Study well and production engineering flexibly, 100% online.
Gain the focused expertise you need to succeed as an oil and gas engineer.
Join us online to focus your engineering skills and take the first step towards a Masters qualification.
In this Masters-level online short course, you’ll:
- train in the vital safety and risk aspects of well and production engineering, including its environmental impact
- learn about essential production technologies and design methodologies
- explore engineering science, and the principles that underpin the drilling of oil and gas wells.
Expert teaching
You’ll learn from expert engineers and academics at a university that’s an established leader in energy engineering teaching and research.
Flexible study
Access our expertise and support wherever you’re based, with no need for a student visa, on a course that fits around full-time work.
Who can join this online well and production engineering course?
This course is designed for:
- graduates in Engineering or Applied Mathematics, or
- graduates in Geology, Chemistry, or Physics who also have additional professional or academic experience in this area.
Build credits towards a Masters degree
This online course is part of:
You can use the credits you earn on this short course towards either of these MSc qualifications.
What you’ll study
Well engineering
In the first part of the course, you’ll get an overview of a rotary drilling system and associated drilling components.
You’ll look at types, selection and characteristics of drilling fluids, and analyse the flow of drilling fluids during the drilling process.
You’ll also examine:
- strategies for the selection and design of casings
- cementing methodologies
- design and configuration of completion systems, with an emphasis on safety implications
- the challenges of directional and horizontal drilling methods and associated technologies.
Production engineering
The second part of your course introduces you to:
- wellbore fluid flow with a view to production of resources
- completion components and methods
- factors that inhibit oil and gas production
- practical approaches to production enhancement
- computer modelling of oil and gas production.
A range of industry-relevant case studies will be used to support your learning.
Choose the University of Aberdeen for well and production engineering courses
At energy’s core
The UK base for the world’s energy giants, Aberdeen is a world-class energy city.
You’re in expert hands
We’ve been training world-class engineers for over 100 years and delivering online learning for decades.
20% alumni discount
University of Aberdeen alumni get 20% off fees for this online course.
How you’ll study
Online learning
This distance-learning Well and Production Engineering course is delivered flexibly, 100% online.
You can learn with us anywhere in the world, no student visa required, and manage your study hours to suit you.
Your teaching
This course is taught at Masters level.
Teaching is delivered through MyAberdeen, our online Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). It holds all the materials, tools and support you’ll need in your studies. Take a look around MyAberdeen.
You can access your learning materials on computer, smartphone and laptop, 24 hours a day. You’ll find a range of resources available, including:
- online lectures
- reading materials
- discussion boards with your tutors and fellow students
- the online resources of our award-winning Sir Duncan Rice Library.
Your tutors
This Masters-level short course is delivered by our School of Engineering.
You’ll learn from experienced engineers and academics who have worked at high levels in industry, as well as experts from major companies operating in the energy sector.
Industry input
Your course content is also developed and reviewed by an Industry Advisory Board. This group of experienced professionals ensures your learning is informed by the latest industry trends, technology, and career opportunities.
This course is assessed online.
You’ll be assessed throughout the teaching term. Types of assessment for this course may include:
- coursework
- online quizzes
- timed online open-book assessments.
Timed online open-book assessments
- For this type of assessment, you’ll view questions online, handwrite your answers on paper offline so that you can show your working, then scan or photograph your answers and upload these in MyAberdeen.
- You’ll find detailed instructions for how to scan, photograph, and upload your answers in the assessment section of MyAberdeen.
Assessment deadlines
Your assessments will have submission deadlines, either during or at the end of the course.
Your course coordinator will let you know when your assessment deadlines are, so you can plan your study time accordingly.
The course totals approximately 150 hours of study and assessment time. That’s around 10 – 15 hours per week.
This is an indicative guide to the time required for a typical student at this level to achieve the learning outcomes. This includes time for independent study, as well as teaching and assessments.
You can largely set your own study hours each week to cover the materials. MyAberdeen is available 24/7, so you can log in and study when it suits you.
Activities with deadlines
There will be some activities scheduled at fixed times, such as assessments with deadlines, or meetings with your tutor. But otherwise, you can access and work through the course at your convenience.
Our first-class support structure will ensure that you aren’t alone in your studies.
You’ll have contact with your coordinator via email, MyAberdeen and Microsoft Teams.
You can use social media and discussion boards to chat with your fellow students too.
We provide a wide range of services to support you in your studies:
- Careers and Employability Service
- Disability support
- IT support
- Library support
- Student Support Service – help with finances, wellbeing and non-academic issues
- Student Learning Service – support with academic skills, writing and maths, with advice sessions and workshops available
- Aberdeen University Students’ Association (AUSA) – run by students for students
- Toolkit – a guide to apps and free training that can make your study life easier
Wherever you are in the world, you’ll feel part of our very special Aberdeen learning community.
See a more in-depth guide to all of our online support services.
Your course coordinator
Dr Hossein Hamidi
Hossein is a senior lecturer and researcher in the fields of Petroleum Drilling Engineering, Ultrasound-Assisted Improved Oil Recovery (IOR), and Descaling of Production Tubing using Ultrasound.
View Hossein’s profileWhere this will take you
Towards a Masters
You’ll earn 15 credits at Masters level (SCQF Level 11) with this course. You can use these credits towards our:
Masters in Oil and Gas Engineering
Join an accredited online Masters degree delivered from the Energy Capital of Europe. Master the skills and technologies you need to pursue a career in the upstream and downstream oil and gas industry.
View MSc Oil and Gas Engineering
Masters in Petroleum Engineering
Become a world-class petroleum engineer, ready to take up roles in the upstream oil and gas industry. Join our accredited online MSc in Petroleum Engineering, designed in partnership with industry.
View MSc Petroleum EngineeringBuild your learning
We offer a range of specialist online engineering and technology courses you can use to build your skills.
Many carry credits you can build up into postgraduate qualifications, including Masters degrees:
Careers
In this course, you’ll develop sought-after skills designed to help you advance in your engineering career in the oil and gas sector.
Your learning in this course can also help you to progress into engineering careers in the oil and gas sector from other industries.
Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
Your employer or professional institute may recognise this course for CPD hours. Talk to your employer or institute to find out more.
Free career support
Access our free careers service while you study.
- 1:1 appointments
- CV checks
- Interview prep
- Job opportunities
What our students say
What’s it like to study this course online? Hear from our recent students.
I would definitely recommend studying with University of Aberdeen Online.
As I am currently on paternity leave and caring for my child, studying online provides an ideal opportunity to continue developing my professional skills while staying at home.
Although the University is well known internationally for its academic excellence, what truly stands out is how closely the teaching staff work with students, regardless of whether they study on campus or online.
The support, communication, and engagement I’ve experienced as an online student make me feel truly connected to the university community.
It’s a great balance between high academic standards and a personal, student-focused approach.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements
We welcome students from all over the world.
This course has no formal entry requirements. You do not need to provide proof of your qualifications.
But you do need to check the entry guidance above to understand the level of teaching delivered, to decide if this course is right for you.
If you do not have qualifications from the UK, check the equivalent teaching level for your country.
Visa requirements
You do not need a student visa to study online with us.
English language requirements
Teaching is delivered in English.
You do not have to provide proof of your English language skills to join this course. But we want to make sure that you can use English well enough to study successfully.
Recommended level of English
For this course, we recommend the following level of English language proficiency.
These are our Postgraduate Standard requirements, and these are minimum scores.
IELTS Academic, IELTS UKVI Academic, or IELTS Online (not IELTS Indicator or IELTS General Training)
- 6.5 overall
- 5.5 for listening, reading and speaking
- 6.0 for writing
TOEFL iBT or TOEFL iBT Home Edition
- 90 overall
- 17 for listening
- 18 for reading
- 20 for speaking
- 21 for writing
- TOEFL DI code is 0818
Cambridge English: B2 First, C1 Advanced, or C2 Proficiency
- 176 overall
- 162 for listening, reading and speaking
- 169 for writing
LanguageCert Academic / LanguageCert Academic SELT
- 70 overall
- 60 for listening, reading and speaking
- 65 for writing
Oxford ELLT Digital – English Language Level Test Online
- 7.0 overall
- 5.0 for listening, reading and speaking
- 6.0 for writing
PTE Academic (online test not accepted)
- 62 overall
- 59 for listening, reading, speaking and writing
Skills for English: SELT
- B2 pass with merit
Duolingo – tests taken from 1 July 2024 onward
- 120 overall
- 95 for listening, reading and speaking
- 105 for writing
University of Aberdeen English Pre-sessional Programme (PSE)
- Pass
- Valid for one year. Refresher can be offered if out of date
Pre-sessional academic English preparation programmes undertaken at other UK universities
- Pass at an equivalent of 6.5 (C1)
- B2 in all four skills
- Certification must be within one year prior to the start of your course
For full information about language requirements, see our English Language Requirements page.
You will need access to:
A computer (PC, laptop or Mac) with an up-to-date operating system
Most teaching materials are smartphone- and tablet-friendly. But we recommend a proper laptop or desktop for completing assignments comfortably.
Reliable internet access
We recommend:
- a wired connection
- a minimum download speed of 2 Mbps so you can take part fully in live sessions.
A smartphone, tablet with camera, scanner, or digital camera
This is so you can photograph or scan handwritten solutions for any assessments that require this and upload these photos or scans to MyAberdeen.
- You can use any device that allows you to take a clear and legible scan or photo of a document that you can then upload to MyAberdeen.
- Full instructions for doing this are provided within the assessment section in MyAberdeen.
Speakers or headphones
- We recommend a headset with built-in microphone and earphones if you’re likely to study in an environment with background noise.
- A webcam is optional, but you may like to use one for some interactive sessions.
Software
We’ll give you access to Microsoft 365 applications. This means you can use online versions of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneDrive and install these programs on up to five personal devices.
If your course requires specialist software, we’ll provide you with access to this and a licence that lasts throughout your studies.
See our detailed IT requirements for more information.
When you study with us, you can expect a first-class support structure so that you’re never alone in your studies.
But learning online does mean you have to motivate yourself and manage your own time.
Your most important commitment will be time – the time to work through, reflect on and understand your teaching materials.
Before you start a course that involves a high degree of independent study, we recommend looking at the time you will be able to devote to your studies each week:
- Be realistic
- Create a weekly schedule as a guide
If you have any questions about studying online, get in touch with our friendly team. We’re here to help.
Fee payment
Your course fee needs to be paid in full before you start your course.
We accept payment via Visa Debit, Visa Credit and Mastercard.
Ways to save
You may be able to get help funding this course via:
- discounts – if any discounts are available for this course, they’ll appear in the section below
- employer sponsorship – we accept full and partial fee payments from sponsors.
Find out more about funding options.
Student card
All our students are entitled to a University of Aberdeen student card. This gives you access to a range of student discounts around the city and online.
For your studies, you will need:
- paper or notepads for working out questions
- a smartphone, tablet with camera, scanner, or digital camera – so you can photograph or scan handwritten solutions to any assessments that require this and then upload the photos or scans to MyAberdeen.
Optional book purchases
Access to all the essential books and resources you need are included in your tuition fee. These will be made available to you online and you do not have to buy your own copies.
We also provide optional recommended reading lists. Many of these resources are available electronically through our library, although purchases may be required if you wish to read the full list.
Printing
You may want to set aside a small budget for printing, depending on how you like to work.
This course has no formal entry requirements. You decide if it’s suitable for you.
The course is delivered at Masters level. At this level, for this course, you’d usually have at least:
- a 2:2 UK honours degree (or equivalent) in Engineering, Applied Mathematics, or
- a 2:2 UK honours degree (or equivalent) Geology, Chemistry, or Physics and two years’ relevant experience that supports this level of study.
Mathematical skills
This course includes significant mathematical content. Please review our mathematical skills document, which we’ve prepared to give you an indication of the level of mathematics you’ll require.
Your right to cancel starts on the date of payment of the tuition fees for this course and expires 15 days after the start date of this course.
The University of Aberdeen is not responsible for resolving any issues concerning software, hardware, or internet, in relation to your personal computer and this course.
Please read our full terms and conditions.