Petroleum Engineering (BSPE)
Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering
Energy is a key component to people's everyday lives. Petroleum engineers are able to address and solve important technology challenges that will lead to energy security and societal prosperity, so the position is in high demand. This challenging and rewarding field of engineering requires creative application of a wide spectrum of knowledge, including, but not limited to mathematics, physics, geology, and chemistry.
Worldwide energy demand is growing, and experts agree that oil and gas will continue to play an important role in the world's energy supply. The decision making for complex projects falls to a great extent upon petroleum engineers, providing them with a high degree of responsibility. In addition, since hydrocarbon reserves are found in such diverse areas as Asia, South America, and Europe, petroleum engineers will have opportunities for exciting assignments all over the globe.
Petroleum engineers play a variety of roles within the energy business. They design and monitor the drilling of exploratory and development wells used to locate and produce the oil and gas from the subsurface. They work with technologies that can describe the characteristics of rocks deep beneath the surface and detect the type of fluids contained in those rocks. They install and maintain the equipment that lifts fluids from subsurface reservoirs to the surface, and they design surface collection and treatment facilities to prepare produced hydrocarbons for delivery to a refinery or pipeline. Hydraulic fracturing of shale gas and tight oil is the responsibility of a petroleum engineer, as is the development and implementation of enhanced oil recovery methods that capture stranded or bypassed hydrocarbons from old oilfields. In addition to these traditional petroleum engineering career choices, there are other emerging careers for petroleum engineering graduates in pollution clean up, underground waste disposal (including the subsurface injection of carbon dioxide to reduce atmospheric greenhouse gases), and hydrology.
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
Portable Computing Devices
Students entering Petroleum Engineering are required to have access to a portable computing device capable of running programs suitable for use in the classroom and on the university wireless network. The use of this device will be necessary in many required courses, and individual instructors may require the device be brought to class or lab sessions. For a list of minimum system requirements see: https://www.pge.utexas.edu/undergraduate/advising/.
Total Hours Required: 128
Plan of Study
The Plan of Study is a suggested four-year course sequence to support academic planning and serves as a helpful guide. Currently enrolled students should meet with their academic advisor to tailor their course selections and timelines to their individual goals and circumstances.
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Hours | |
| GEO 303 | Introduction to Geology | 3 |
| CH 301 | Principles of Chemistry I | 3 |
| M 408C | Differential and Integral Calculus | 4 |
| RHE 306 | Rhetoric and Writing | 3 |
| First-Year Signature Course (090) | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| PHY 303K | Engineering Physics I | 3 |
| PHY 105M | Laboratory For Physics 302K, 303K, and 317K | 1 |
| M 408D | Sequences, Series, and Multivariable Calculus | 4 |
| PGE 301 | Engineering, Energy, and the Environment | 3 |
| CH 302 | Principles of Chemistry II | 3 |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (080) | 3 | |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Semester 1 | ||
| PHY 303L | Engineering Physics II | 3 |
| PHY 105N | Laboratory For Physics 302L, 303L, and 317L | 1 |
| E M 306 | Statics | 3 |
| M 427J | Differential Equations with Linear Algebra | 4 |
| PGE 311 | Numerical Methods and Programming | 3 |
| PGE 326 | Thermodynamics and Phase Behavior | 3 |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| GEO 316P | Sedimentary Rocks | 3 |
| E M 319 | Mechanics of Solids | 3 |
| PGE 333T | Engineering Communication | 3 |
| PGE 427 | Properties of Petroleum Fluids | 4 |
| Visual and Performing Arts (050) | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Semester 1 | ||
| PGE 323K | Reservoir Engineering I: Primary Recovery | 3 |
| PGE 424 | Petrophysics | 4 |
| PGE 430 | Drilling and Well Completions | 4 |
| PGE 322K | Transport Phenomena in Geosystems | 3 |
| American and Texas Government (070) | 3 | |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| PGE 323L | Reservoir Engineering II: Secondary and Tertiary Recovery | 3 |
| PGE 358 | Principles of Formation Evaluation | 3 |
| PGE 362 | Production Technology and Design | 3 |
| PGE 338 | Geostatistics and Data Analysis | 3 |
| U.S. History (060) | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Semester 1 | ||
| PGE 334 | Reservoir Geomechanics | 3 |
| PGE 365 | Resource Economics and Valuation | 3 |
| Technical Area Elective | 3 | |
| Technical Area Elective | 3 | |
| American and Texas Government (070) | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| PGE 373L | Geosystems Engineering Design and Analysis | 3 |
| Technical Area Elective | 3 | |
| Technical Area Elective | 3 | |
| Humanities (040) | 3 | |
| U.S. History (060) | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 128 | |
Requirements
All requirements are listed below, starting with the most specialized moving to the most general. Additional requirements may follow the table, so be sure to read the entire page. Some required courses listed below may also satisfy General Education requirements, including Core Curriculum.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Degree | ||
| PGE 301 | Engineering, Energy, and the Environment | 3 |
| PGE 311 | Numerical Methods and Programming | 3 |
| PGE 427 | Properties of Petroleum Fluids | 4 |
| PGE 322K | Transport Phenomena in Geosystems | 3 |
| PGE 326 | Thermodynamics and Phase Behavior | 3 |
| PGE 333T | Engineering Communication | 3 |
| PGE 323K | Reservoir Engineering I: Primary Recovery | 3 |
| PGE 323L | Reservoir Engineering II: Secondary and Tertiary Recovery | 3 |
| PGE 334 | Reservoir Geomechanics | 3 |
| PGE 338 | Geostatistics and Data Analysis | 3 |
| PGE 358 | Principles of Formation Evaluation | 3 |
| PGE 362 | Production Technology and Design | 3 |
| PGE 365 | Resource Economics and Valuation | 3 |
| PGE 373L | Geosystems Engineering Design and Analysis | 3 |
| PGE 424 | Petrophysics | 4 |
| PGE 430 | Drilling and Well Completions | 4 |
| CH 301 | Principles of Chemistry I | 3 |
| CH 302 | Principles of Chemistry II | 3 |
| E M 306 | Statics | 3 |
| E M 319 | Mechanics of Solids | 3 |
| GEO 303 | Introduction to Geology | 3 |
| GEO 316P | Sedimentary Rocks | 3 |
| M 408C | Differential and Integral Calculus | 4 |
| M 408D | Sequences, Series, and Multivariable Calculus | 4 |
| M 427J | Differential Equations with Linear Algebra | 4 |
| PHY 303K | Engineering Physics I | 3 |
| PHY 303L | Engineering Physics II | 3 |
| PHY 105M | Laboratory For Physics 302K, 303K, and 317K | 1 |
| PHY 105N | Laboratory For Physics 302L, 303L, and 317L | 1 |
| RHE 306 | Rhetoric and Writing | 3 |
| Approved technical area electives | 12 | |
| Free electives: Additional coursework to reach total hours required. | 0 | |
| Subtotal | 104 | |
| General Education | ||
| Remaining Core Curriculum (42 hours total) | 24 | |
| Foreign Language other than English, Beginning Proficiency | ||
| Subtotal | 24 | |
| College Requirements - Engineering | ||
| General University Requirements | ||
| Total Hours | 128 | |
Additional Requirements and Policies
All courses applied to degree requirements must be taken on letter-grade basis. Students must earn a grade of at least C- in each course, except for those listed as Remaining Core Curriculum courses. A grade point average of at least 2.00 in the major area of study and in required technical courses as described in Academic Standards is required. A cumulative University grade point average of at least 2.00 as described in the General Information Catalog is required.
Courses fulfilling technical and nontechnical elective requirements must be approved by the petroleum and geosystems engineering undergraduate advisor to enroll.
ABET Student Outcomes:
- an ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
- an ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors
- an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
- an ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
- an ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives
- an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
- an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.