INTRODUCTION TO PETROLEUM PRODUCTION - 2025/6

Module code: ENGM217

Module Overview

This module provides an introduction to the theory and practice associated with the exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas covering subsurface and topside operations.

Module provider

Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

Module Leader

LEE Judy (Chst Chm Eng)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 7

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Overall student workload

Independent Learning Hours: 95

Lecture Hours: 11

Tutorial Hours: 11

Guided Learning: 11

Captured Content: 22

Module Availability

Semester 2

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

None

Module content

Planet Earth: Big bang creation of the Universe and accretion of Planet Earth.

Geology: Planet Earth - the rock cycle, geological time and how to identify different types of rocks.

Fossil Fuels: Origin of life and formation of hydrocarbons.

Properties of Hydrocarbons: Physical and chemical properties of crude oil and natural gas; conventional and unconventional reserves; renewable fuels.

Safety and Operations Integrity: UK Law on Health and Safety; Piper Alpha Incident; Safety Case.

Exploration: The reservoir; surveying, data processing and interpretation; topsides facilities, subsurface drilling and operations; well appraisal and development.

Production:

Offshore – Operating environment; subsurface facilities (wellhead); topsides facilities (rigs) for oil and gas.

Onshore – Conventional production and unconventional production (heavy oil deposits, hydraulic fracturing of shale, recovery from bitumen sands).

Processing: Oil, water, sand and gas separators; crude oil (dewatering); natural gas (acid gas removal, hydrates and dehydration, hydrocarbon dew point processes, compression); desalting; produced water disposal; enhanced oil and gas recovery.

Transport and Storage:

Flow assurance.

Pipelines; two phase flow; pigging; protection; pumping and compression equipment; oil and gas storage.

Natural Gas: Introduction to LNG, LNG liquefaction, storage, shipping, terminals; GTL processes.

Crude Oil: Introduction to refining; crude oil vs. shale oil extracted by hydraulic fracturing vs. bitumen extracted from oil sands.

Abandonment: End of life, decommissioning and disposal of facilities.

Politics, Economics and Sustainability: Global reserves and location; supply and demand; price of crude oil; environmental concerns and sustainability; outlook for energy.

 

 

Assessment pattern

Assessment type Unit of assessment Weighting
Coursework COURSEWORK (INDIVIDUAL) 30
Examination 2 hr Invigilated Exam 70

Alternative Assessment

N/A

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate the full range of learning outcomes though examination and a significant individual piece of coursework.

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:



  • Coursework – 30% (LO2, LO6 – LO9)


  • Examination – 70%, 2 hrs (LO1 – LO9)



Formative assessment



  • None



Feedback

In class, there is an introductory briefing followed by intermediate discussion of progress with extensive oral feedback and discussion after submission. Individual marks are notified to the students by e-mail a short time later.

Module aims

  • The aim of this module is to provide the students with knowledge and skills relating to Earth’s geology, the formation of hydrocarbons, and the facilities and operations required for the exploration, development, production and transport of crude oil and natural gas to initial processing.

Learning outcomes

Attributes Developed
001 Appreciate how the Universe and Planet Earth were created and fossil fuels were formed from early biotic material. K
002 Value Earth’s fossil fuel reserves as a finite resource of economic importance with environmental concerns (sustainability). KCT
003 Identify the types of rocks associated with hydrocarbon reservoirs. Appreciate the importance of safe design and operation and use techniques to minimise the risk of an incident associated with upstream operations. KCPT
004 Relate the chemistry and properties of the different sources of hydrocarbon fuels to their overall value. KC
005 Explain and discuss how surveys are performed to identify possible reservoirs of oil and gas. Engage in meaningful discussions with industry professionals about the design and drilling of a well for exploratory, appraisal and production purposes. Select the most suitable types of facilities for offshore production and transport to initial processing. Apply methods of the conceptual design of important separation processes to oil and gas production. KCP

Attributes Developed

C - Cognitive/analytical

K - Subject knowledge

T - Transferable skills

P - Professional/Practical skills

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:



  • Cover in lectures the necessary fundamental knowledge and analysis of upstream operations in the oil and gas sector.


  • Allow student to consolidate and apply understanding through guided work sessions and associated coursework.



 

The learning and teaching methods include:


  • 11 two-hour combined face-to-face lecture and tutorial sessions with virtual visit to offshore oil and gas platform, the use of educational videos, group working and discussions in class involving summative and formative assessment.


Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: ENGM217

Other information

The School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering is committed to developing graduates with strengths in Employability, Digital Capabilities, Global and Cultural Capabilities, Sustainability, and Resourcefulness and Resilience. This module is designed to allow students to develop knowledge, skills, and capabilities in the following areas 

Digital Capabilities: Through the module student will learn to navigate and utilise Virtual learning Environment (Surrey Learn) and online databases to access literature data for data processing and interpretation. 

Employability:  Students will gain specific knowledge and skills relating to formation, exploration, development, production and transport of crude oil and natural gas to initial process that are required as a competent engineers in the petrochemical sector.  Students will also develop analytical and problem-solving skills which are vital for making a different in an industrial or commercial environment.

Global and cultural capabilities:  Students will develop awareness about the global practices associated with crude oil and natural gas exploration and production.  The student cohort will involve students from different countries and backgrounds that will engage diverse perspective in the class room discussions.

Resourcefulness and resilience: The students will work on real industrial case studies as part of their coursework which will require them to develop problem solving skills. Feedback session after the completion of the coursework will enable students to reflect on what they have done, recognise and address any learning challenges during the feedback session in a supportive and collaborative environment.

Sustainability: Students will gain an understanding about theory and practices associated with the global exploration and production of crude oil and natural gases, covering subsurface and topside operation, environmental concerns and sustainability, as well as outlook for energy.

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2025/6 academic year.