Overview
Brunel University London provides this world-leading MSc degree with scholarships for the next generation of oil and gas engineers. It is now also available as a Master's by Research degree (MScR) with increased flexibility, read full details here.
This unique, industry-focused MSc in Oil and Gas Engineering is delivered at the National Structural Integrity Research Centre (NSIRC), a state-of-the-art postgraduate engineering facility based at Granta Park, near Cambridge.
The aim of this postgraduate engineering degree is to develop you into a highly sought after oil and gas engineering specialist with the skills to rapidly design and commission oilfield installations to meet energy demands.
Our Oil and Gas Engineering MSc focuses on the design of oil and gas structures. You will gain a sound understanding and in-depth knowledge of oilfield structural design, fabrication and installation.
NSIRC is a unique academia-industry collaboration located within the headquarters of TWI. Here you'll find dedicated teaching and research laboratories including 15 million pounds worth of state-of-the-art equipment. You will benefit from access to a range of leading and industry-relevant software packages, as well as an on-site high-performance computing facility to run high-fidelity and complex numerical simulation to support your experimental work. As a Cambridge-based student, you’ll also have access to all the course-related facilities at Brunel and will enjoy regular organised visits to the Brunel University London campus.
Based within an industrial environment, there are excellent opportunities for networking, together with undertaking applied research on real engineering projects. Combined with the benefits of living in the Cambridge area, which includes historical, cultural and social attractions, NSIRC attracts international students and practising engineers, thus greatly enhancing your learning experience.
Brunel’s Oil and Gas Engineering MSc degree is accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) and the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3). The College of Engineering, Design and Physical Sciences & TWI are offering the NSIRC scholarship for Home, EU and Overseas fee paying students starting the full-time MSc in Oil and Gas Engineering in September 2022.
Watch our Oil and Gas Engineering MSc course video here
Click here to download the course brochure
Click here to read about the new Master's by Research study mode.
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Course content
The course is delivered in intensive module blocks typically over two weeks, with 35 hours of contact time. Students will study four modules in the first term, and four in the second. You will then work on your industry-driven dissertation which represents about four months of full-time effort. Your dissertation project will address a challenge or problem relevant to the oil and gas sector.
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:
- 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
- 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
- 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. - DissertationThe 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.
This course can be studied undefined undefined, starting in undefined.
Please note that all modules are subject to change.
Read more about the structure of postgraduate degrees at Brunel
Careers and your future
There is a global shortage of qualified specialists in the oil and gas sector, and skilled professionals are enjoying rising salaries.
Our graduates find employment in oilfield services companies, engineering consulting or with upstream oil and gas producers and downstream refineries.
We actively encourage graduates from this MSc degree to continue their studies through a PhD. A number of projects are available through the NSIRC route.
UK entry requirements
- A 2:2 (or above) UK Honours degree or equivalent internationally recognised qualification in a relevant branch of engineering or science.
Other qualifications and relevant experience will be assessed on an individual basis.
Entry to this programme requires all students who are not nationals of the European Economic Area (EEA) and have temporary immigration permission to remain in the UK to obtain an ATAS certificate. If you are made an offer to join this course and you are not an EEA national, you will be required to obtain an ATAS certificate as a condition of your offer.
The deadline for Admissions to make offers to applicants who will require an ATAS certificate is 5 August 2024. This is to ensure any offer holders who need an ATAS certificate have plenty of time to obtain the certificate before their course starts.
This course is now closed to new applications for September 2024 from visa requiring applicants who will need an ATAS certificate to study the course. This is because there will not be enough time to obtain the ATAS certificate and apply for a student visa before the start of the course.
EU and International entry requirements
If you require a Tier 4 visa to study in the UK, you must prove knowledge of the English language so that we can issue you a Certificate of Acceptance for Study (CAS). To do this, you will need an IELTS for UKVI or Trinity SELT test pass gained from a test centre approved by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) and on the Secure English Language Testing (SELT) list. This must have been taken and passed within two years from the date the CAS is made.
English language requirements
- IELTS: 6 (min 5.5 in all areas)
- Pearson: 59 (59 in all sub scores)
- BrunELT: 58% (min 55% in all areas)
- TOEFL: 77 (min R18, L17, S20, W17)
You can find out more about the qualifications we accept on our English Language Requirements page.
Should you wish to take a pre-sessional English course to improve your English prior to starting your degree course, you must sit the test at an approved SELT provider for the same reason. We offer our own BrunELT English test and have pre-sessional English language courses for students who do not meet requirements or who wish to improve their English. You can find out more information on English courses and test options through our Brunel Language Centre.
Please check our Admissions pages for more information on other factors we use to assess applicants. This information is for guidance only and each application is assessed on a case-by-case basis. Entry requirements are subject to review, and may change.
Fees and funding
2024/25 entry
UK
£13,750 full-time
£6,875 part-time
International
£25,000 full-time
£12,500 part-time
More information on any additional course-related costs.
Fees quoted are per year and are subject to an annual increase.
See our fees and funding page for full details of postgraduate scholarships available to Brunel applicants.
Scholarships and bursaries
Teaching and learning
To ensure students enrolled on these programmes receive the maximum support and have the greatest opportunity to reach their full potential they are expected to attend in-person for all teaching activities including examinations.
The programmes are delivered at NSIRC, TWI Ltd Granta Park, near Cambridge. All staff, students and external contributors to the programmes will comply with current Brunel University London and TWI operating practices, and in accordance with Government advice.
The student experience and opportunities from the industry-based course delivery remains a key aspect of the NSIRC programmes and the expectation is all students will attend in-person.
All essential core texts are available as e-books through the Brunel University London Library.
Laboratory Support
For modules with practical learning content, these will be delivered in-person in the NSIRC laboratories.
Assessment
Examinations will be taken in-person at NSIRC.
Access to specialist software
On arrival at NSIRC in the UK all students (full and part-time) are leant a Brunel laptop for the duration of their programme. This will enable access to relevant engineering software to support their studies, subject to an internet connection. Students are also able to install software on their own personal laptops and connect to the Brunel License server through a VPN connection. This provides continued access to all services, as out of hours working is not possible at NSIRC.
Contingency
If for any reason NSIRC restricts access to staff or students, alternative arrangements will be made and due notice given.
Access to a laptop or desktop PC is required for joining online activities, completing coursework and digital exams, and a minimum specification can be found here.
We have computers available across campus for your use and laptop loan schemes to support you through your studies. You can find out more here.
Our oil and gas engineering degree is delivered by multidisciplinary lecturers with a broad range of skills, and you’ll also learn and work alongside leading engineering academics and industrial experts at TWI.
Study will combine lectures, seminars, tutorials, computing sessions, laboratory sessions, independent research, and individual and group project work.
You are provided with a Brunel laptop and can access licensed engineering software. This means, as a ‘mobile learner’, you will carry out guided self-study outside of teaching contact time.
Assessment and feedback
Your work will be assessed through coursework, technical reports, research assignments, oral presentations, structured debates, individual and group projects, exams and your dissertation project.