Introduction to Petroleum Engineering (Coursera)

Introduction to Petroleum Engineering (Coursera)

In this course, you will learn such concepts as oil and gas production, reservoir energy and forces, petroleum deposit drainage, development systems, well operation techniques and much more. Each participant in the course will develop an understanding of field life cycle and interdisciplinary approach to petroleum field development and operation.

Class Deals by MOOC List - Click here and see Coursera's Active Discounts, Deals, and Promo Codes.

Throughout the course, we will address the following topical areas:
• History of oil and gas application, international petroleum reserves.
• Fundamentals of Petroleum Geology: rock cycle; oil, gas and water deposits; oil and gas composition; oil generation; prospecting for oil and gas fields.
• Major exploration techniques, seismic methods, well testing; basics of reservoir engineering and modelling.
• Basics of well drilling and production.
What You Will Learn

  • Analyse and apply theoretical knowledge in the area of petroleum geology, reservoir engineering and production technology
  • Describe major exploration and production techniques and processes
  • Distinguish between major enhanced oil and gas recovery techniques
  • Understand application areas of petrochemical products

Syllabus

WEEK 1
Introduction: petroleum in our life
This module serves as a basic introduction to the petroleum industry. You will learn about the history of oil discovery and production, as well as its very first use cases. The module highlights the geographical distribution of hydrocarbons, the structure of the petroleum industry, price formation, and current trends and challenges that face oil and gas companies around the globe.

WEEK 2
Petroleum geology
This module invites you to learn about petroleum field development and what geologists need to know. Before we are able to produce oil, we need to find a field with sufficient hydrocarbon reserves. To determine whether a given area has any commercial petroleum deposits, it is important to know the rock cycle and various types of sedimentary rocks, understand how oil and gas fields are formed, estimate and analyse reservoir properties.

WEEK 3
Exploration Geophysics. Well Logging. Well Testing
This module gives you a basic overview of exploration geophysics, petrophysics, and well testing. You will learn about different methods and techniques geologists and geophysicists use to build maps and study rock outcrops, determine reservoir properties, and find out whether it contains oil and gas.

WEEK 4
Reservoir Engineering
This module describes the main field development stages, which form the complete field life cycle. You will learn about the difference between geological and hydrodynamic models, what recovery methods exist, what well patterns are, and how to use waterflooding. This new knowledge will help you to predict a reservoir’s behavior in response to various development scenarios.

WEEK 5
Drilling
This module provides a general description of the well construction process, which is the essential part of oil or gas field development. You will get to know major drilling-related terms and procedures, learn different types of wells and equipment used to assemble drilling rigs, extract oil from underground reservoirs, and make a well ready for production. This process could be rather challenging, thus you will also gain a basic understanding of drilling complications.

WEEK 6
Production Technology
This module describes the techniques petroleum engineers use to extract hydrocarbons from an underground reservoir and keep the flow of formation fluid steady up to the surface. You will also learn about various lift methods and types of equipment, understand the difference between gas and oil well operations, as well as the ways of production from multiple formations with only one well.

WEEK 7
Enhanced Recovery Techniques
This module is dedicated to reservoir stimulation operations that restore and improve well performance. You will learn how to select wells for stimulation, what techniques to choose, how to perform hydraulic fracturing and acidizing. These skills will help you to control the field development process and keep the desired oil production rate.

WEEK 8
Exam

Go to Class
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

Introduction to Chemistry: Reactions and Ratios (Coursera) Coursera
Duke University

Introduction to Chemistry: Reactions and Ratios (Coursera)

This is an introductory course for students with limited background in chemistry; basic concepts involved in chemical reactions, stoichiometry, the periodic table, periodic trends, nomenclature, and chemical problem solving will be emphasized with the goal of preparing students for further study in chemistry as needed for many science, health, and policy professions.

Sep 7th 2026
5-12 Weeks
General Chemistry: Concept Development and Application (Coursera) Coursera
Rice University

General Chemistry: Concept Development and Application (Coursera)

This course will cover the topics of a full year, two semester General Chemistry course. We will use a free on-line textbook, Concept Development Studies in Chemistry, available via Rice’s Connexions project. The fundamental concepts in the course will be introduced via the Concept Development Approach developed at Rice University. In this approach, we will develop the concepts you need to know from experimental observations and scientific reasoning rather than simply telling you the concepts and then asking you to simply memorize or apply them.

Sep 7th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Thermodynamique : fondements (Coursera) Coursera
École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

Thermodynamique : fondements (Coursera)

Ce cours vous apportera une compréhension des concepts fondamentaux de la thermodynamique du point de vue de la physique, de la chimie et de l’ingénierie. Il est scindé un deux MOOCs. Dans la première partie, le Professeur J.-Ph. Ansermet de l’EPFL et son collaborateur le Dr. Sylvain Bréchet ont rassemblé en quatre leçons tous les principes fondamentaux de la thermodynamique. La deuxième partie du MOOC illustre l’approche thermodynamique par une série d’applications présentées par des spécialistes provenant de diverses institutions partenaires du réseau RESCIF.

Sep 14th 2026
4 Weeks
Science & Religion 101 (Coursera) Coursera
University of Alberta

Science & Religion 101 (Coursera)

This course examines the nature of both science and religion and attempts to explore the possible relationships between them. The primary purpose is to dispel the popular myth that science and religion are entrenched in a never-ending conflict. As a result, this course argues that if the limits of both science and religion are respected, then their relationship can be complementary.

Aug 31st 2026
5-12 Weeks
Iniciándome en la Química (Coursera) Coursera
Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana

Iniciándome en la Química (Coursera)

En este curso aprenderás los conocimientos básicos de química general que te permitirán tener una mejor comprensión del estudio de la química, así como de la naturaleza. A lo largo del curso aprenderás la clasificación de la materia y sus propiedades, las teorías atómicas, la clasificación periódica, los tipos de enlaces y nomenclatura inorgánica.

Sep 14th 2026
4 Weeks
Ebola: Essential knowledge for health professionals (Coursera) Coursera
University of Amsterdam,Universiteit Utrecht

Ebola: Essential knowledge for health professionals (Coursera)

March 2014 marked the starting point of the largest outbreak of Ebola virus disease in history. Although the disease seems to be on a decrease, we are not there yet and new outbreaks will surely emerge. New efforts to combat the outbreak are necessary. This is why we developed this online course about Ebola, targeted at health professionals across the world. In this course you will cover the fundamental knowledge any health professional should have with expected or confirmed cases or a general interest in the Ebola disease.

Sep 21st 2026
5-12 Weeks
Una aproximación a la química del carbono (Coursera) Coursera
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México

Una aproximación a la química del carbono (Coursera)

En este curso, ofrecido por la UNAM, conocerás cómo se forman los compuestos orgánicos y sus propiedades físicas generales, desde la composición del petróleo hasta la obtención de hidrocarburos y los diferentes grupos funcionales. Comprenderás la estructura química de los diferentes hidrocarburos y grupos funcionales, así como las reacciones características que los distinguen. Reconocerás la importancia y el impacto ambiental del petróleo y los materiales poliméricos.

Sep 7th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Mastering bitumen for better roads and innovative applications (Coursera) Coursera
École des Ponts ParisTech

Mastering bitumen for better roads and innovative applications (Coursera)

During the four coming weeks, best experts in bitumen will bring you their knowledge and experience to build a strong understanding of today’s realities and new perspectives on the future of bitumen. Total is the European leader on bitumen markets. Innovation has always been the key to sustainability and durability in the products they develop. Their main objective here is to share technical knowledge and experience to insure bitumen are being used in the most effective and efficient ways for their different applications in road works.

Sep 7th 2026
4 Weeks
Oil & Gas Industry Operations and Markets (Coursera) Coursera
Duke University

Oil & Gas Industry Operations and Markets (Coursera)

The oil and gas industry has an enormous impact on all aspects of daily life. Individuals, corporations, and national governments make financial and policy decisions based on the cost, use, and availability of these two natural resources. This two-week course looks at the two most fundamental aspects of the oil and gas industry, its operations and markets, each of which is addressed as a separate module in the course.

Sep 2nd 2026
2 Weeks
Chemistry (Coursera) Coursera
University of Kentucky

Chemistry (Coursera)

This course is designed to cover subjects in advanced high school chemistry courses, correlating to the standard topics as established by the American Chemical Society. This course is a precursor to the Advanced Chemistry Coursera course. Areas that are covered include atomic structure, periodic trends, compounds, reactions and stoichiometry, bonding, and thermochemistry.

Sep 7th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Natural Gas (Coursera) Coursera
University at Buffalo,The State University of New York

Natural Gas (Coursera)

This course will educate you in the characteristics and properties of natural gas, preparing you with the ability to summarize gas system components and new pipeline technologies. You will be enabled to grasp the key factors behind formation of the natural gas industry and the historical use of natural gas. Ultimately, you will be able to identify gas and carbon monoxide safety procedures.

Sep 7th 2026
4 Weeks