For an MSc award you must successfully complete 120 credits of taught modules and a 60-credit master's research project.
You select your master’s research projects from titles suggested by either industry or our academic staff, but you may also, with your supervisor’s agreement, suggest your own titles.
Student projects
Here are some examples of the Major Project module developed by our MSc Petroleum Engineering students.
View the projects
Course structure
Core modules
Engineering Research Project
You investigate an area of engineering and work independently to a level recognised to be at the forefront of the discipline. The topic can be in the form of a research project or a design project. Key skills in research and in knowledge application and creation will be developed through keynote lectures and self-managed independent study. You are required to demonstrate the capacity for a comprehensive and objective analysis, and for developing innovative and constructive proposals for the solution to the project topic.
Hydrocarbon Exploration and Production Engineering
This module will provide a detailed understanding of hydrocarbon exploration and production. The module will cover different methods of hydrocarbon exploration, drilling engineering, the process of well completion, and work-over. Moreover, it covers the oil and gas production systems including wells, pipelines, separators and chokes. The inflow performance relationships (IPR) for oil and gas wells, as well as well performance analysis will be included in this module. The module will also provide the understanding for surface production facilities and operations used in crude oil treatment and natural gas re-conditioning such as sweetening and dehydration.
This module will be delivered through a combination of lectures and tutorial sessions.
Petroleum Chemistry
The module provides you with an understanding of crude oil fractions and components enabling you to study the phase behaviour of reservoir fluids as a function of temperature and pressure. We use different equations of state to analyse the pressure-volume-temperature correlations. You explore how constructing compositional fluid models, using an industry-standard reservoir simulator, enables you to investigate reservoir fluid properties and behaviour. You also discuss oil field corrosion and scaling mechanisms as well as monitoring and inhibition methods. This module is delivered through lectures, tutorials, and IT laboratory sessions. You are assessed by an in-course assessment (30%) and exam (70%).
Petroleum Economics and Simulation
This module provides you with a detailed understanding of petroleum economics as well as concepts related to asset and project assessment and valuation. You investigate the economics of the oil industry and the cost stabilities of large oilfields and their economies of scale. You look into industry-standard reservoir simulators, their theoretical background, and their uses and limitations. You develop an understanding of reservoir management by integrating different operations, sub-processes and upstream activities. This module is delivered through a series of lectures supported by tutorials and IT laboratories. You are assessed by an in-course assessment (30%) and exam (70%).
Petroleum Reservoir Engineering
This module covers the key concepts of reservoir engineering including reservoir properties, single and multiple-phase fluid flow through porous media. You are introduced to various reservoir rock types including carbonate and sandstone rocks, and the geological aspects of hydrocarbon reservoirs. You discuss formation evaluations based on well-testing and well-logging interpretations. This module is delivered through lectures supported by tutorials. You are assessed by in-course assessments (30%) and exam (70%).
Quality, Health, Safety and Environment
The module provides an understanding of the aims, responsibilities and means to achieve effective Quality, Health, Safety and Environment (QHSE) management systems in Oil and Gas related organisations.
This module presents a number of core and specialist areas appropriate for effective management of QHSE in a successful oil and gas related organisation. Critical components of Safety Management (including a QHSE plan, process safety, hazard identification, safety auditing and managing risk) form a comprehensive part of the core study underpinning the total Safety Management System (SMS). Where appropriate, actual industry examples are used as case studies to enhance the students’ learning and to demonstrate the mechanisms used, and impact of, legal and administrative compliance. Further, the relevance of occupational health and safety and also sustainability in safety are discussed in terms of best industry practice.
The importance of implementing a Total Quality Management (TQM) system and the impact on the industry/organisation will be emphasised to students. Environmental drives and current issues, including an Environmental Impact Assessment will complete this part of the programme content.
Sustainability in Chemical Engineering
This module covers environmental assessments such as life cycle assessment, environmental impact assessment and environmental management system on environmental impacts from industrial and human activities. You also gain an understanding of sustainable engineering strategies such as clean technology and renewable energy to address current environmental issues.
