The Department of Chemical Engineering

Overview

The Petroleum Studies Unit (PSU) of the Department of Chemical Engineering apart from its taught Masters Degrees also offers six (6) degrees by research at the MPhil and PhD level in Petroleum Engineering, Petroleum Geoscience, and Geoscience. Our research programmes are geared towards the generation of new knowledge in petroleum engineering and geoscience while developing and transferring methods, techniques, methodologies and tools that lead to improved processes in petroleum industry.

Petroleum Engineering, Petroleum Geoscience and Geoscience (PE, PG and Geo.) involves the application of earth and physical sciences to the evaluation and exploitation of natural hydrocarbon resources. The dominant problems of the petroleum engineer are those of flow and equilibrium in porous media, in vertical and horizontal well bores, in surface pipelines and in primary process equipment. The complexity of the hydrocarbon fluids, and the geological strata involved in flow in reservoirs and production systems raises problems requiring sophisticated numerical techniques for their solution. In the practical field, drilling and production engineering continually pose new engineering problems requiring engineered solutions. MPhil and PhD programmes in PE, PG and Geo. aim to generate new and innovative knowledge applied to the solution of problems within Exploration and Production areas of the energy industry, in line with new economic and environmental demands. Students lead research processes aimed at improving engineering and developing and transferring methods, tools, techniques and methodologies aimed at strengthening engineering processes, increasing productivity and efficiency in the industry.

Our graduates have found employment mainly in the petrochemical and energy industries, process and manufacturing, and also research and development. Other graduates are academic staff within universities.

Programme Objectives

The MPhil and PhD programmes are geared towards the generation of new knowledge while developing and transferring methods, techniques, methodologies and tools that lead to improved processes in industry. The overall objectives of the programmes allow research graduates:

• To provide innovative solutions to problems associated with Petroleum Engineering and Geoscience, taking into consideration all aspects of economic, technological, environmental and social constraints

• To continue to be at the forefront of research aimed at improving the principles, techniques and skills applied to Petroleum Engineering and Geoscience

• To develop, maintain, and transfer skills, methodologies, learning and critical thinking tools towards the continued improvement of both Petroleum Engineering and Geoscience fields

Areas of Research

Current major areas of research include:

• Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Petrology

• Rock Mechanics, Rock Preparation and Thin-Sections

• Unconventional Reservoirs: Heavy Oil, Shale Oil, Tar Sands and Gas Hydrates

• Sedimentology, Stratigraphy and Sequence Stratigraphy

• Seismic Studies

• Biostratigraphy and Environmental Palaeontology

• Oil and Gas PVT and Phase Behaviour Studies

• Carbon Dioxide Sequestration, EOR and CERM

• Reservoir Characterisation with Nano-Particle Technology Application

• Drilling Technology and Wellbore Stability

— MPhil and PhD in Petroleum Engineering or Petroleum Geoscience or Geoscience

These research degrees are aimed at training students to carry out research and development in relevant areas in order to bring about solutions to problems faced by or gaps in knowledge within the petroleum sector. The task involves furthering the frontiers of knowledge regarding Petroleum Engineering and Geoscience disciplines.

The major areas of research are on PVT, phase behavior, reservoir characterization, heavy oil recovery and oil recovery from Trinidad tar sands, reservoir characterization with nano-particle technology application, natural gas hydrates, enhanced oil recovery, wellbore stability during drilling operations, carbon dioxide capture and transmission for EOR and sequestration, artificial lift methods, waterflood-MEOR combo, rock mechanical properties, sedimentology, seismic and subsurface risk analysis, paleontology, micropaleontology, foraminifera, miocene clays, rock fractures and deformation.

MPhil / PhD Programme Structure and Course Requirements

These being research degrees, students will be expected to produce a satisfactory thesis (MPhil or PhD) as stipulated in the University's regulations.

Depending upon their academic background, students will be required to read departmental courses totaling six (6) credits for MPhil or nine (9) credits for PhD. These courses will be used to direct the student's approach towards the research topic, in particular, strengthening their petroleum engineering, petroleum geoscience, or geoscience knowledge base in the specific area of interest and to research methodology in general. Candidates are required to pass both the coursework and the written examinations before submitting the thesis.

The MPhil Degree shall be awarded on the basis of an examination by thesis and the appropriate University Regulations for the Master’s Degree shall apply.

For a PhD Degree, the appropriate University and Faculty of Engineering Regulations for award of the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy shall apply. Attendance at the oral examination for the PhD Degree in the Faculty of Engineering shall be open to the academic and professional community. A minimum of seven days notice shall be given before the examination.

 

Considerations for Applicants: Section 1 Rules and Regulations (Postgraduate Handbook)

1.2.5 It should be noted that these research degrees are not normally considered to be qualifications for professional practice in the broader sense, as they may not necessarily allow for registration as a professional engineer.

1.2.6 As a consequence, the Faculty of Engineering may allow suitably qualified non-engineering graduates, who obtained their degrees at the Honours level, to register for higher degrees by research.

1.2.7 However, such students may be required to take a qualifying examination within the Department concerned, on topics that would enhance the student’s academic competence in the area of the proposed research.

1.2.8 Applicants wishing to register for the PhD who do not already have a Master’s degree by research will be required to register for the MPhil first and may be allowed to upgrade their registration to the PhD upon satisfying the appropriate regulations.

1.2.9 Candidates who have obtained a Master of Science (MSc) degree with distinction maybe allowed to register for the PhD provided a substantial part of the MSc project has been carried out in the relevant area.

What's Next

For further information on the MPhil & PhD programmes, please contact us with your questions. Information on the application and registration process can be found via the links below.