Petroleum Technology Initiative

Department of Engineering Technology

Overview

The Petroleum Technology Initiative (PTI) is an industry-coordinated, workforce-directed initiative designed to complement current programs. The program is primarily focused on utilizing industry retirees, as well as Houston area facilities and personnel to teach and/or mentor students.

Several courses have been introduced as senior electives to the Mechanical Engineering Technology program in the field of Surface Petroleum Operations. In addition to the courses counting as electives within the Mechanical Engineering program, a Petroleum Technology Certificate will be awarded to students who take at least four of the PTI courses. The effort has generated strong interest and support from major companies and organizations, including Halliburton, ExxonMobil, Merrick Systems, FMC Technologies, Transocean, the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), the Association of Wellhead Equipment Manufacturers (AWHEM), and the Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA).

Most recently, PTI has developed partnership opportunities with the Houston Museum of Natural Science, Wiess Energy Hall, to create awareness and industry support for the program. A partnership has been formed with Simprentis, a UK company that has developed a computer-based educational simulation exploration module. There are plans to extend the package to include development, production, and downstream modules. The future use of these modules should help develop interest in the program, as well as potentially being used as part of the program.

PTI has highlighted the University of Houston and its energy programs at the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) to create awareness and industry support for the program. In consultation with industry leaders, PTI is defining the desired skills and competencies of a graduate ready to contribute to the emerging field of Digital Energy.

For more information about the Petroleum Initiative, please contact Jack Christiansen at 713-743-5874 or email: jhchristiansen@uh.edu.

Page Updated: May 9, 2013 at 8:26 AM

University of Houston - College of Technology