1997-98 UAF Catalog

Degrees and Programs

Course Description Index

Petroleum Engineering

School of Mineral Engineering
Department of Petroleum Engineering
(907) 474-7734

Degrees: B.S., M.S.

Minimum Requirements for Degrees: B.S.: 134 credits; M.S.: 30-33 additional credits.

Petroleum engineering at UAF offers a unique look at the challenging problems confronting the petroleum industry. Both the bachelor of science and the master of science degrees are available. Requirements for the degrees focus on many disciplines, including mathematics, physics, chemistry, geology and engineering science. In addition, courses in petroleum engineering deal with drilling, formation evaluation, production, reservoir engineering, computer simulation and enhanced oil recovery.

The curriculum at UAF was designed to prepare graduates to meet the demands of modern technology while emphasizing, whenever possible, the special problems encountered in Alaska. Located in one of the largest oil producing states in the nation, the Department of Petroleum Engineering offers one of the most modern and challenging degree programs available.

The M.S. program is intended to provide the student with an advanced treatment of petroleum engineering concepts. Students may choose either a thesis or non-thesis option. A number of generous research and teaching assistantships are available.

An interdisciplinary doctoral degree program is offered with specialization in petroleum engineering for qualified students. Contact the Graduate Program Coordinator, or the Petroleum Engineering Department for more information.

Undergraduate Degree Requirements

Petroleum Engineering -- B.S. Degree

  1. Complete the general university requirements.
  2. Complete the following degree and program (major) requirements:

    First Year
    Fall Semester 16 Credits
    PETE 103 -- Survey of the Energy Industry (1 credit)
    MATH 200X -- Calculus I (4 credits)
    CHEM 105X -- General Chemistry (4 credits)
    ENGL 111X -- Methods of Written Communication (3 credits)
    Perspectives on the Human Condition (3 credits)
    LS 101X -- Library Information and Research (1 credit)
    Spring Semester 17 Credits
    ES 201 -- Computer Techniques (3 credits)
    MATH 201X -- Calculus II (4 credits)
    GE 261 -- Geology for Engineers (3 credits)
    CHEM 106X -- General Chemistry II (4 credits)
    COMM 131X or 141X -- Fundamentals of Oral
    Communication (3 credits)
    Second Year
    Fall Semester 17 Credits
    PETE 205 -- Introduction to Petroleum Drilling and Production (3 credits)
    MATH 202X -- Calculus III (4 credits)
    PHYS 211X -- General Physics I (4 credits)
    ENGL 211X/213X -- Intermediate Exposition (3 credits)
    Perspectives on the Human Condition (3 credits)
    Spring Semester 17 Credits
    ES 208 -- Mechanics (4 credits)
    MATH 302 -- Differential Equations (3 credits)
    PHYS 212X -- General Physics II (4 credits)
    ES 346 -- Basic Thermodynamics (3 credits)
    Perspectives on the Human Condition (3 credits)
    Third Year
    Fall Semester 16 Credits
    PETE 301 -- Reservoir Rock and Fluid Properties (4 credits)
    MATH 310 -- Numerical Analysis (3 credits)
    ES 331 -- Mechanics of Materials (3 credits)
    ES 341 -- Fluid Mechanics (4 credits)
    Perspectives on the Human Condition (3 credits)
    Spring Semester 18 Credits
    PETE 302 -- Well Logging (3 credits)
    PETE 303 -- Reservoir Rock and Fluid Properties Lab (1 credit)
    PETE 426 -- Drilling Engineering (3 credits)
    PETE 411 -- Drilling Fluids Laboratory (1 credit)
    PETE 476 -- Reservoir Engineering (3 credits)
    GEOS 370 -- Struct. Geol. for Petr. Engr (4 credits)
    Perspectives on the Human Condition (3 credits)
    Fourth Year
    Fall Semester 16 Credits
    PETE 407 -- Production Engineering (3 credits)
    PETE 431 -- Natural Gas Engineering (2 credits)
    PETE 466 -- Petroleum Recovery Methods (3 credits)
    PETE 481 -- Well Completions/Stimulation Design (3 credits)
    PETE 487 -- Petroleum Project Design (2 credits)
    Perspectives on the Human Condition (3 credits)
    Spring Semester 15 Credits
    PETE 456 -- Pet. Eval. and Econ. Dec (3 credits)
    PETE 421 -- Reservoir Characterization (3 credits)
    PETE 478 -- Well Test Analysis (2 credits)
    PETE 489 -- Reservoir Simulation (2 credits)

*Engineering Elective (3 credits)

**Technical Elective (3 credits)

1 GEOS 101 may be taken in a fall semester in place of GE 261.

* As approved by advisor (e.g. ME 416 or ES 307).

** As approved by advisor (e.g. CE 603).

2 All courses in humanities and social sciences must be approved by Petroleum Engineering faculty advisor.

3 As approved by the Board of Architects, Engineers and Land Surveyors, students are required to take the Fundamentals of Engineering Exam.

Graduate Degree Requirements

Petroleum Engineering -- M.S. Degree

Degree Requirements

  1. Applicants should possess a B.S. degree in Engineering or the Natural Sciences.
  2. Complete UAF degree requirements.
  3. Pass a departmental comprehensive exam prior to submission of the thesis.
  4. Write a thesis (and pass an oral defense of the thesis) or an engineering design project, detailing the research done on a project approved by the student's graduate advisory committee.

Course Requirements (30-33 credits):

Complete the following program requirements of 30-33 credits: At least 24 credits must be at the 600 level. All courses must be approved by the student's advisory committee. The required courses should be at least one course from each group for a total of 12 credits. The elective courses will be depth emphasis and focused in one major area (group) depending on the student's specialization.

Thesis Option (30 credits)

  • Group 1 -- Drilling Production (12 credits)
    PETE 607 -- Advanced Production Engineering (3 credits)
    PETE 666 -- Advanced Drilling and Completion (3 credits)
    PETE 685 -- Non-Newtonian Fluid Mechanics (3 credits)
    PETE 689 -- Multiphase Flow Through Pipes (3 credits)
  • Group 2 -- Reservoir Engineering/Well Test Analysis/Reservoir Simulation (12 credits)
    PETE 610 -- Advanced Reservoir Engineering (3 credits)
    PETE 661 -- Advanced Well Testing (3 credits)
    PETE 663 -- Advanced Reservoir Simulation (3 credits)
    PETE 683 -- Advanced Natural Gas Engineering (3 credits)
  • Group 3 -- Enhanced Oil Recovery/Waterflooding (12 credits):
    PETE 630 -- Water Flooding (3 credits)
    PETE 662 -- Enhanced Oil Recovery (3 credits)
    PETE 665 -- Advanced Phase Behavior (3 credits)
    PETE 670 -- Fluid Flow Through Porous Media (3 credits)
  • Group 4 -- Engineering/Technology (9 credits)
    PETE 680 -- Horizontal Well Technology (3 credits)
    PETE 684 -- Computational Methods in Petroleum
    Engineering (3 credits)
    CE 603 -- Arctic Engineering (3 credits)
  • Electives -- Should complete all the courses from one area of specialization and additional approved courses (12 credits)
  • PETE 699 -- Thesis (6 credits)

Non-thesis Option (33 credits)

  • Required Courses -- One course from each of the above four groups (12 credits)
  • Electives -- any of the above PETE courses not selected to meet required group (18 credits)
  • PETE 698 -- Engineering Project (3 credits)