INTRODUCTION
Vietnam like many other SE Asian countries is rich in mineral and energy resources, including oil & gas. The lack of home-based professionals in prospecting for mineral resources, petroleum exploration and production, nearshore reclamation, and risk management leaves much of this wealth to remain untapped. To meet the rising demands in HR due to the fast expanding Oil and Gas industry in the region the master program in Geo-Exploration and Petroleum Geo-Engineering (GEPG) of AIT is now offered beyond the Bangkok campus with the one-year professional master program being delivered in Ho Chi Minh city in cooperation with the AIT-Vietnam (AITVN) and other academic partners such as Kyoto, Heriot-Watts, Chulalongkorn, Oklahoma, Clausthal, and KIGAM.
The GEPG program has been set up at AIT since the early 2000s. It is an application-oriented program that has received the supports from many sponsors, including the governments and national organizations, big oil and gas companies. So far, GEPG graduated more than 50 graduates, many of them have completed or are pursuing PhD programs in well-known universities over the world as well as have become key staffs for a number of major oil and gas companies operating in the region.
The first batch of Professional master program in GEPG at AITCV, HCM City had successfully started in August 2008 with the students being the key staffs from well-known oil and gas companies in Vietnam such as Cuu Long JOC, Lam Son JOC, Con Son JOC, Truong Son JOC, Chevron, Hoan Vu JOC, Pearl Oil, Thang Long JOC, Nippon Oil and Salamander Energy etc.
The study program is offered with flexibility to suit with the staffs who are still on job. In addition to the course work overseas internship trips are an integral part of the curriculum
PROGRAM STRUCTURE AND DELIVERY
The students will obtain a degree of Professional Master of Engineering (PME) in Geo-Exploration and Petroleum Geo-Engineering (GEPG) by completing a 33-credit curriculum, consisting of 24 credits of courses of course work and 9 credits of internship, in one year period. Teaching is conducted in English.
TYPICAL STUDY PLAN
The professional master program in GEPG can be completed in minimum of 12 months time. In the first and second semesters, students will take subjects/courses in the following subjects
August – December Semester (12 Credits)
Fundamentals of Geo-Exploration
Petroleum Reservoir Engineering
Drilling and Well Completion Operation
Decision Analysis & Risk Management in O & G Industry
January – May Semester (12 Credits)
Exploration Geophysics
Petrophysics
Petroleum Production Engineering
Petroleum Geochemistry
Jun - August Internship Trip (9 credits):
Work flow of O&G Exploration and Production operation in Vietnam
Internship at a major O & G company in the SE Asia, If the students would like to do internship in other countries (e.g., in Europe, US etc.) an additional arrangement can be made as requested
COST OF STUDY
Total tuition fee is $US 13,800 including fee for an international field trip. Tuition fee is paid for the following items:
• Registration fee: 250USD/semester
• Tuition fee (350USD/credit) 11,550 USD
• International field trip 1,750 USD
QUALIFICATION OF APPLICANTS
1.Hold a 4-years bachelor degree or equivalent in Geology, Geophysics, Petroleum Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, and other related fields.
2.Professional staffs with at least two years of working experiences in related areas of oil and gas industry.
3.Proficiency in English that meet the AIT requirement
When applying for admission, applicants must submit
1.A completed AIT application form
2.A certificate copy of undergraduate certificate (in English)
3.A certificate official student transcript (in English)
4.Two letters of recommendation
ENGLISH ENTRY REQUIREMENT
AIT is an international institute with English as the sole language of instruction. Admission to AIT requires proof of English language proficiency.
Applicant who does not have yet a certificate of English language proficiency can apply for the English Test offered by AIT. The test fee is US$20.
PREPARATION ENGLISH TRAINING PROGRAM
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Interested applicants who meet the qualifications for admission can download application forms at: http://www.ait.ac.th/admissions/forms.html. To apply for admission, applicants must submit:
· A completed AIT application form
· A certified copy of undergraduate certificate (in English).
· A certified official student transcript (in English).
· Two letters of recommendation.
· TOEFL (Internet-based: 61, Computer-Based: 173, or Paper-Based: 500), IELTS (4.5) or a Certificate of English proficiency
· Application fee is of 20 USD. The fee is settled when the applicant sumits his/her application to AITCV.
SELECTION PROCESS
The selection to the program is based on several criteria such as academic qualifications, experience and level of responsibility of the applicant. An interview may also be arranged before the final selection is made.
Admission schedule:
Intake | August |
| First Deadline for application (for those who needs English training) | 30 May |
| First Entrance Test and Interview for admission to the Master Program | 2 - 13 June |
| Intensive English training | 15 June - 31 July |
| Second Deadline for application submission (for those who do not need more English training) | 30 July |
| Second Entrance Test and Interview for admission to the Master Program | 1 - 6 August |
| Start of class | August/September |
TEACHING SCHEDULE
Each course is separated in two modules. Duration of a module is a week from Monday through Saturday. The students need to spend about two weeks per month to attend two the classes as scheduled below:
- Monday: 18h00 – 21h00
- Tuesday: 18h00 – 21h00
- Wednesday: 18h00 – 21h00
- Thurday: 18h00 – 21h00
- Friday: 18h00 – 21h00
- Saturday: 09h00 - 12h00 & 13h00 - 16h00
CE71.69 Fundamentals of Geosystem Exploration 3 (3-0)
To provide a fundamental understanding on geological and geophysical techniques to explore a geosystem or a part of its that need to be sustainably exploited or developed for economic and industrial growth of society, especially those are potential of mineral, groundwater and petroleum resources. The course is needed for engineers who would like to further specialize in hydrocarbon exploration and production (E&P).
Course description: Geosystem concept in global and local scale; Fundamentals of rocks and minerals; Geological processes; Geosystems as targets of geological and geophysical exploration; Mineral, groundwater and petroleum resources; Elements of petroleum geology and petroleum hydrogeology; Geological and geophysical exploration techniques; Mineral exploration; Aspects of hydrocarbon exploration and production (E&P).
CE71.66 Petroleum Reservoir Engineering 3(3-0)
This course provides fundamental knowledge of properties and behaviors of petroleum reservoir and hydrocarbons in the reservoir.
Course description: Rock and fluid properties, volumetric calculation, reservoir types and drive mechanisms, material balance, decline curve analysis, fluid flow in porous media, well testing, immiscible displacement.
CE71.71 Drilling and Well Completion Operation 3(3-0)
With increasing demand and consumption for both oil and natural gas, most of all oil & gas companies accelerate their exploration and production activities in an effort to maintain the production output and exploit the opportunity. Drilling has been one of the forefront core operations. The main objective of this course is to outline drilling and well completion operations so that the students will have a better understanding of the well design, risk assessment, cost involved and environmental impact. Some local case studies and experiences with advanced drilling technology will be presented. The course is designed for the new technical staff as well as experienced technical staff, who may want to learn and/or enhance their knowledge related to drilling and well completion.
Course description: Fundamentals of rock mechanics applied for drilling. Stress-strain behavior; Basic drilling equipment; Casing design and cementation; Drilling fluids; Well completion; Risk assessment and management; Management of oil spill during operation; directional drilling and local case studies.
CE71.9001 Decision Analysis and Risk Management for O&G Industry 3(3-0)
The international oil and gas industry is one of the most important, highly capital-intensive and risky industries at global, regional, and local levels. Therefore, it is very crucial to carry out prudent economic evaluations of any capital investment’s commitment before resources are committed. This requires a through understanding of the techniques available and their application by all those involved in decision-making. Furthermore, Joint venture is now becoming the primary form of business organization in the oil and gas industry. Professionals need to know the risks involved in such business organizations, how to properly manage the risks.
Course description: Oil and gas project evaluations under risk and uncertainty, decision analysis, real options valuation. The oil and gas industry: common problems in oil and gas production and marketing; formation and management of joint ventures; managing risks in joint ventures
CE71.65 Exploration Geophysics 3(2-3)
To provide a comprehensive and advanced knowledge on geophysical exploration techniques, their applications and limitations in solving various geological, hydrogeological, geotechnical, and environmental problems, with an emphasis on mineral and petroleum resources exploration.
Course description: Overview on geophysical exploration, applications and limitations. Seismic: basic theory, seismic data processing and interpretation; Refraction and reflection seismic, 3D seismic. Electric: Natural and artificial electric methods, Electric imaging technique, Geoelectric forward and inverse analysis. Magnetic and gravity: fundamental relationship, field procedures, data reduction, processing and interpretation. Well logging: basic well logging types and interpretation. Other geophysical exploration methods; Exploration project planning and management; Practical and advanced topics for HC geophysical exploration.
CE71.70 Petrophysics 3(2-3) Petrophysics is one of the key courses for integrated and advanced studies in geophysical and reservoir engineering. This course is designed for geoscientists and reservoir engineers in demand throughout the petroleum industry, especially for those who work in an integrated asset teams. The course provides with the tools and techniques to fully characterize a geosystem in term of physical properties with an emphasis for a petroleum reservoir. An emphasis on naturally-fractured reservoir is provided.
Course description: Introduction to geology and petrophysics; Overview of the physical properties of rocks and different methods to determine and analyze them. Density, porosity, permeability, wet ability, internal surface (fractal geometry), electrical (resistivity, conductivity, dielectric constant, induced polarization, magnetic, acoustic or elastic properties (velocities, modules, stress-strain relationship), thermal properties and so on; Correlation between petrophysical parameters; Well logging techniques and borehole environment; Invasion profiles and invasion characteristics; Darcy’s law. Flow to vertical and horizontal wells; Presentation of petrophysical data. Formation waters characteristics and resistivity; Practical work with well log and core analysis and well pressure data. Some advanced topics in well logging and formation evaluation.
CE71.72 Petroleum Production Technology 3(3-0) This course provides knowledge of petroleum production system with the main focus on subsurface production (from the reservoir up to the wellhead).
Course description: Analysis of production system performance (Inflow performance, tubing performance, nodal analysis, Wellhead, choke, and flowline performance); flows in pipes (single phase flow, Multiphase vertical and horizontal flow, Flow through pipe restrictions, nodal analysis, artificial lift methods oil well pump, gas lift), and production enhancement (matrix acidizing, hydraulic fracturing).
CE71.9002: Petroleum Geochemistry 3(3-0)
Petroleum geochemistry evolved rapidly in the period 1970-2000 and is now a mature discipline widely used in many aspects of petroleum exploration. If one thinks of the petroleum system, petroleum geochemistry plays a role in characterizing the source rocks, evaluating thermal history of the source rocks and whether they have matured enough to generate oil or gas, monitoring migration pathways and playing a significant role in reservoir characterization.
Course description: To provide a basic knowledge of many of the important concepts and techniques of petroleum geochemistry to help understanding of reports and published papers that makes extensive use of geochemical data and techniques. To utilize of the basic concepts and apply them to various aspects of natural gas exploration and exploitation
CE71.63 Seminar Course: Work flow of O&G Exploration and Production operation in Vietnam
This course aims to give a better understanding of the practical side of the oil and gas exploration and production operations to the students. The course will be a combination of lectures, seminars as details below. The teaching of the course is largely carried out by the invited industrial experts.
- Lecture 01: Overview of E&P Operation: from Bidding to First Oil
- Lecture 02: Oil and Gas Economics, Policy and Management
- Lecture 03: Seismic Interpetation - Sequence Stratigraphy
- Lecture 04: Wireline Logging Operation and Petrophysics
- Lecture 05: Petroleum System Analysis
- Lecture 06: Integrated Interpretation of Geological, Seismic and Well Logging Data
AIT & Adjunct Faculty Members
Pham Huy Giao, Assistant Professor of Geoexploration & Petroleum Geoengineering, PME-GEPG Coordinator , AIT. MSc. Bucharest University ; ME & D.Eng., AIT . Geophysics , Geomechanics, FEM groundwater modeling.
Noppadol Phien-wej, Associate Professor of Geotechnical Engineering, Associate Dean of School of Engineering and Technology. MSc, Ph.D., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign . Rock Mechanics, Tunneling, Engineering and Applied Geology.
Stephen O. Ogunlana, Professor in Construction & Project Management, Herriot-Watt (UK).M.Sc. Univ. of Ife , Ph.D., Loughborough Univ. of Technology (U.K). Risk management, Stakeholder management, Project Simulation.
Andreas Weller, Professor of Petrophysics, Clausthal University of Technology (Germany). Dipl. Ing. PhD, Dr.rer.nat. habil., Mining Academy Freiberg . Petrophysics, Well Logging.
Richard Paul Philp, Professor of Petroleum Geochemistry, Univ. of Oklahoma (USA). B.Sc.,Univ. of Aberdeen; Ph.D & D.Sc. Univ. of Sydney; Petroleum Geochemistry
Suwat Athichanagorn, Assistant Professor in Petroleum Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand. MSc.,PhD, Stanford . Petroleum Engineering, Reservoir Engineering and Simulation, Well Testing.
Thitisak BoonpramoteLecturer, Dept. of Mining & Petroleum Engineering, Chulalongkorn Univ. (Thailand). M.Eng. & M.Sc. Chulalongkorn University, M.Sc. & Ph.D. Colorado School of Mines, Golden. Mining Engineering , Information Technology in Business, Mineral Economics
Sarunphong Articharte Managing Director , Energy & Environ. Synergy consultant Co., Ltd.MA MSc. (Double Degree) of Texas A&M Univ.- Kingsville. Drilling and Petroleum Engineering.
Seonghyung Jang Director of Petroleum & Marine Information Research Center Korea Inst. of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM). MSc., PhD., Hanyang Univ, Visiting Scholar, Colorado School of Mines. Seismic Processing, Gas Hydrate
Rhee, Chul Woo Professor, Chung Buk Univ., Korea. BSc., MSc., PhD., Seoul National Univ, Sequence Stratigraphy (Seismic Data Interpretation), Sedimentology (Field-oriented), Petroleum Geology
Le Hai An Lecturer and Dean, Faculty of Petroleum, Hanoi Univ. of Mining & Geology. MSc. Moscow State Geological Prospecting Univ.,MSc Univ. Brunei Darussalam; PhD , Heriot-Watt Univ. Geophysics, Petroleum Geosciences & Engineering,
