Welcome to the Department of Petroleum Engineering Facebook

The University of North Dakota's School of Engineering and Mines offers the only Petroleum Engineering degree program in the state.

In 2009, North Dakota became the fourth largest oil producing state in the U.S. Advances in recovery methods from the huge reserves of North Dakota’s Williston Basin contributed to this growth. This increase in oil production has reversed the trend of declining domestic oil production. The Petroleum Engineering program at UND is aimed at educating petroleum engineers to meet the growing demands in North Dakota and elsewhere. The vision for the Petroleum Engineering program is to educate future generations of Petroleum Engineers who can contribute to building a better world through professional service and research for safe, reliable, and affordable energy production and environmental protection. UND Petroleum Engineering degree program emphasizes the development of technical problem solving skills through a fundamental understanding of geology, chemistry, physics, and engineering. The fundamentals and problem solving skills are combined with a strong background in ethics, safety, economics, information technology, leadership, management, inter-culture, and communication. The Petroleum Engineering program is designed to provide students with a systematic understanding of the petroleum industry that includes: science and technology; economics and business; policy and regulation; and society and behavior.

The UND Department of Petroleum Engineering has access to extensive laboratory facilities that are currently being utilized to conduct physical and chemical testing and computer modeling. In addition, the Wilson M. Laird Core and Sample Library that contains cores cut in the North Dakota portion of the oil- and coal-rich Williston Basin is utilized in several of the required Petroleum Engineering courses. Students will participate in on-going research programs on methods to enhance the recovery of oil and gas from the huge unconventional oil reserve in the Bakken formation, and sequestration of CO₂.

UND Petroleum Engineering Vision Statement:

Educate future generations of Petroleum Engineers who can contribute to building a better world through research and professional service for safe, reliable, and affordable energy production and environmental protection.

Degree Program Educational Objectives:

The undergraduate Program Educational Objectives (PEO) are the expected accomplishments of graduates during their first few years following graduation. The PEOs of the Department of Petroleum Engineering (PTRE) as adopted by the PTRE faculty, and Industry Advisor Board are as follows:

1. Perform as engineering professionals in industry, including government or academia;
2. Pursue continued education and professional development through participation in professional organizations and possible post graduate education;
3. Progression or attainment of professional registration and licensure.

For more information about the new Bachelors of Science degree in Petroleum Engineering offered in the School of Engineering and Mines, please contact the Department.