Petroleum Geology Program
The petroleum geology program provides course work and research opportunities that prepare graduates for professional careers as petroleum geologists.
Certificate for Petroleum Geology
North Dakota Petroleum Geology
North Dakota is the second largest producer of oil in the United States and has been a leader in developing the science and technology that has propelled the United States into the largest producer of oil in the world. The University of North Dakota is the leading research university that is connected to the Wilson Laird Core Library that contains over 90% of the cores and samples that have been collected in North Dakota for over half a century. UND is also the home of the Energy & Environmental Research Center. This makes UND the go to place for academic and industry professionals seeking new opportunities in developing the natural resources in North Dakota and beyond.
America Association of Petroleum Geologists Student Chapter. The HHSGGE has an active student chapter that provides support for networking with practicing professionals at national and regional meetings and field trips.
Computer Lab Resources
- Schlumberger Petrel – Reservoir modeling system
- IHS Petra – Geoinformation system
- Access to online data from the North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources
- Hyperspectral scans of 9,400 feet of North Dakota cores
- Developing computer vision systems
- Variety of general support software (MATLAB, Microsoft Office among others)
Laboratory Equipment
- Source Rock Analyzer for organic geochemical analysis of petroleum source rocks
- X-Ray Diffraction for mineral identification
- Nuclear Magnetic Resonance system for evaluating rock porosity
- Scanning Electron Microscope for high resolution imagery and chemical analysis
- Vitrinite Reflectance system for evaluating source rock maturity
- X-Ray Fluorescence systems for evaluating elemental composition of rocks and minerals
Research Opportunities
- Basin Analysis
- Petroleum source rock studies (i.e. Bakken, Tyler, Red River Formations)
- Reservoir rock characterization studies
- Petroleum System Evaluations
- Correlating hyperspectral images of core to mineralogy and lithology of cores
The School of Geology & Geological Engineering provides support for graduate research through teaching and research assistantships. Additional stipend and logistical support has come through outside agencies which include:
- UND Energy & Environmental Research Center
- Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
- North Dakota State Department of Health
- North Dakota Geological Survey
- North Dakota EPSCoR
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Industry sponsors