Doctor of Science (D.Sc.), Petroleum Engineering
Blue Marble University offers an exciting 3 year online doctoral program in Petroleum Engineering, leading to the Doctor of Science Degree (D.Sc.). One of our Chemical Engineering programs, the Doctor of Science in Petroleum Engineering is designed to train graduates for top level positions in the industry. It is hoped that our graduates can participate in the development and production of oil and gas at the highest corporate and governmental levels.
What is Petroleum Engineering? As defined by Wikipedia:
“Petroleum engineering is a field of engineering concerned with the activities related to the production of hydrocarbons, which can be either crude oil or natural gas. Exploration and Production are deemed to fall within the upstream sector of the oil and gas industry. Exploration, by earth scientists, and petroleum engineering are the oil and gas industry’s two main subsurface disciplines, which focus on maximizing economic recovery of hydrocarbons from subsurface reservoirs.
Petroleum geology and geophysics focus on provision of a static description of the hydrocarbon reservoir rock, while petroleum engineering focuses on estimation of the recoverable volume of this resource using a detailed understanding of the physical behavior of oil, water and gas within porous rock at very high pressure.
The combined efforts of geologists and petroleum engineers throughout the life of a hydrocarbon accumulation determine the way in which a reservoir is developed and depleted, and usually they have the highest impact on field economics. Petroleum engineering requires a good knowledge of many other related disciplines, such as geophysics, petroleum geology, formation evaluation (well logging), drilling, economics, reservoir simulation, reservoir engineering, well engineering, artificial lift systems, completions and oil and gas facilities engineering.”
Description of the Blue Marble University petroleum engineering program:
We are very different. This is a doctoral program, not a training program. With the DSc petroleum engineering degree from Blue Marble, you are more likely to end up in an office rather than on a drilling rig, although field work and field analysis is always necessary. To be a top flight petroleum engineer, you need to know a lot more than mathematical equations, and theoretical engineering calculations, which are now normally handled by computers and specialty software anyway. As an example, one can operate a bulldozer without any knowledge of how the motor works; and one can operate a computer without any knowledge of the make-up of the motherboard. And in the real world, we all learn “on the job”. All that is necessary for a successful career in oil and gas is the background knowledge and the special language of the field.
Our program takes a multidisciplinary approach. Along with core engineering, we include many topics never found in a chemical engineering program but which are nonetheless very useful in the real world, and in real world careers, including: The Eagle Ford and Bakkan oil and gas formations; royalties and leases; business of oil; permits and environmental impact; industry sources of technical information; and the review of petroleum trade journals and research reports. Of course, in addition to these “outside the box” topics, we still include studies in the primary topics of general engineering, drilling, facilities construction, production operations engineering, and reservoir engineering. Because “fracking” for oil has become the new technology and opened vast fields for exploration and development, particularly in the United States, our program focuses more heavily on that technology; but principles of deep sea drilling are included as well. In the thesis section of the program, the student will learn the scientific method, and demonstrate engineering proficiency by completing a publishable work.
Admission Requirements: Applicants must have a Bachelors Degree or higher in engineering, mathematics, or similar subject matter demonstrating previous engineering education. In special cases, a bachelors degree in an unrelated field with significant training or experience in oil and gas engineering, production, transport, or refinement will be considered as meeting the educational requirement. The main thing to emphasize is that we would like to see applicants with prior education/training in science, engineering and/or mathematics. However, our application is free, so if you are unsure if you meet our requirements, please file an application.
Curriculum: Doctor of Science–Petroleum Engineering
We operate on a trimester schedule, which means that our academic year is divided into 3 segments of 4 months each. In each 4 month period, students take three courses. For some terms, or as determined by the University, students may be assigned courses in sequence, lasting about 1 month each. In that event, for any approximate one month period, a student will be studying one course.
TOTAL: 72 TRIMESTER CREDITS
(Equivalent to the USA Minimum Requirement for a Doctoral Degree)
Courses Subject to Change and Revision Without Notice
Credits: Each of the above courses (with the exception of Final Dissertation Presentation and Completion of Online Portfolio which is 6 credits) consists of 3 trimester credits each.The program comprises 72 trimester credits, and consequently is equivalent to the minimum 60 semester credits for a USA regionally accredited college or university. Upon completion, and for a nominal fee, graduates will be able to obtain a Certificate of Equivalency from a foreign education credentials evaluation service approved by the USA Department of Education for employment purposes in the USA.
Cut-off Dates:
We operate on a trimester schedule and therefore have three Start Dates:
January 1 (for students that have applied, been accepted, and paid a tuition payment by October 30)
May 1 (for students that have applied, been accepted, and paid a tuition payment by February 28)
September 1 (for students that have applied, been accepted, and paid a tuition payment by June 30)
How To Apply: Applications are free and can be filed anytime. Please follow the general application procedures at: https://bluemarbleuniversity.com/how-to-apply/application-to-doctoral-programs/
Tuition Cost: Our current tuition charges are $3750 USD with payment plan, or $3400 USD annually paid in advance.
Method of Learning: Please see: https://bluemarbleuniversity.com/academics/method-of-learning-and-student-technology-requirements/
Online Portfolio: As noted in our website: Each student is guided toward the assembly of an Online Portfolio, also referred to as a Digital Portfolio, which is a required element of all degree programs. The Online Portfolio will contain not only a resume of your course work, but also various items of independent works. The idea is for you to create an online portfolio highlighting your achievements which can be presented to prospective employers or otherwise used by you in any fashion you wish. We believe that your creation of an Online Portfolio will give added substance to your achievements and be something you can continue to build on even after leaving our institution. The Online Portfolio is your digital resume, online identity, and online reputation.
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