to the major sequence. Requirements for admission to a major sequence are given in Admission to a Major Sequence. Enrollment in other required courses is not restricted by completion of the basic sequence.
Courses used to fulfill technical and nontechnical elective requirements must be approved by the Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering undergraduate adviser before the student enrolls in them.
| Courses | Sem Hrs |
| Basic Sequence Courses | |
|
6 |
| 6 | |
| 7 | |
|
12 |
|
15 |
|
8 |
|
3 |
| Total 56 | |
| Major Sequence Courses | |
| 42 | |
|
6 |
| Total 48 | |
| Remaining Core Curriculum Courses | |
|
3 |
|
6 |
|
6 |
|
3 |
|
3 |
|
3 |
| Total 24 | |
| Minimum Required 128 | |