Department of Petroleum Engineering

PETE 201: Introduction to Petroleum Engineering

1 credit: 1 50-minute lecture per week
Required

Catalog Description: The course's main goal is to provide the student with an overview of
the petroleum industry: its history, technical achievements, role in the global economy and
future prospects. A brief introduction to modern exploration, production and processing
operations is included as well as highlights of the petroleum industry in Saudi Arabia and the
Middle East. The PETE curriculum at KFUPM is also highlighted.

Prerequisite: None

Textbook: M.A. Al-Marhoun and S.A. Abu-Khamsin, Introduction to Petroleum

Engineering, KFUPM

Course Objectives:
1. Show the student the typical sequence of events leading to the discovery and
development of a petroleum reservoir.
2. Highlight the impact of the petroleum industry in the global economy.

Topics and Hours:

Topic Class Hrs
1. Basic chemistry of hydrocarbons 1
2. Petroleum origin, migration and entrapment 2
3. Exploration and drilling methods 3
4. Production and processing techniques 2
5. Reserve estimation and recovery enhancement 3
6. The SPE code of engineering ethics 1
7. The PETE curriculum at KFUPM 1
8. The petroleum industry in KSA 1
9. Impact of the petroleum industry locally & globally 1
Total Hours 15

Method of Evaluation:
Attendance: 10%
Short quizzes: 60%
Final exam: 30%
Total: 100%

Contribution to Professional Component:

Engineering Science and Design: All topics relate to the application of scientific and
engineering principles to the understanding of the process of hydrocarbon accumulation
and stages of reservoir discovery and exploitation.
Relationship of Course Learning Outcomes to Program Outcomes:
Course Learning Outcome Program Outcome
1. Understand the origin of petroleum and Understanding of professional and ethical
the process of its accumulation. responsibilities.
2. Become aware of basic exploration, Understanding of the impact of the
drilling and production techniques; petroleum industry in the global,
understand the meaning of petroleum economic, environmental and social
recovery and reserves. context.
3. Appreciate the ethical resposibilities of
a petroleum engineer towards the
profession and society.
4. Become aware of the role of the
petroleum industry in the world's
economy.

Prepared by: Mr. Sidqi Abu-Khamsin, April 2010.

Instructors: Dr. Muhammad Al-Marhoun, Professor, Department of Petroleum Engineering,
3-210, (03) 860-2536, marhounm@kfupm.edu.sa., Dr. Sidqi A. Abu-Khamsin, Ph.D.,
Professor, Department of Petroleum Engineering, 3-212, (03) 860-2699,
skhamsin@kfupm.edu.sa; Mr. Mansour Al-Dhafeer, MS., Lecturer, Department of Petroleum
Engineering, 3-204, (03) 860-3467, mdhafer@kfupm.edu.sa.