Oil and Gas Engineering MSc

Compulsory

• Structural Materials

  This module aims to provide an understanding of failure of materials and structures used in offshore application and includes topics such as: fracture mechanics and fatigue for pipelines; offshore and onshore structures;  selection and testing of materials; degradation due to service conditions; corrosion and corrosion protection; fail-safety and damage tolerance.  Laboratories sessions are included to cover material testing aspects to provide an understanding of material behaviour under various conditions and to equip delegates with a theoretical and working knowledge of fatigue, linear fracture mechanics and damage accumulation.

  Indicative content:
  Plane elasticity; Fracture energy criterion and Griffith balance equation; The stress intensity approach; Stress analysis of cracks; The J- Contour integral; Ductile fracture, cyclic loading and fatigue; Low and high cycle fatigue; Damage accumulation due to fatigue at various stress levels.

   

• Structural Integrity and FEA

  This module aims to provide knowledge of structural analysis methods including error assessment, defect assessment, failure criteria relevant to pipelines, floating and fixed steel structures. At the core of the module is the development of key skills in finite element analysis of structures. The module includes lectures and practical computer sessions to cover fundamental topics and a selection of applications in structural and finite element analysis:

  • Provide advanced theoretical knowledge in Finite Element Analysis and Structural Design.
  • Equip delegates with the knowledge on some useful applications of Structural Design and FEA to Oil and Gas relevant structures
  • Provide skill in use of a contemporary CAE package for structural and component design, including finite element analysis (FEA)
• Multiphase Flow Fundamentals and Flow Assurance

  This module introduces the fundamentals of multiphase flows and issues related to flow assurance of hydrocarbon mixtures by introducing theory and predictive models for pressure drop, transition between flow patterns and heat transfer in two phase flows.

  Indicative content:

  1. Introductory concepts and flow patterns

  Covers two and three phase flows and applications involving gas, oil, water and particle (sand) transport:

  • Applications and appearance of two-phase flows
  • Definitions
  • Flow pattern maps, gas-liquid, liquid-liquid and gas-oil-water
  • Effects of parameters such as fluid properties, pipe diameter and inclination on flow patterns

  2. Models for predicting two-phase flows

  Covers the various modelling approaches for predicting pressure drop, including:

  • Equations for pressure drop
  • Homogeneous flow model
  • Empirical and phenomenological models

  3. Flow pattern transitions and slugging

  Transitions between the different patterns will be discussed and predictive models presented:

  • Stratified-non-stratified flow transitions
  • Transition to annular flow
  • Transition to dispersed flow
  • Phase inversion in liquid-liquid flows

  4. Rheology of oil-water dispersions

  Discussion on the rheological properties of two-phase mixtures, particularly liquid-liquid ones:

  • Viscosity models for gas-liquid flows
  • Viscosity models for liquid-liquid flows

  5. Heat transfer in two-phase systems

  Covers techniques to predict heat transfer rates in two-phase flow systems, including:

  • Convection during two-phase flow
  • Flow freezing and boiling
  • Applications to sub-sea pipeline operations

  6. Topics in flow assurance

  • Overview of flow assurance.
  • Fouling – waxing, hydrates, asphaltenes.
  • Operations – normal and off-design operations: start-up, shut-in etc.
  • General safety issues
• Petroleum Production Fundamentals

  The module aims at developing knowledge and understanding of the fundamentals of how hydrocarbons are extracted, production processes, fundamental geoscience/physics, reservoir fluids, flows in porous media, the relationship between properties of hydrocarbons to process and temperature and the effects of process equipment to those. The module includes contemporary issues including shale oil and gas and fracking. The aims of the module are:

  • Develop critical understanding of the identification and assessment of petroleum and gas reserves
  • Develop knowledge in petroleum extraction and production processes
  • Develop skills in critically assessing practical and sustainability issues associated with traditional and new methods of petroleum and gas extraction and production.
• Dynamics of Petroleum Structures

  This module aims at the development of knowledge, understanding and skills for the prediction and analysis of the dynamic response of onshore and offshore structures under external dynamic loading conditions such as wave and wind forces, providing delegates with the following training:

  • To enhance perception on the dynamic behaviour of deformable bodies and introduce the concepts of vibration theory and wave motion
  • To introduce the principles of the dynamic response of offshore and onshore structures under the influence of dynamic excitation such as wave, wind and earthquake loading
  • To introduce computational methods for the dynamic analysis of structures
  • To introduce the concept of vibration mitigation methods for petroleum structures
• ME5636 - Design and Construction of Installations

  The module includes the engineering aspects of onshore, pipelines and offshore structures including geotechnical and structural engineering approaches, codes of practise and standards for construction to prevent failure. Additional topics include engineering project management techniques, investment appraisal, testing and commissioning.

  Aims:

  • To develop understanding of how infrastructure is designed and built, with a focus on oil and gas facilities;
  • To develop knowledge of the design and construction process;
  • To develop critical understanding of project planning and construction of oil & gas infrastructure;
  • To develop skills in critically assessing Health & Safety and sustainability issues associated with design & construction.

  Indicative Content:

  • Types of oil & gas infrastructure (onshore and offshore) e.g. fixed, spar, jack-up, tension, moored, floating;
  • Design standards & codes; Quality control;
  • Environmental impact assessment;
  • Construction risks;
  • Contractor selection;
  • Site preparation; Temporary works; Foundations and other geotechnical structures;
  • Mooring structures; Platforms; Pipelines; Testing and commissioning.
• Reliability Engineering and Risk Management

  This module provides a comprehensive understanding of the main mathematical and numerical aspects for assessing and quantifying the reliability of individual components and structures, through the following aims:

  • Develop critical understanding of sources of risk in oil & gas production facilities, in particular reliability and Health & Safety
  • Develop knowledge of risk mitigation by reliability engineering and risk management
  • Develop skills in critically assessing qualitative and quantitative approaches to risk management and mitigation in oil & gas production, including advanced techniques in reliability engineering and an ability to apply them to structural analysis and safety of existing and proposed systems.

  Indicative Content:

  • Risk Analysis Theory;
  • Hazard identification;
  • Risk management strategies and standards;
  • Reliability engineering as part of risk management and design process; Bayes’ Theorem;
  • Probability tree analysis;
  • Reliability of items;
  • Weibull analysis;
  • Continuous and discrete probability distributions;
  • Parameter estimation;
  • Reliability of systems;
  • Reliability Block Diagrams;
  • Markov Analysis;
  • Reliability of Structures;
  • Monto Carlo Simulation.
• Applied Engineering Mathematics

  This module will extend the mathematical background of students and provide underpinning mathematical concepts for all other modules in terms of advanced numerical methods for solving differential equations along with the use of advanced linear algebra operations in an appropriate software environment. The module content and teaching of those techniques and methodologies will be in the context of Oil and Gas engineering and will be based on relevant physical examples.

  Indicative Content:

  Linear algebra
  Computer based solution of systems of algebraic equations obtained from engineering problems, matrix theory, Gaussian elimination, solution of non-linear algebraic equations for eigenvalues and eigenvectors.

  Paid differential equations and numerical methods
  Discretisation of differential equations; outline treatment of classical methods of solution of partial differential equations (for example: separation of variables, Laplace transforms, Fourier transforms, wavelet transforms, Green’s function). The Poisson equation in 1D and 2D, the Galerkin finite element method and finite difference methods.

  Introduction to programming for engineeers
  Will introduce an appropriate generic programming language and outline the use of open source Finite Element codes and numerical libraries. The students will thus be exposed to the practical computer implementation of numerical techniques and by doing so acquire an understanding of how commercial codes function and allow them to develop their modelling skills.

• Dissertation
  The dissertation aims to provide students with an opportunity to plan and execute a major professional project leading to a dissertation containing original work, to develop their communications, time management, research and development skills, to articulate their knowledge gained in their undergraduate programme and during the earlier parts of the MSc programme, and to work independently in consultation with their academic supervisor.