Dear Students, Parents and Employers,

Welcome to the Department of Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering in the School of Energy at the University of Energy and Natural Resources. As our name suggests, we are the driving force, the energy source, and the very heartbeat of all things possible at the University. Petroleum (rock oil) is the single biggest energy resource currently in use in the world. Whether in transportation, power generation, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, beauty products, or even in the food industry, petroleum has applications in multiple industrial and domestic applications.

Petroleum Engineering integrates a unique and focussed knowledge and understanding of fundamental and applied sciences that are required for the economic exploitation of oil and gas from reservoirs buried in rocks tens of thousands of feet within the earth’s crust. A good understanding of geology, geophysics, applications in drilling and reservoir engineering, are required to produce the oil or gas in a safe manner. Data from these various stages in the upstream business are analysed to optimise production.

Our vision is to be the recognised innovative and leading institution for petroleum and energy research applications. We aim to provide our students with a detailed intellectual engagement while they study with us, coupled with strong principles in integrity, networking, and honesty. We also aim to work hand in hand with partner industries to meet all global sustainable energy targets, via net-zero technologies and innovation in other key research areas.

The modern petroleum industry is facing some of its harshest criticisms amid the call for more sustainable energy systems and practices, but it is widely known in the industry that innovation to meet these challenges is a daily target. With our department, every student, researcher, and partner company can be assured of world-leading and internationally recognised research to meet these goals and to improve the global energy landscape and quality of life.

We offer our students the unique opportunity to train with world-class and internationally leading researchers and faculty from the various disciplines. Our students have opportunities to network by attending various conferences for petroleum engineers, and to participate in volunteerism and other enriching activities organised through the Petroleum Engineering Students’ Association (PESA) and Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) UENR Chapter. Our student chapter has been named the Best Student Chapter (2023) in the maiden awards, with 4 students (out of 10) winning Most Outstanding Students in SPE Ghana Section because of the exceptional programmes in industry engagement, operations, planning, community involvement, professional development, high school engagements, and innovation our chapter runs. Our students represented Africa at the global SPE PetroBowl having won the 2022 Ghana edition. We constantly get podium places in various contests and quizzes such as the Gas Challenge and Changellenge (SPE Ghana Section Energy Debate). Our alumni are making inroads in the local and international oil and gas business.

Our faculty has diverse research interests across the upstream, midstream, and downstream business units in the petroleum industry, and we are supported by partners across various industries and academic institutions.

With GTEC accreditation, our students, parents, employers, and the society we serve can be confident that our programmes meet the highest quality standards that produce graduates who are well prepared to enter a global workforce. We run a very compelling undergraduate programme in Petroleum Engineering. Advances and new ideas are very readily incorporated in our syllabus to ensure our students are not left behind in this fast-paced industry. Plans are far-advanced to introduce new programmes at the undergraduate and post-graduate levels.

I encourage you to browse our website to learn more about our programme, collaboration opportunities and an exciting future career in petroleum engineering. If you need additional information, please contact us petroleum.naturalgas@uenr.edu.gh.

Yaw Akyampon Boakye-Ansah, PhD

Lecturer & Head of Department