Bachelor of Engineering (Petroleum Engineering) Honours

Edith Cowan University

About

Petroleum engineers work in a range of industry sectors, often related to the exploration, mining, production, delivery and downstream processing of fossil fuels.

These fossil fuels are derived from oil and gas reservoirs in the earth's crust but may also include extraction from sands and shales.

This course provides the foundations for a professional engineering career in the oil and gas industry, both in Australia and internationally.

As well as providing core mechanical and chemical engineering skills, the course provides specialist knowledge in drilling, reservoir and petroleum production engineering.

The course focuses on the development of knowledge and skills relevant to professional engineering practice and, along with a sound theoretical base, includes strong elements of practical problem solving, team work and project development.

As a result, as well as having multiple technical and transferable skill competencies, graduates will have strong analytical skills and the ability to lead complex projects.

Structure

Year 1 - Semester 1

Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
ENS1154 * Introduction to Engineering 15
ENS1115 Materials and Manufacturing 1 15
ENM1102 Engineering Drawing and Computer Aided Design 15
MAT1250 Mathematics 1 15

Year 1 - Semester 2

Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
ENS1101 Engineering Mechanics 15
ENS1253 Electrical Engineering 1B 15
ENS1180 Introduction to Energy and Resource Engineering 15
MAT1251 Mathematics 2 15

Year 2 - Semester 1

Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
ENS5170 Engineering Systems 15
SCC1111 General Chemistry 15
ENS2270 Reservoir Petrophysics and Formation Evaluation 15
ENS2115 Process Engineering Fundamentals 15

Year 2 - Semester 2

Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
ENS2113 Engineering Dynamics 15
CSP2151 Programming Fundamentals 15
ENS3208 Engineering Geology and Rock Mechanics 15
ENS2160 Thermodynamics 15

Year 3 - Semester 1

Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
ENS3301 Reservoir Thermodynamics and Fluid Properties 15
ENS2159 * Engineering Innovation and Ethics 15
ENM3218 Fluid Mechanics 15
ENS5566 Reservoir Engineering 15

Year 3 - Semester 2

Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
ENS5162 Drilling Engineering 15
ENS2180 Offshore Science and Engineering 15
ENS5567 Well Testing 15
ENS5565 Reservoir Simulation 15

Note: Students who receive a WAM of 70 per cent or above at the end of their third year of study will be invited to complete a graded Honours degree by taking the two Honours Thesis units in place of the standard project units in their fourth year. Students below this cut-off, or who decline the offer to undertake the Honours Thesis, will graduate with an ungraded Honours degree.

Year 4 - Semester 1

Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
ENS5111 Engineering Practicum
ENS5564 Unconventional Oil and Gas Resources 15
ENS5161 Environmental and Process Risk Management 15
ENS4152 ^ Project Development 15
Or
ENS5145 ^ Engineering Honours Thesis 1 15
Elective Unit x1 15

Note: Students undertaking the graded Honours pathway should enrol into ENS5145 Engineering Honours Thesis 1 in place of ENS4152 Project Development.

Year 4 - Semester 2

Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
ENS5165 Petroleum Production Engineering 15
ENS5543 Engineering Management 15
ENS4253 ^ Engineering Project 15
Or
ENS5146 ^ Engineering Honours Thesis 2 15
Elective Unit x 1 15

Note: Students undertaking the graded Honours pathway should enrol into ENS5146 Engineering Honours Thesis 2 in place of ENS4253 Engineering Project.

RECOMMENDED ELECTIVES

Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
ENS2116 Process Systems Analysis 15
ENS2102 Hydrostatics 15
ENS3111 Chemical Thermodynamics 15
ENS5445 Sustainability and Renewable Energy 15
ENS5106 Hydrology and Hydraulics 15
ENS3190 Mechanics of Solids 15
SCC1201 Chemistry: Structure and Reactions 15

Note: Electives chosen from outside this list must be approved by the Course Coordinator.

^ Core Option * Students will be assessed to see if they have achieved the ECU minimum standard of English language proficiency in this unit. Students who don't meet the minimum standard will be provided with appropriate English language support and development.

Entry requirements

Admission requirement (Band 4)

All applicants must meet the academic admission requirements for this course. The indicative or guaranteed ATAR is as published (where applicable) or academic admission requirements may be satisfied through completion of one of the following:

  • AQF Diploma or equivalent;
  • Successfully completed 0.5 EFTSL of study at bachelor level or higher at an Australian higher education provider (or equivalent);
  • Special Tertiary Admissions Test;
  • University Preparation Course;
  • Indigenous University Orientation Course; or
  • Aboriginal University Readiness Assessment.

English Language requirement (Band 3)

English competency requirements may be satisfied through completion of one of the following:

  • Year 12 English ATAR/English Literature ATAR grade C or better or equivalent;
  • Special Tertiary Admissions Test;
  • IELTS Academic Overall band minimum score of 6.0 (no individual band less than 6.0);
  • Successfully completed 1.0 EFTSL of study at bachelor level or higher in the UK, Ireland, USA, NZ or Canada;
  • University Preparation Course;
  • Indigenous University Orientation Course;
  • Aboriginal University Readiness Assessment;
  • AQF Diploma, Advanced Diploma or Associate Degree;
  • Successfully completed 0.375 EFTSL of study at bachelor level or higher at an Australian higher education provider (or equivalent); or
  • Other tests, courses or programs as defined in the Admissions Policy.

Course Specific Admission Requirements

All applicants are required to have Mathematics: Methods ATAR, with equivalents considered, and Physics ATAR or Engineering Studies ATAR, with equivalents considered. It is desirable that all applicants have Mathematics: Specialist ATAR, with equivalents considered.

Portfolio pathway applications are not accepted for this course.

Learning outcomes

  1. Demonstrate advanced knowledge of the underpinning natural and physical sciences and in depth understanding of specialist bodies of knowledge within the Petroleum engineering discipline.
  2. Think critically, and apply established engineering methods and research skills to complex petroleum engineering problem solving.
  3. Apply systematic engineering synthesis and design processes to conduct and manage petroleum engineering projects, with some intellectual independence.
  4. Demonstrate conceptual understanding of the mathematics, numerical analysis, statistics and computer and information sciences which underpin the petroleum engineering discipline and fluently apply engineering techniques, tools and resources.
  5. Demonstrate clear and coherent oral and written communication in professional and lay domains.
  6. Demonstrate a global outlook and knowledge of contextual factors impacting the engineering discipline, including respect for cultural diversity and indigenous cultural competence.
  7. Demonstrate effective team membership and team leadership to implement engineering projects according to relevant standards of ethical conduct, sustainable practice and professional accountability.
  8. Demonstrate responsibility for own learning, professional judgement and an understanding of the scope, principles, norms, accountabilities and bounds of contemporary engineering practice.

Institution