Natural Gas and Oil Engineering-Intensive GRO courses
Course descriptions for course with Natural Gas and Oil Engineering content;
This course will begin with an introduction to petroleum geology, structural geology and subsurface (structural/isopach) mapping. This course then covers the fundamental properties of petroleum reservoir rocks, such as porosity, permeability, and electrical, mechanical and thermal properties. The properties of rocks containing multiple fluid saturation (natural gas, oil, water, CO2) including relative permeability, capillary pressure and rock mechanics will also be presented. .This course will introduce the difference between “conventional/unconventional resource plays” and the necessity for different development strategies – e.g. horizontal drilling / hydraulic fracturing.
Petrophysics; Theory and Practice of Measuring Reservoir Rock and Fluid Transport Properties5th Edition - March 1, 2024Authors: Djebbar Tiab, Erle C. Donaldson ISBN: 9780443241277.
The Properties of Petroleum Fluids, by William D. McCain Jr., PennWell Books, Second Edition (1990)
PRE-REQ ENGR 0011, 0012
GRO 0101 ROCK AND FLUID PROPERTIES LABORATORY (ROCK FLUID LAB)
1 NEW
This laboratory course provides hands-on instruction in the determination of the fundamental properties of petroleum reservoir rocks, such as porosity, permeability, electrical, mechanical and thermal properties. The lab also covers core analysis (both conventional and shale), core porosity, electrical properties, fluid saturation, interfacial and surface tension properties, absolute permeability, relative permeability and capillary pressure, water content of oil, BTU content of oil
CO-REQ GRO 0100
GRO 0150 NUMERICAL METHODS AND COMPUTER APPLICATIONS (NUM METH COMP APP) 2 NEW
Application of computing technology to solve various petroleum engineering problems. Use of various programming methods (e.g. VBA, Python) to solve problems of interest to the petroleum industry, some of which require iterative solutions Tools used for integrating geophysical, geological and engineering data in reservoir modeling. Geostatistical principles including kriging and simulation. Upscaling and ranking, forward simulations, uncertainty analysis. Methods for obtaining numerical solutions with digital computers, methods for solutions of algebraic and transcendental equations, simultaneous linear equations, and curve fitting techniques.
Numerical Methods for Engineers 7th Edition by Steven Chapra, Raymond Canale (2014)
PRE-REQ ENGR 0011, 0012, MATH 0230
GRO 0151 ENERGY RESOURCES: FROM HYDROCARBONS TO RENEWABLES; (EN RES HC TO RENEWABLES)
3 NEW; 0.5 cr fossil fuels (2.5 credits renewables)
The course covers scientific and engineering fundamentals of conventional, nuclear, and renewable energy processes (e.g., hydrocarbons, nuclear, solar, geothermal, biomass) by thermodynamics analysis of energy conversion processes, power cycles and refrigeration cycles analysis, heat engines, exergy analysis, etc. The course will introduce material and energy balances in non-renewable and renewable energy systems. A review of the role of each type of energy in the world economy today, including various projections of energy demand, transition strategies and future trends are also presented.
Energy Systems Engineering: Evaluation and Implementation, F.M. Vanek, L.D. Albright and L.T. Angenent. 2012. 2nd Edition. McGraw Hill Companies, Inc. New York, NY. 640 pp
PRE-REQ ENGR 0011, 0012, MATH 0230, PHYS 0175
GRO 0201 THERMODYNAMICS AND FLUID MECHANICS LABORATORY (THERMO FLUIDS LAB) 1 NEW
This laboratory course provides hands-on instruction in high pressure phase behavior or oil and natural gas, high pressure viscometry, flash points, centrifugal pumps, single phase friction flow loop, multi-phase flow loop, and gas metering
PRE-REQ OR CO-REQ ME 0051 AND ME 0071
GRO 0300 DRILLING AND WELL COMPLETIONS (DRILLING WELL COMPL) 3 NEW
This class will cover rotary drilling systems, drilling fluids, drilling fluids hydraulics, drill bit hydraulics, cuttings transport, solids control, well control mechanics, well drilling planning for oil, gas or geothermal wells, directional drilling mechanics, drillbit mechanics, drillstring mechanics, pore and fracture pressure predictions, drilling problems, and well planning. Coverage also includes casing and tubing design, principles of cementing, completion, skin, well perforating, hydraulic fracturing, sand control and acidizing. The course will end with special consideration of high temperature drilling challenges, including geothermal drilling
Fundamentals of Drilling Engineering; R. F. Mitchell and S. Z. Miska; SPE, 2011.
Advanced Drilling and Well Technology, Edited by Bernt S. Aadnoy; Iain Cooper; Stefan Z. Miska; Robert F. Mitchell; Michael L. Payne Society of Petroleum Engineers DOI: https://doi.org/10.2118/9781555631451 ISBN electronic: 978-1-61399-944-8 Publication date: 2009
GRO 0100, 0101, 0201, ME 0051, ME 0071, GEOL 0800
GRO 0301 DRILLING AND WELL COMPLETIONS LABORATORY (DRILLING WELL LAB) 1 NEW
This laboratory course provides experiments and a drilling simulator lab that enables the students to learn about controls, operations, data acquisition, hydraulics, blow-out preventers (BOP) and well control, rate of penetration as a function of drill variables; modeling simulation software is also used. Experiments include measurement of drilling mud properties such as viscosity, mud resistivity, emulsion stability.
PRE-REQ GRO 0300
GRO 0303 GEOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND PROCESSING OF UNCONVENTIONAL GAS (GEOL ENG PROC GAS) 3 NEW
This course provides an overview of the unconventional basins and plays – with emphasis on the domestic plays (Marcellus, Utica); characteristics of unconventional oil and gas resources; unconventional resources workflow (geology, exploration, identification, characterization, economics, completions, and development strategies) The course includes a review of strategies for improved gas and/or oil production from these resources, and a very brief review of the production of natural hydrogen The course also covers natural gas processing, petroleum processing and LNG production. The topics include natural gas cleanup, methane reforming for H2 production, partial oxidation of CH4 for synthesis gas production, crude distillation and refinery products, alkylation, hydrotreating, reforming and isomerization, catalytic cracking, tar sands and oil shale processing, and the manufacture of LNG and its role in the domestic and global energy supply.
M. Smith and C. Montgomery, Hydraulic Fracturing published by CRC Press 2015
Fundamentals of Natural Gas Processing, Third Edition Arthur J. Kidnay, W R. Parrish, D McCartney 2019
Handbook of Liquefied Natural Gas1st Ed. 2013 S. Mokhatab, J. Mak, J. Valappil, D. Woo
PRE-REQ GRO 0300, 0301, 0400 GEOL 0800, 1410
GRO 0400 RESERVOIR ENGINEERING 3 NEW
This course provides exposure to volumetrics, determination of fluid contacts, gas reservoir material balance, oil reservoir material balance, diffusivity equation, inflow performance relationships for production and injection, water influx, decline curve analysis, and pressure transient analysis. An introduction to concepts of big data in oil and gas field applications is presented. Special emphasis will be placed on shale gas from the Marcellus. An introduction to the use of reservoir simulation will be provided. Secondary and tertiary methods for oil production are discussed, including water flooding performance predictions for linear, 2D and layered systems with analytical methods and numerical reservoir simulation. The basics of tertiary oil recovery processes, especially steam flooding and CO2 enhanced oil recovery, are presented along with gas storage (CO2 sequestration, H2 storage)
Applied Petroleum Reservoir Engineering 3rd Edition 2014 by Ronald Terry, J. Rogers
Gas Reservoir Engineering: Textbook 5 (SPE Textbook) John Lee, Robert Wattenbarger, 2014, ISBN-13 978-1555630737
GRO 0100, 0101, 0201, 0300 GEOL 0800, 1410
GRO 0500 PRODUCTION, INJECTION, ARTIFICIAL LIFT AND HANDLING FLUIDS (PROD INJ LIFT HAND FLUIDS) 3 NEW
This course covers inflow and injectivity performance relationship, single and multi-phase flow in pipes, components of production and injection systems, and analysis and optimization of production and injection systems. Application to CO2 sequestration, gas storage (CH4 or H2 or air), and geothermal are reviewed. An overview of the common methods for artificially lifting oil wells, dewatering gas wells, and boosting deepwater production; detailed theory design and troubleshooting of important artificial lift methods, including continuous gas lift, beam pumping, electrical submersible pumping, and progressive cavity pumps. The engineering aspects of production facilities including storage/separation/metering/transportation equipment and facilities, will be covered.
Petroleum Production Systems. M J. Economides, A. D. Hill, C. Ehlig-Economides, D. Zhu, Pearson, 2d Edition, 2012.
Production Optimization – H. Dale Beggs, 2nd edition, OGCI Publication, Tulsa, 2003. (Reference book)
GRO 0301, 0400
GRO 0501 GREENHOUSE GAS MINIMIZATION IN PRODUCTION FACILITIES (GHG MIN PRODUCTION) 3 NEW
This course discusses the key environmental aspects of oil and gas production and processing by presenting a historical trend and modern challenges and opportunities in a climate-constrained world related to the industry environmental footprints. The course includes impact assessment (e.g., GHG emissions, particulates, water), mitigation, and regulatory and legal aspects in the oil & gas industry. In addition, emerging mitigation technologies from oil & gas operations (e.g., CCUS, solvent based enhanced recoveries, CO2-EOR, Fugitives sensing/detection/monitoring), legislative/regulatory trends, and advocacy approaches will be explored. Through this course students will be introduced to the two well-known open-source LCA simulators (i.e., OPGEE for upstream operations and PRIMLEM for refining operations) along with LCA inventories like GREET and Ecoinvent.
Oilfield Processing of Petroleum, Vol. 1: Natural Gas, F. Manning, R. Thompson, 1991.
Oilfield Processing of Petroleum: Oilfield Processing, Vol. 2: Crude Oil, F. Manning, R. Thompson, 1995
PRE-REQ GRO 0400
CO-REQ GRO 0500
GRO 0600 SENIOR DESIGN PROJECT
6 NEW SIGNIFICANT
DESIGN
This capstone design course involves team project involving the time value of money, profitability measures, engineering analysis and predictions of cash flows of oil and gas properties, life cycle costs of alternative energy courses, revenues, discounts, depreciation, depletion, and risk analysis, and contemporary issues affecting the oil industry. Energy economics and project evaluation with risk analysis topics include decline curve analyses, production forecasting, reserves, project economic evaluation. Economics and aspects of economics (unique to oil industry (reserves, mineral and working interests, oil and gas leases, development costs, etc.) are covered. Student teams are responsible for identifying capstone projects, scoping the project, and completing the project in this six-credit course. Student teams apply knowledge in the areas of geology, reservoir engineering, production, decline curve analysis, drilling and well completions to design problems based on real field data considering risks, sustainability, and environment. Student teams prepare oral presentations and written technical reports that propose economically feasible and environmentally sound strategies of optimizing the production and/or operating conditions for the given data set.
Fraser H.Allen and Richard D.Seba, Economics of Worldwide Petroleum Production, 1993. Third Edition, 2008.
Rognvaldur Hannesson, Petroleum Economics: issues and strategies of oil and natural gas production, 1999
PREREQ GRO 0400, 0500, 0501
CO-REQ GRO 0601
GRO 0601 ETHICS AND SAFETY
1 NEW
This class will provide the student with a thorough understanding of the fundamentals in workplace health and safety with emphasis on petroleum engineering industry applications, with inclusion of a renewable energy engineering topic (lithium battery safety). This will be accomplished through presentation and discussion of critical issues and the application of these principles to the senior design project. This course will also cover ethical situations likely to arise in the oilfield, gas field or CO2 sequestration environment.
Chemical Process Safety – Fundamentals with Applications; Daniel Crowl e-book available, library.pitt.edu
Chemical Safety Board investigation reports and videos (online)
SAChE Level One and Level Two Safety modules (online, free for students)
CO-REQ GRO 0600
GRO 0800 UNDERGRADUATE SEMINAR
0
This undergraduate seminar will provide a source of information regarding undergraduate curriculum, registration, programs, cooperative education, and other opportunities. Information pertinent to taking and passing the Fundamentals of Engineering exam will be presented. Also, about half of the invited speakers will be from the renewable energy field and half from the natural gas and oil engineering field.
PRE-REQ ENGR 0011, 0012
30.5 required Natural Gas & Oil Eng course credits
characterization of nanomaterials and solar cells, examine the social implication of nanotechnology and solar cells, and practice problem solving and engineering design skills within a collaborative team. Portions of the class will be flipped (video lectures at home and assignments in class) in order to facilitate an active and engaged learning process. GRO
Biomass and Biofuels Engineering (BIOMASS
This course covers biofuels and bioenergy produced from biomass. The production and treatment of feedstocks and thermochemical, biochemical, and oleochemical conversion of biomass to heat, power, and fuel will be covered. Students will consider the environmental impacts, economics, and life-cycle analysis of biofuels.
Robert C. Brown, Biorenewable Resources: Engineering New Products from Agriculture. Wiley-Blackwell Publishing (Second Edition) 2014
PRE-REQ GRO 0151, 0252
This course focuses on the operation and application of wind conversion and hydropower. Resource assessment, energy calculations, aerodynamics, optimization, economics, and environmental impact will be covered for wind conversion technologies. Similarly, resource assessment, hydrokinetics, turbine operation, economics and environmental impact will be covered for hydropower. Students will compare renewable with conventional technologies and discuss peak load and base load electricity demands in the context of these renewable resources.
Wind Energy Explained, Theory Design and Application, Second Edition, by James Manwell. 2009.
Hydropower, 1st Edition - March 26, 2018, Paul Breeze Paperback ISBN: 9780128129067
PRE-REQ GRO 0151, 0252
This course discusses fundamentals, design, and broad environmental implications of major subsurface and geological technologies for renewable and lowcarbon energy generation, such as geothermal energy, carbon capture and sequestration, decarbonized subsurface hydrogen production and generation, and CO2 enhanced recovery.
Geothermal Energy: From Theoretical Models to Exploration and Development 2nd Edition 2021
Science of Carbon Storage in Deep Saline Formations: Process Coupling across Time and Spatial Scales 2024
PRE-REQ GRO 0151, 0252
6 Required 0 credit seminars
This undergraduate seminar will provide a source of information regarding undergraduate curriculum, registration, programs, cooperative education, and other opportunities. Also, about half of the invited speakers will be from the renewable energy field and half from the natural gas and oil engineering field.
ENGR course
ENGR 0135 STATICS AND MECHANICS 1 First of a two course sequence covering statics and strength of materials. Topics covered include: concurrent force systems, equilibrium, axial loading, stress, strain, deformation, moments, equivalent systems, centroids, centers of mass, and distributed loads, freebody diagrams, equilibrium of rigid and deformable bodies, plane trusses, frames and machines, equilibrium in 3D, torsion and friction. Use is made of computers for problem solving. Enrollment Requirements:PREQ: (MATH 0150 or 0230 or 0231 or 0235) and (PHYS 0150 or 0174 or 0201 or 0475); PROG: School of Engineering
GRO
RENEWABLES ELECTIVE LIST (3 CR) 1 required
Students are responsible for meeting the pre- and co-requisites for any STEM elective Renewable energy elective course options
GRO 0490: Electrification, decarbonization, and process intensification; 3 credits
PRE-REQ GRO 0151, 0252, MEMS 0051 0071
This course will explore emerging decarbonization pathways and technologies towards low-carbon economy. It covers history, current status, and future innovations anticipated in electrification of different sectors of the modern society (transportation, chemical industry, etc.) by discussing different technologies to generate (e.g., solar, wind), utilize (e.g., electrifying the chemical industry), and store (e.g., different types of batteries, electron to chemical, pumped storage hydropower) green electrons. The course will also provide students with a basic understanding of process intensification and process modularization from a chemical engineering perspective and how it can contribute to making processes more sustainable
Electrification & Decarbonization: Exploring U.S. Energy Use and Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Scenarios with Widespread Electrification and Power Sector Decarbonization, Daniel Steinberg, Dave Bielen, Josh Eichman, Kelly Eurek, Jeff Logan, Trieu Mai, Colin McMillan, Andrew Parker, Laura Vimmerstedt, and Eric Wilson; National Renewable Energy Laboratory 2017, NREL report
PRE-REQ GRO 0151, 0252, ME 0051, ME 0071
The ENGR and MEMS courses that can be STEM electives have reasonable pre-reqs include
ENGR 1283 Exploration Energy and Electrification Summer 3 cr This international experience course will explore energy conversion, conservation, delivery, and end-use in Brazil. Students will learn about the history of Brazilian energy infrastructure, and how it has driven Brazil's strategy to generate and use renewable energy. There will be a heavy focus on hydropower which makes up the largest percentage of Brazil's energy generation. In addition, students will explore new and emerging technologies which take advantage of other means of renewable energy. Additionally, the concept of electrification in Brazil will be explored. Electrification is the conversion of devices which classically use fossil fuels or other non-electrical energy sources to devices which use electricity as their source of energy. This phenomenon is taking place all over the world at different rates and Brazil is no exception to that. Students will visit companies who are active in electrification to study electrification in Brazil. Students will make comparisons of electrification Brazil and the United States.
ENGR 1300 Energy Tomorrow Summer 6 cr This course explores energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies. Areas addressed are: world energy, energy and environmental implications, energy storage, wind and solar thermal applications, energy and the built environment, biomass and liquid fuels, photo voltaic devices and systems, energy management and energy and transport.
ENGR 1700 Introduction to Nuclear Energy 3 cr Fall PREQ: (PHYS 0152 or 0175 or 0202 or 0476) and (CHEM 0102 or 0112 or 0120 or 0420 OR 0720 or 0770 or 0970) Introduction to nuclear science and technology; applications of nuclear engineering; careers in nuclear industry; nuclear history; reactor types; elementary nuclear and reactor physics; nuclear radiation and safety; fuel cycle; regulations and sustainability.
MEMS 1111 Materials Energy Generation and Storage 3cr Spring The objective of this course is to provide an overview of the important renewable energy resources and the modern technologies to harness and store them. After taking MEMS 1111, students are expected to develop a solid scientific and technological understanding of new alternative energy technologies. This course will give an overview on harnessing renewable energy resources and storing collected energy. In each topic, issues relevant to basic principles and technological barriers limiting the use of non-fossil energy will be discussed.
The ECE courses have more substantial (i.e. extra course) pre-reqs or are grad courses
ECE 1701 Fundamentals of Electric Power Engineering Fall Spring 3 cr PREQ: ECE 0102; Plan: Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering
This is a first course in electric power engineering for electrical and computer engineers. The course provides the fundamental background to solve some common problems in electric power engineering, and to design power systems using engineering assumptions based on this background. The main objective is to cover topics in AC single phase and three phase power, transformers, transmission lines and electric machinery by integrating their knowledge of linear circuit analysis, electricity, and magnetism to these power systems topics. Students will also gain knowledge of power systems simulation using the PowerWorld simulator. This course will provide the prerequisite knowledge for the study of load flow, symmetrical components, and fault analysis which will be covered in a later course.
ECE 1710 Power Distribution Systems Engineering and Smart Grids Summer 3 cr PREQ: ECE 0031 or ECE 0101 or MEMS 0031 or ENGR 1869; Review of power engineering fundamentals, load characteristics and distribution transformers, design of distribution substations, design considerations of primary and secondary systems, substation grounding, voltage drop and power loss, application of capacitors to distribution systems, distribution system voltage regulation and system software, smart grid technologies, energy management.
ECE 1773 Power Generation, Operation, and Control Spring PREQ: ECE 1701 or 1769; 3 cr Area control error (ace), automatic generation control (AGC), characteristics of power generation units, economic dispatch of generators, unit commitment, hydrothermal coordination and storage, interchange
power, limited energy supply, optimal power flow, power system security, production cost modeling, state estimation, transmission system effects, unit commitment.
ECE 2780 Renewable and Alternative Energy (Grad course by permission) 3 cr This course covers an in-depth analysis and understanding of various renewable and alternative energy technologies' including wind, solar, biomass, thermal, wave, hydro, and other sources and systems. Investigation of applications, integration, markets, policy, and other aspects of renewable development will be studied. Supporting technologies, such as energy storage, power electronics, and controls as applied to renewable and alternative energy applications are also explored.
ABET requirements
. General Criteria Baccalaureate Level Programs; quoted from Criteria for Accrediting Engineering Programs, 2024 - 2025 - ABET
“ABET Criterion 5 Curriculum
The curriculum requirements specify subject areas appropriate to engineering but do not prescribe specific courses. The program curriculum must provide adequate content for each area, consistent with the student outcomes and program educational objectives, to ensure that students are prepared to enter the practice of engineering. The curriculum must include:”
The 7 required renewable energy engineering courses for the GRO student – 20.5 cr
GRO 0151: Energy Resources: From Fossil to Renewables; 3 credits (0.5 credits natural gas and oil, 2.5 credits renewables)
GRO 0252: Environmental, energetic and economic assessment of energy systems; 3 credits; PRE-REQ GRO 0151
GRO 0353: Energy storage and chemical transformations; 3 credits PRE-REQ GRO 0151, 0252
GRO 0460: Solar Energy Engineering; 3 credits PRE-REQ GRO 0151, 0252
GRO 0470: Biomass and Biofuels Engineering; 3 credits PRE-REQ GRO 0151, 0252
GRO 0480: Wind and Hydro Energy Engineering; 3 credits PRE-REQ GRO 0151, 0252
GRO 0454: Subsurface technologies for renewables and decarbonization; 3 credits PRE-REQ GRO 0151, 0252 The 1 Renewables elective 3 cr Menu of Renew electives
GRO 0490 Electrification, decarbonization, and process intensification; possible new course 3 credits PRE-REQ GRO 0151, 0252
ENGR 1283 Exploration Energy and Electrification Summer 3 cr
ENGR 1300 Energy Tomorrow Summer 6 cr
ENGR 1700 Introduction to Nuclear Energy 3 cr Fall PREQ: (PHYS 0175) and (CHEM 0970)
MEMS 1111 Materials Energy Generation and Storage 3cr Spring
ECE 1701 Fundamentals of Electric Power Engineering Fall Spring 3 cr PREQ: ECE 0102; ECE 1710 Power Distribution Systems Engineering and Smart Grids Summer 3 cr PREQ: ECE 0031 or ECE 0101 or MEMS 0031 or ENGR 1869; ECE 1773 Power Generation, Operation, and Control Spring PREQ: ECE 1701 or 1769; 3 cr
ECE 2780 Renewable and Alternative Energy (Grad course by permission) 3 cr
This undergraduate seminar will provide a source of information regarding undergraduate curriculum, registration, programs, cooperative education, and other opportunities. Also, about half of the invited speakers will from the renewable energy field and half from the natural gas and oil engineering field.
d) “a culminating major engineering design experience that 1) incorporates appropriate engineering standards and multiple constraints, and 2) is based on the knowledge and skills acquired in earlier course work”
PROGRAM CRITERIA FOR PETROLEUM AND SIMILARLY NAMED ENGINEERING PROGRAMS; requirements copied from
Criteria for Accrediting Engineering Programs, 2024 - 2025 - ABET
“Lead Society: Society of Petroleum Engineers These program criteria apply to engineering programs that include "petroleum," "natural gas," or similar modifiers in their titles ”
1. “Curriculum”
“The curriculum must provide both breadth and depth across the range of engineering topics implied by the title and objectives of the program.
The curriculum must include:”
a. “mathematics through differential equations, probability and statistics, fluid mechanics, strength of materials, and thermodynamics; ”
One of these 3 courses on numerical methods, data science, data analytic, machine learning
MEMS 1060 Numerical Methods (preferred due to pre-reqs) .
IE 0015 Intro to Data Analytics (preferred due to pre-reqs) ECE 1395 Intro to Machine Learning (not preferred due to pre-requisites)
c. “characterization and evaluation of subsurface geological formations and their
f. “the use of project economics and resource valuation methods for design and decision making under conditions of risk and uncertainty”
One of these 3 courses on numerical methods, data science, data analytic, machine learning 3 MEMS 1060 Numerical Methods (preferred due to pre-reqs)
IE 0015 Intro to Data Analytics (preferred due to pre-reqs) ECE1395 Intro to Machine Learning
