Oil and Gas Technology, MSc

About Oil and Gas Technology, MSc - at Heriot-Watt University

The oil and gas industry faces several challenges in the supply of oil and gas, both as energy and sources of chemical raw materials. There are a large number of areas in the world where reservoirs are in decline and a number of new reservoirs that are more challenging to produce from. Both present major technical challenges to the oil and gas operators. Of equal difficulty is maintaining the number of engineers within the industry who have the necessary skills and knowledge needed to produce oil and gas. This programme was developed to provide engineers entering the oil and gas industry with the background and knowledge of these challenges.

Traditionally in the UK, the vast majority of engineers enter the industry through two routes; either as facilities or surface engineers or through the petroleum engineering or sub-surface engineering route.

This programme was been designed with the help of the industry to provide a cross over between surface and sub-surface engineering functions with the intent that future oil and gas operations can be better optimised to enhance recovery of the reserves. In order to maximise recovery, surface engineers in an operating company must communicate effectively with the reservoir and production engineers within their own company as well as develop relationships with and assess the work of contractors and vendors when designing and constructing facilities. Therefore, surface engineers need to be competent not only in the areas of process design, pipeline engineering, but also be familiar with reservoir engineering, production technology and a variety of other engineering and management subjects, such as safety and control, management of projects, economics and planning, etc.

The programme is organised and managed through the School of Engineering and Physical Sciences and offers courses in process, mechanical and petroleum engineering. It is suitable for those with a background in chemical and process engineering, mechanical engineering and related engineering disciplines. Taught courses cover topics in fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, pipeline engineering, materials, corrosion, process engineering, reservoir engineering, economics and petroleum production technology.

Programme duration

• 12 months for the MSc

Notes about fees for this course

Status*Full-timePart-timePer courseScotland / Non-UK EU£5,360 £2,680 £670England / Northern Ireland / Wales£5,360 £2,680 £670Overseas£18,120 £9,060 £2,265

* If you are unsure which category you fall in to, you should complete a fee status enquiry form, which allows us to assess your fees.

** Fee per course

Scholarships and bursaries

We aim to encourage well-qualified, ambitious students to study with us and we offer a wide variety of scholarships and bursaries to achieve this. Over £6 million worth of opportunities are available in fee and stipend scholarships, and more than 400 students benefit from this support.

View our full range of postgraduate taught scholarships.

Entry requirements

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