Graduate Program
Graduate Program
The Craft and Hawkins Department of Petroleum Engineering is one of the leading energy programs in the areas of exploration, development, drilling, production, and management of oil and gas resources, and emerging domains in energy transition and sustainability.
Our programs prepare students for advanced roles in the energy sector, by building a strong technical foundation in petroleum engineering while adapting to new industry trends. Strong curriculum and research are vital components across all degree programs, with students engaged in cutting-edge projects in collaboration with industry and academia.
Focus areas include:
- Reservoir Engineering: Reservoir simulation, characterization, optimization, and enhanced oil recovery methods.
- Drilling and Well Engineering: Advanced technologies, wellbore design, completion strategies, and operational excellence.
- Production Engineering: Multiphase flow testing at field scale, production system optimization, and flow assurance challenges.
- Unconventional Resources: Development of shale gas, tight oil, and other unconventional hydrocarbons like gas hydrates, with expertise in hydraulic fracturing and stimulation technologies.
- Energy Transition and Sustainability: Carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS), geothermal energy development, underground hydrogen storage (UHS), geologic hydrogen, and critical mineral extraction from produced waters.
- Sensing Technologies and Data Analytics: Advancement of drilling, production, and reservoir management through fiber optics, smart sensor technologies and data analytics.
Degrees Offered
- Master of Science (M.S) in Petroleum Engineering (Thesis or Non-thesis)
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) in Petroleum Engineering
| Applicant (On-Camputs) | Fall | Spring | Summer |
| Domestic Students | June 15 | November 1 | April 15 |
| International Students | May 1 | September 15 | April 1 |
The MS and PhD programs are open to student's holding degrees in petroleum engineering, other engineering disciplines, or sciences.
Admissions criteria vary slightly between institutions but generally include:
- A bachelor’s degree in petroleum engineering or a related field
- Strong GPA (usually 3.0 or higher)
- GRE scores (minimum 300)
- Statement of purpose
- Letters of recommendation
- TOEFL or IELTS scored for international students
For students with a degree in other engineering fields or science, additional coursework is required with no graduate credit. The amount is based on the student's previous academic training.
Students with a B.S. in Petroleum Engineering
These students can finish graduate work in 3 regular semesters. LSU students may sometimes shorten this period to 2 regular semesters if they qualify to take 2 or more courses for graduate credit during their last semester as an undergraduate. The minimum requirement is 30 semester hours of graduate work, 24 hours of which must be in course work. At least 15 semester hours must be in courses either at or above the 7000 level. Students will concentrate in petroleum engineering, but the department may require a minor of 6 semester hours in a related field.
Students with a B.S. in Other Engineering Fields
Students whose degrees are in other engineering fields should expect a graduate program of at least 4 semesters. They will be required to take additional courses in geology and petroleum engineering. The additional courses will be based on the individual student’s previous training. The usual curriculum is given below. The department may make changes based on the student’s previous academic training. Courses showing zero credit hours are not credited toward the degree.
The following examples assume a thesis option. For a non-thesis option, substitute 12 hours of elective credit for the 6 hours of PETE 8000.
First Semester…Credit Hrs.
GEOL 1001 (Physical)…0
PETE 2031 (Rock Properties)…0
PETE 2032 (Fluid Properties)…0
PETE 3036 (Well Logging)…0
TOTAL CREDIT HOURS …0
Second Semester
PETE 4051 (Reservoir)…3
PETE 4045 (Drilling)…3
PETE elective, 4000 level…3
PETE 3053 or GEOL elective…0
TOTAL CREDIT HOURS…
Third Semester
PETE 4046 (Well Design)…3
PETE 4052 (Well Testing)…3
PETE elective, 7000 level…3
PETE 8000 (Thesis)…1
TOTAL CREDIT HOURS….10
Fourth Semester
PETE elective, 7000 level…3
PETE elective, 7000 level…3
PETE 8000 (Thesis)…5
TOTAL CREDIT HOURS…11
Students with a B.S. in Science
Students with a B.S. in science whose curriculum included chemistry, physics, and mathematics through calculus may be admitted but will be required to take additional courses in geology, engineering science, and petroleum engineering. The additional courses will be based on the individual student’s previous training. Students should expect the graduate program of at least 5 semesters. The usual curriculum is listed below. However, the department may make changes based on an individual student’s previous training. Courses showing zero credit do not count as credit toward the degree.
First Semester……Credit Hrs.
GEOL 1001 (Physical)…0
PETE 2031 (Rock Properties)…0
PETE 2032 (Fluid Properties)…0
Statistics…0
TOTAL CREDIT HOURS…0
Second Semester
Dynamics…0
Fluid Mechanics…0
Strength of Materials…0
PETE 3036 (Well Logging)…0
TOTAL CREDIT HOURS…0
Third Semester
PETE 4051 (Reservoir)…3
PETE 4045 (Drilling)…3
PETE elective, 4000 level…3
Electrical Engineering or Thermodynamics…0
TOTAL CREDIT HOURS…9
Fourth Semester
PETE 4046 (Well Design)…3
PETE 4052 (Well Testing)…3
PETE elective, 7000 level…3
PETE 8000 (Thesis)…1
TOTAL CREDIT HOURS…10
Fifth Semester
PETE elective, 7000 level…3
PETE elective, 7000 level…3
PETE 8000 (Thesis)…5
TOTAL CREDIT HOURS…11
For Ph.D. programs, prior research experience is beneficial, and a strong academic track record is essential.
PETE 7101 Reservoir Engineering: Reservoir engineering principles: reservoir classification; reservoir rock and fluid properties and their measurements; material balance for oil and gas systems; flow in porous media; pressure and rate transient analysis; reservoir displacement mechanisms and models; case studies, applications, and recent advances.
PETE 7102 Production Engineering: Fundamentals of production engineering; inflow performance; tubing performance; systems analysis; separation and surface facilities design; liquid loading and artificial lift design; design of completions. Recent advances and case studies.
PETE 7103 Drilling Engineering Principles: Overview of drilling engineering and drilling fluids; common drilling problems and their solutions; drilling hydraulics; well control; managed pressure drilling; directional drilling; wellbore stability; advanced topics and case studies.
PETE 7104 Mathematical Modeling for Petroleum Engineering: Review of physical problem formulation; analytical and approximate techniques for the solution of linear and nonlinear differential equation models in petroleum engineering systems.
PETE 7241 (Special Topics): Reactive Transport Modeling: Governing equations for continuity, energy and momentum conservation, fluid flow equations, advection-dispersion equation, reactive transport equation - coupling of reaction processes, reactive transport modeling, multiscale approaches; case studies and class project.
PETE 7241 (Special Topics in Advanced Petroleum Engineering) Multiscale Simulation of Unconventional Resources: Fluid storage and transport in conventional and unconventional resources; numerical simulation of fractured unconventional resources; fracture modeling; multiscale finite volume methods; molecular dynamics; Monte Carlo simulation; multiscale simulation of coupled geomechanics and fluid transport in unconventional resources.
PETE 7241 (Special Topics): Geochemistry of Subsurface Storage: Geochemical reactions and equations – kinetic and equilibrium models, aqueous complexations, redox reactions and surface complexation, mineral dissolution and precipitation, biogeochemical reactions, case studies and class project.
Students have access to state-of-the-art laboratories and research centers for hands-on experience with industry-standard equipment and technologies, preparing them for real-world challenges:
The Petroleum Engineering Research and Technology Transfer (PERTT) Laboratory: A one-in-a-nation field-scale well facility where students can perform full-scale tests in drilling, completion, and production engineering.
Equipped with high-performance computers and software for reservoir simulation, well modeling, data analytics, and 3D-immersive visualization.
A key strength of LSU’s PETE program is its close ties with the oil and gas industry:
Graduate students participate in projects sponsored by major oil and service companies like Chevron, ExxonMobil, BP, Shell, Baker Hughes, Halliburton and Schlumberger.
Programs offer students opportunities for internships with leading energy companies, providing real-world experience.
Active chapters of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) and other organizations foster professional development and networking.
Graduates from LSU’s PETE programs are highly sought after in a variety of energy roles, including:
Working with major and independent oil companies on upstream activities.
Advising on best practices in drilling, production, and reservoir management.
Opportunities in AI, machine learning, and analytics in energy operations.
Roles in carbon management, renewable energy, and environmental impact mitigation.
Employers of graduates include major oil companies (ExxonMobil, Chevron, Shell), service companies (Halliburton, Schlumberger), national labs and academia as well as an increasing number of renewable energy firms and startups focused on energy transition technologies.
Funding options for graduate students include:
- Research and Teaching Assistantships (RA/TA): These positions provide stipends, tuition waivers, and health benefits in exchange for research or teaching duties.
- Fellowships and Scholarships: Competitive fellowships are available, such as the Clayton Program.
- Industry Sponsorships: Students often receive financial support through industry-funded research projects.
Contact Information
Dr. Seung Ihl Kam
Graduate Advisor
kam@lsu.edu
Ms. Janet Dugas
Graduate Coordinator
mdugas3@lsu.edu
Graduate School Admissions
114 West David Boyd Hall
Louisiana State University
Baton Rouge, LA 70803
gradadmission@lsu.edu