Energy Resources and Petroleum Engineering (ERPE)
Aims and Scope
Research and education, as well as their transformative potential, are central to KAUST’s mission.. KAUST educates scientific and technological leaders, catalyzes the diversification of the Saudi Arabian economy and addresses challenges of regional and global significance, thereby serving the Kingdom, the region and the world. Through the synergy of science and technology, with a focus on innovation and enterprise, KAUST is a catalyst for transforming people’s lives.
Faculty and students in the Energy Resources and Petroleum Engineering (ERPE) program at KAUST engage in interdisciplinary research to understand and model hydro-chemo-thermo-mechanical coupled processes in the subsurface, with emphasis on multiphase and reactive fluid flow (oil, gas, brine, water and steam).
The Energy Resources and Petroleum Engineering program for both M.Sc. and Ph.D. students focuses on modern reservoir description, engineering and management. Students in this program receive broad training in basic scientific concepts and thermodynamics, geology, geophysical characterization, and reservoir engineering. Students participate in scientific research activities that may include mathematical analyses, computational modeling, and/or laboratory/field studies. Ph.D. candidates focus on original research driven to advance the boundaries of knowledge.
Assessment Test
Students are admitted to KAUST from a wide variety of programs and backgrounds. In order to facilitate the design of an appropriate study plan, all admitted students without a master’s degree are required to take a written assessment exam when they arrive on campus. The purpose of the assessment is to determine whether students have mastered the prerequisites for undertaking graduate-level courses taught in the program. The academic advisor works with admitted students to develop a study plan if needed. Students are encouraged to prepare for the assessment by refreshing the general knowledge gained from their undergraduate education before arriving at KAUST. The study plan requirements must be satisfactorily completed, in addition to the University degree requirements.