MSc In Petroleum Engineering - Khalifa University

The degree of Master of Science in Petroleum Engineering (M.Sc. in PEEG) is awarded for successfully completing the requirements of a program of study, which includes taught courses as well as a thesis. The thesis is an independent investigation of specialized areas within the general field of petroleum engineering and associated disciplines. The M.Sc. in PEEG gives candidates the opportunity to deepen their knowledge in the broad field of PEEG and contribute to the process of discovery and knowledge creation through the conduct of original research. Candidates for this degree are taught and supervised by experienced faculty and are expected to demonstrate initiative in their approach and innovation in their work. In addition to successfully completing the taught course component of the program, candidates prepare and present a thesis on their chosen area. Research may be undertaken in several topics corresponding to the areas of focus identified by the University.

Career Opportunities

The MSc program in Petroleum Engineering at Khalifa University offers its students a profound set of skills and innovative technological advancements that are needed for the exploration, production, and management of subsurface energy resources. The multidisciplinary nature of the field provides our graduates with a versatile foundation enabling them to pursue careers in sectors spanning national and international corporations, government agencies, and private businesses. Job prospects for our alumni lie in the following broad venues/markets: petroleum (both upstream and downstream), mining, geothermal and subsurface energy storage, underground water resources, big data analytics, energy analysis and consultancy, CO2 sequestration, technology and investment. Graduates of MSc in PEEG also go through rigorous training and research experience to enable them to pursue their studies at PhD level.

The educational objectives (goals) of the MSc in Petroleum Engineering program are:

Provide graduates with an outstanding education and the research skills and knowledge required to further their career aspirations;
Provide the regional and global oil and gas industry with a pool of highly educated personnel who can utilize their in-depth knowledge of petroleum engineering to better develop business opportunities;
Advance the technological profile of the UAE and the regional oil and gas sector;
Address the needs of society in a critical, creative, ethical, and innovative manner.

A student graduating with a MSc in Petroleum Engineering will be able to:

Demonstrate advanced knowledge of petroleum engineering concepts.
Apply advanced concepts of petroleum engineering science and mathematics to the formulation and solution of complex problems.
Use advanced techniques to design, simulate, and conduct theoretical and experimental work.
Publish and present effectively research findings in international conferences and peer reviewed journals.
Demonstrate an awareness and understanding of contemporary issues related to fossil fuels and their role in the energy mix.
Participate in professional organizations and learn from experiences and engage in life-long learning.

Overall Structure

The MSc in Petroleum Engineering (PEEG) program consists of a minimum of 30 credit hours. The required program credits are distributed as follows: 12 credits of Program Core courses, 9 credits of Program Elective courses, and 9 credits of PEEG Master’s Thesis work. A student may organize the selection of the elective courses relevant to the master’s thesis topic with the consent of the research supervisor. The table below presents a summary of the M.Sc. in PEEG degree program structure and requirements. All the M.Sc. in PEEG program courses, with the exception of the Research Seminar and the Master’s Thesis, have a credit rating of three credits each.

Summary of M.Sc. in PE Degree Program Structure and Requirements

Category	Credits Required
Program Core	12
Program Electives	9
Seminar in Research Methods	0
Master’s Thesis	9
Total	30

Program Requirements

Students seeking the degree of MSc in PEEG must successfully complete a minimum of 30 credited hours as specified in the categories detailed in this section, with a minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 3.0.

Program Core

The MSc in PEEG degree program core requires a minimum of 12 credits, consisting of 3 credits of engineering mathematics, 9 credits of PEEG core courses, and the research seminar course which has zero credit rating. The courses for each one of the core categories are specified below.

I. Engineering Mathematics (3 credits)

– ENGR 602 Engineering Numerical Methods

II. PEEG Core Courses (9 credits)

Students must select at least three courses from the list below:

– PEEG 610 Advanced Well Test Analysis

– PEEG 620 Advanced Drilling Engineering

– PEEG 630 Advanced Reservoir Engineering

– PEEG 640 Well Performance Evaluation

III. ENGR 695 Seminar: Research Methods in Engineering (0 credits)

Program Electives

Students must complete a minimum of 9 credits of electives. The list of electives that students can select from includes any core courses not used to meet the PEEG Core requirement above as well as those listed below. Students can also select up to two elective courses (6 credits) from other MSc programs in the College of Engineering at KU subject to the approval of their research advisor.

PEEG 621 Underbalanced Drilling
PEEG 623 Well Stimulation
PEEG 631 Petroleum Reservoir Simulation
PEEG 632 Enhanced Oil Recovery
PEEG 641 Well Completions and Workover
PEEG 650 Advanced Petroleum Economics
PEEG 694 Selected Topics in Petroleum Engineering

PEEG 699 Master’s Thesis (9 credits)

A student must complete a master’s thesis that involves creative research-oriented work within the broad field of PEEG, under the direct supervision of the main advisor, who must be a full-time faculty in the PEEG Department, and at least one other full-time faculty who acts as co-advisor. The research findings must be documented in a formal thesis and defended successfully in a viva voce examination. Furthermore, the research should lead to publishable quality scholarly articles.

Students must consult with their respective advisors on the courses that they will enroll in, the required pre-requisites, and the thesis topic selection. Full-time graduate students must register for 9 to 12 credits, including thesis credits, during a regular semester (Fall and Spring) and a maximum of 6 credits during a Summer term. In the case of part-time students, the credit load is normally 6 credits during a regular semester as well as the summer term.

Students can only register for thesis credits after successfully completing a minimum of 9 credits of the core courses of the master’s program they are enrolled in. It is to be noted that the minimum pass grade for graduate courses is a “C” letter grade. Students should consult the Graduate Catalog to learn about the graduate programs, the grading system, graduation requirements, and other pertinent matters.