petroleum engineering student in lab

Petroleum Engineering Ph.D.

Solutions to tomorrow's energy needs depend on you. Lead the way at North Dakota's only petroleum engineering program.

As a Ph.D. candidate in UND's petroleum engineering program, you'll become an innovative, critical thinker poised to solve today's energy problems and build technology that unlocks tomorrow's hydrocarbon reservoirs. The Department of Petroleum Engineering backed by significant support from the state and the oil industry.

Program type:
Doctoral Degree
Format:
On Campus or Online
Est. time to complete:
4 years
Credit hours:
90

Why earn a Ph.D. in Petroleum Engineering?

Graduate Application Deadlines
Fall:
Aug. 1
Spring:
Dec. 1
Summer:
May 1

If you're an international student, refer to the international application process for deadlines.

As a Ph.D. candidate in UND's Petroleum Engineering program, you'll have an inside track to participate in practical research projects in line with industry needs - and make significant contributions when you graduate.

Current petroleum engineering research includes:

  • Geomechanics, production and reservoir studies of hydraulic fracturing.
  • Studies on re-fracturing for optimization of production from unconventional shales.
  • Data driven modeling in unconventional reservoirs.
  • Petrophysical and geochemical analysis of shale oil.
  • Geophysics and seismic analysis of unconventional reservoirs.

You'll complete two consecutive semesters in residence during your first two years as a Ph.D. candidate at UND, and also complete a qualifying exam (that includes a research proposal), submit a series of peer-reviewed journal and conference papers and successfully defend a dissertation.

Petroleum Engineering Ph.D.

  • Work in world-class labs and train on cutting-edge simulators at our Collaborate Energy Complex.

  • Be on top of oil industry trends. Our Industry Advisory Council, represented by some of the state's biggest companies, regularly helps us refine our curriculum.

  • All master-level petroleum engineering courses available online.

  • Gain networking and career opportunities through relationships with the Society of Petroleum Engineers, North Dakota Petroleum Council and other groups.

  • Small class sizes + open-door policy among faculty = a rich, personalized learning experience for online and on-campus students.

  • Compete for a travel grant from the Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG) to attend the SEG/Chevron Student Leadership Symposium.

Careers in Petroleum Engineering 

136k

Median annual salary for petroleum engineers, 2023

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Petroleum engineers are in great demand. More than 90 percent of our graduates find jobs. Employers of petroleum engineers are involved in the following fields:

  • Petroleum exploration
  • Geologic formation characterization
  • Drilling and fracturing
  • Computer simulation
  • Equipment and process design to optimize recovery
  • Monitoring of production and processing

In addition, petroleum engineers are involved in refining, petro-chemical production and transportation of products, as well as geosciences, environmental efforts and international commerce.

Skills Learned in Petroleum Engineering Ph.D. Programs

A doctorate in Petroleum Engineering gives you the strategic skills you need, including:

  • Oil and Gas
  • Production Engineering
  • Reservoir Engineering
  • Strategic Planning

Petroleum Engineering Ph.D. Courses

PTRE 541. Data Mining in Petroleum Engineering. 3 Credits.

This course will provide students with the fundamentals of data mining and machine learning methodologies and their applications in the petroleum industry. Students will become familiar with data mining system architecture, concepts and tasks such as data processing, data integration and classification techniques. Prerequisite: Background/knowledge of Multivariable Calculus. S, odd years.

PTRE 521. Advanced Production Engineering. 3 Credits.

Principles of development and operation of petroleum production systems. Optimization of production systems for various reservoirs. All professional components in artificial technology for oil production operations. Calculation of different skin components. Horizontal well and multilateral well performance. Formation damage. Design and optimization of surface facility. Prerequisite: Background/knowledge of Production Engineering. F, odd years.

PTRE 581. Reservoir Geophysics. 3 Credits.

This fundamental course provides students with the basic knowledge required to understand a typical 2D 3D seismic processing workflow. This covers the processing sequence, parameter selection and how to design and handle a seismic processing project. Prerequisite: Background/knowledge of Petrophysics. S, even years.

PTRE 571. Petroleum Geostatistics. 3 Credits.

The reservoir data including porosity and permeability follow the spatial statistics as there is a dependency between the data depending on their distance and position with respect to each other. This course presents the fundamental of spatial statistics with several case examples in Petroleum Engineering. Prerequisite: Background/knowledge of Calculus-based Statistics. F, even years.

PTRE 561. Natural Gas Engineering. 3 Credits.

Estimation of gas properties for well test or production data analysis using accurate correlations and laboratory data. Gas field development and material balance analysis for gas reserve calculation. Study of production and reservoir characteristics of gas and gas-condensate reservoirs. Skin effects and calculation for non-Darcy flow in gas well. Design, evaluation, and optimization of gas production and transportation system using nodal analysis. Analysis and design of gas well flow systems. Design surface facilities for gas well stream separation, dehydration, and compression. Gas processing, transportation, and metering. Gas hydrate prevention and inhibition. Prerequisite: Background/knowledge of Reservoir Engineering. S, odd years.

PTRE 510. Practical Seismic Processing. 3 Credits.

This fundamental course provides students with the basic knowledge required to understand a typical 2D 3D seismic processing workflow. This covers the processing sequence, parameter selection and how to design and handle a seismic processing project. Prerequisite: Background/knowledge of Petrophysics. On demand.

Best Online Petroleum Engineering Ph.D. Program

#6 Nonprofit Colleges Online
#9 College Factual
#11 Best Universities
#43 EduRank

Several college ranking sites put UND’s Petroleum Engineering Ph.D. degree in the Top 45 online programs in nation. We’re well regarded for our educational quality, affordability and career outcomes.

Ranking sites vary in their methodology, but are generally based on the following criterion:

  • Financial data such as net cost, loan default rate, and return on investment
  • Academic rigor including curriculum standards, accreditation status, and faculty reputation
  • Student gratification, retention rate, and support services
  • Employment rate and graduate salary

Online Ph.D. in Petroleum Engineering

2#

best online graduate programs

EDsmart

1#

best online college in North Dakota

Forbes

Flexible Online Ph.D. in Petroleum Engineering Courses

With asynchronous classes, you do not attend class at a set time. If you need to balance work, family, and other commitments, this flexible format allows you to learn anywhere at any time.

Depending on your instructor, you’ll learn online through:

  • Lesson modules
  • Streaming video content
  • Virtual libraries
  • Posted lectures
  • Online simulations

There will be times when you interact with your instructor and classmates through online discussion boards, polls, and chat rooms.

Your learning revolves around materials that can be accessed on your own time within a set time frame. However, this is not a self-paced course. You’ll have structure and deadlines.

Campus Visit

The online doctoral program in petroleum engineering requires a minimum two-day on campus visit in Grand Forks, ND each semester. During these visits, you'll present on research, stay up-to-date on coursework and get to know faculty and instructors.

Top-Tier Online Petroleum Engineering Ph.D.

Over a third of UND's student population is exclusively online; plus, more take a combination of online and on campus classes. You can feel reassured knowing you won't be alone in your online learning journey and you'll have resources and services tailored to your needs.

No matter how you customize your online experience, you’ll get the same top-quality education as any other on campus student.

  • Same degree: All online programs are fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Your transcript and diploma are exactly the same as our on-campus students.
  • Same classes: You’ll take courses from UND professors, start and end the semesters at the same time and take the same classes as a student on campus.
  • Real interaction: You can ask questions, get feedback and regularly connect with your professors, peers and professionals in the field.
  • Your own academic advisor: As an invaluable go-to, they’re focused on you, your personal success and your future career.
  • Free online tutoring: We're here to help you one-on-one at no cost. Plus, get access to a variety of self-help online study resources.
  • Unlimited academic coaching: Need support to achieve your academic goals or feeling stumped by a tough course? We'll help with everything from stress and time management to improving your memory to achieve higher test scores.
  • Full online access: Dig into virtual research at UND's libraries. Improve your writing skills with online help from the UND Writing Center. Get online access to career services, veteran and military services, financial services and more.
  • 24/7 technical support: UND provides free computer, email and other technical support for all online students.
  • Networking opportunities: Our significant online student population means you’ll have a large pool of peers to connect with. UND has numerous online events and activities to keep you connected.

Best Online College

Our high alumni salaries and job placement rates, with affordable online tuition rates make UND a best-value university for online education. UND's breadth of online programs rivals all other nonprofit universities in the Upper Midwest making UND one of the best online schools in the region.

UND ranks among the best online colleges in the nation for:

  • Affordability
  • Student satisfaction (retention rate)
  • Academic quality (4-year graduate rate)
  • Student outcomes (20-year return on investment per Payscale.com)
Read About Award

Petroleum Engineering Research

Award winning research and training

UND won the Outstanding Achievement Award from the Williston Basin chapter of the American Petroleum Institute.

Read About Award
Explore More Options

Connect with the petroleum engineering faculty you'll work with at UND or discover additional opportunities.

Dr. Nejma Djabelkhir Tavakolian 
Graduate Program Director for Petroleum Engineering 
P 701.777.5000
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