2007-2008 Academic Catalog

Degree Programs


Petroleum Engineering

College of Engineering and Mines
Department of Petroleum Engineering
(907) 474-7734
www.uaf.edu/petrol/

B.S., M.S. Degree

Minimum Requirements for Degree: 134 credits

Downloadable PDF (PDF 120K)

The mission of the petroleum engineering program is to provide its students with quality education and training in the field of petroleum engineering through effective teaching, research and public service, with emphasis on Alaska petroleum resources.

Petroleum engineering offers a unique look at the challenging problems confronting the petroleum industry. This program requires an understanding of many disciplines including mathematics, physics, chemistry, geology and engineering science. Courses in petroleum engineering deal with drilling, formation evaluation, production, reservoir engineering, computer simulation and enhanced oil recovery.

The curriculum prepares 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 UAF petroleum engineering department offers one of the most modern and challenging degree programs available.

The petroleum engineering program educational objectives are:

  1. Provide students with a broad knowledge of the principles of petroleum engineering and their application
  2. Provide students with the knowledge and skills required to design and analyze petroleum engineering problems, taking into account, safety, environmental and societal impacts.
  3. Provide students with the skills necessary to perform in the multi-disciplinary environment of the 21st century.
  4. Provide students with appreciation for the value of continuing professional development in maintaining their professional competence.
  5. Assure that graduates from the program are well-prepared to succeed in their professional careers, whether they pursue graduate studies or enter the work force in industry, academia or government.

For more information about the Petroleum Engineering Program mission, goals and educational objectives, visit www.uaf.edu/petrol/.

Major--B.S. Degree

  1. Complete the general university requirements. (As part of the core curriculum requirements, complete: MATH 200X, CHEM 105X and 106X, and LS 101X.)
  2. Complete the B.S. degree requirements. (As part of the B.S. degree requirements, complete: MATH 201X, PHYS 211X and 212X.)
  3. Complete the following program (major) requirements:*
    ES 201--Computer Techniques--3 credits
    ES 208--Mechanics--4 credits
    ES 331--Mechanics of Materials--3 credits
    ES 341--Fluid Mechanics--4 credits
    ES 346--Basic Thermodynamics--3 credits
    GE 261--General Geology for Engineers (3)
         or GEOS 101X--The Dynamic Earth (4)--3-4 credits
    GEOS 370--Sedimentary and Structural Geology for Petroleum Engineers--4 credits
    PETE 103--Survey of Energy Industries--1 credits
    PETE 104--Fundamentals of Petroleum--1 credits
    PETE 205--Fundamentals of Drilling Practices--1 credits
    PETE 206--Introduction to Petroleum Production--1 credits
    PETE 301--Reservoir Rock and Fluid Properties--4 credits
    PETE 302--Well Logging--3 credits
    PETE 303W--Reservoir Rock and Fluid Properties Laboratory--1 credits
    PETE 407--Petroleum Production Engineering--3 credits
    PETE 411W--Drilling Fluids Laboratory--1 credits
    PETE 421--Reservoir Characterization--3 credits
    PETE 426--Drilling Engineering--3 credits
    PETE 431--Natural Gas Engineering--2 credits
    PETE 456--Petroleum Evaluation and Economic Decisions--3 credits
    PETE 466--Petroleum Recovery Methods--3 credits
    PETE 476--Petroleum Reservoir Engineering--3 credits
    PETE 478--Well Test Analysis--2 credits
    PETE 481W--Well Completions and Stimulation Design--3 credits
    PETE 487A--Petroleum Project Design**--1 credits
    PETE 487BW,O--Petroleum Project Design--1 credits
    PETE 489--Reservoir Simulation--2 credits
    Engineering elective***--3 credits
    Technical elective****--3 credits
  4. Complete the following program (major) requirements:
    MATH 202X--Calculus--4 credits
    MATH 302--Differential Equations--3 credits
    MATH 310--Numerical Analysis--3 credits
  5. Complete the Fundamentals of Engineering Exam (as approved by the Board of Architects, Engineers and Land Surveyors).
  6. Minimum credits required--134 credits

* Student must earn a C grade or better in each course.
** PETE 487A is prerequisite for PETE 487B. Must take both courses to meet the oral communication and writing intensive requirements.
*** As approved by advisor (e.g. ME 416 or ES 307).
**** As approved by advisor (e.g. CE 603).