Petroleum Engineering project ideas

100 projects, from a first build to a final-year capstone. Each lists the skills it teaches and the tools it needs; times and costs are estimates.

Beginner projects

• Porosity and Permeability Lab — Measure porosity of sand packs and estimate permeability with a flow test. Skills: porosity, permeability, Darcy's law. Tools: sand packs, tubes, stopwatch. Data lab, Up to 15 h, Software only (free tools).
• Oil Unit and Volume Converter — Convert barrels, cubic metres, scf and BOE with formation volume factors. Skills: oilfield units, FVF. Tools: web app. Visualizer, Up to 15 h, Software only (free tools).
• Drilling Rig Components Explainer — Explore rig systems—hoisting, rotating, circulating—in an interactive diagram. Skills: rig systems, terminology. Tools: web app. Visualizer, Up to 15 h, Software only (free tools).
• Hydrostatic Pressure Calculator — Compute mud hydrostatic pressure from density and depth. Skills: hydrostatics, mud weight. Tools: web calculator. Visualizer, Up to 15 h, Software only (free tools).
• Oil and Water Separation Demo — Separate oil-water mixtures by gravity and measure settling time. Skills: gravity separation, emulsions. Tools: jars, oil, water. Hardware build, Up to 15 h, Under $30.
• Reservoir Rock Type Identifier — Identify sandstone, limestone and shale from photos and properties. Skills: petrology basics, visual explanation. Tools: web app. Visualizer, Up to 15 h, Software only (free tools).
• Viscosity of Crude Analogues — Measure viscosity of oils at different temperatures. Skills: viscosity, temperature dependence. Tools: viscometer/falling ball. Data lab, Up to 15 h, Under $30.
• Well Diagram Sketcher — Draw a well schematic with casing strings and depths. Skills: well construction, schematics. Tools: drawing tool. CAD / design, Up to 15 h, Software only (free tools).
• Oil Price and Production Chart — Plot historic oil prices and production trends from public data. Skills: data visualisation, energy markets. Tools: Python. Data lab, Up to 15 h, Software only (free tools).
• Capillary Rise Experiment — Measure capillary rise in tubes and sand to explain capillary pressure. Skills: capillarity, wettability. Tools: capillary tubes, sand. Data lab, Up to 15 h, Software only (free tools).
• Pump Jack Mechanism Model — Animate a beam pump's linkage and stroke. Skills: artificial lift basics, linkages. Tools: web app. Visualizer, Up to 15 h, Software only (free tools).
• Gas Law Reservoir Calculator — Estimate gas volumes at surface from reservoir conditions. Skills: real gas law, Z-factor. Tools: web calculator. Visualizer, Up to 15 h, Software only (free tools).
• Drilling Fluid Density Test — Measure mud density with a balance and adjust with weighting material. Skills: mud properties, density. Tools: mud balance, materials. Data lab, Up to 15 h, Software only (free tools).
• Production Decline Plotter — Plot well production history on linear and log scales. Skills: production data, plotting. Tools: spreadsheet. Data lab, Up to 15 h, Software only (free tools).
• Oilfield Safety Sign Quiz — Learn H2S, hot work and PPE signs used in oilfields. Skills: safety awareness, visual explanation. Tools: web app. Visualizer, Up to 15 h, Software only (free tools).
• Sedimentary Basin Cross-Section — Draw a basin cross-section with traps and seals. Skills: petroleum geology, traps. Tools: drawing tool. CAD / design, Up to 15 h, Software only (free tools).
• Core Sample Logging Sheet — Describe a core sample's lithology and features on a log sheet. Skills: core description, process documentation. Tools: template. Workflow, Up to 15 h, Software only (free tools).
• Pipeline Flow Rate Calculator — Estimate liquid flow and pressure drop in a pipeline. Skills: pipe flow, friction. Tools: web calculator. Visualizer, Up to 15 h, Software only (free tools).
• Water Cut Trend Monitor — Track water cut of wells over time and flag rises. Skills: production monitoring, KPI design. Tools: spreadsheet. Dashboard, Up to 15 h, Software only (free tools).
• Oil Spill Spread Estimator — Estimate surface spread area of an oil spill over time. Skills: spill spreading, modelling. Tools: web app. Visualizer, Up to 15 h, Software only (free tools).
• Rock Density by Displacement — Measure bulk and grain density of rock samples. Skills: density, porosity. Tools: balance, cylinder. Data lab, Up to 15 h, Software only (free tools).
• Fluid Contacts Explainer — Show gas-oil and oil-water contacts and saturation zones. Skills: fluid contacts, saturations. Tools: web app. Visualizer, Up to 15 h, Software only (free tools).
• Wellhead Valve Sequence Trainer — Practise opening and closing sequences of a Christmas tree. Skills: well control basics, valves. Tools: web app. Simulator, Up to 15 h, Software only (free tools).
• Seismic Wave Travel-Time Demo — Compute reflection travel times for layered models. Skills: seismic basics, travel time. Tools: web app. Visualizer, Up to 15 h, Software only (free tools).
• Refinery Product Yield Explainer — Show how crude splits into products by boiling range. Skills: refining basics, distillation. Tools: web app. Visualizer, Up to 15 h, Software only (free tools).

Intermediate projects

• Decline Curve Analysis Workbench — Fit exponential, hyperbolic and harmonic declines and forecast EUR. Skills: DCA, forecasting, EUR. Tools: Python. Data lab, 15–45 h, Software only (free tools).
• Reservoir Material-Balance Calculator — Estimate oil in place and drive mechanisms with material balance. Skills: material balance, drive mechanisms. Tools: Python. Simulator, 15–45 h, Software only (free tools).
• Drilling Hydraulics Simulator — Compute pressure losses and ECD in a drill string and annulus. Skills: drilling hydraulics, ECD. Tools: Python. Simulator, 15–45 h, Software only (free tools).
• Well Log Interpretation Viewer — Plot gamma, resistivity and porosity logs and compute water saturation. Skills: log interpretation, Archie's equation. Tools: Python, LAS files. Visualizer, 15–45 h, Software only (free tools).
• Artificial Lift Selector — Recommend rod pump, ESP or gas lift from well conditions. Skills: artificial lift selection, process documentation. Tools: web app. Workflow, 15–45 h, Software only (free tools).
• Mud Window Estimator — Plot pore and fracture pressures to choose mud weights. Skills: pore pressure, fracture gradient. Tools: Python. Visualizer, 15–45 h, Software only (free tools).
• Well Integrity Barrier Tracker — Track well barriers and their test status. Skills: well integrity, barriers. Tools: database app. Workflow, 15–45 h, Software only (free tools).
• Production Allocation Dashboard — Allocate commingled production back to wells with test data. Skills: allocation, production accounting. Tools: dashboard. Dashboard, 15–45 h, $30–150.
• PVT Property Explorer — Compute Bo, Rs and viscosity with black-oil correlations. Skills: PVT correlations, visual explanation. Tools: Python. Visualizer, 15–45 h, Software only (free tools).
• Nodal Analysis Calculator — Intersect inflow and outflow curves to find well rate. Skills: nodal analysis, IPR/VLP. Tools: Python. Visualizer, 15–45 h, Software only (free tools).
• Gas Well Deliverability Test — Analyse back-pressure tests to find AOF. Skills: deliverability, AOF. Tools: Python. Data lab, 15–45 h, Software only (free tools).
• Directional Well Planner — Plan a build-and-hold well path and compute coordinates. Skills: directional drilling, trajectories. Tools: Python. Visualizer, 15–45 h, Software only (free tools).
• Cementing Volume Calculator — Calculate slurry volumes and displacement for a casing job. Skills: cementing calculations, visual explanation. Tools: web calculator. Visualizer, 15–45 h, Software only (free tools).
• Sand Control Gravel Pack Sizing — Size gravel and screens from formation sand distribution. Skills: sand control, sizing. Tools: Python. Visualizer, 15–45 h, Software only (free tools).
• Waterflood Pattern Visualizer — Show five-spot and line-drive patterns and sweep efficiency. Skills: waterflooding, sweep. Tools: web app. Visualizer, 15–45 h, Software only (free tools).
• Kick Tolerance Calculator — Compute kick tolerance for a well section. Skills: well control, kick tolerance. Tools: Python. Visualizer, 15–45 h, Software only (free tools).
• Oil Emulsion Stability Study — Test demulsifiers on emulsion separation time. Skills: emulsions, chemical treatment. Tools: lab samples (supervised). Data lab, 15–45 h, Software only (free tools).
• Pipeline Leak Detection by Mass Balance — Detect leaks from inlet-outlet flow imbalance. Skills: leak detection, mass balance. Tools: Python. Data lab, 15–45 h, Software only (free tools).
• Casing Design Load Checker — Check burst, collapse and tension for casing grades. Skills: casing design, safety factors. Tools: Python. Visualizer, 15–45 h, Software only (free tools).
• Gas Dehydration Unit Sizing — Size a glycol dehydration unit for water removal. Skills: gas processing, dehydration. Tools: spreadsheet. Simulator, 15–45 h, Software only (free tools).
• Well Test Pressure Analyzer — Analyse drawdown tests with semi-log methods. Skills: well testing, permeability. Tools: Python. Data lab, 15–45 h, Software only (free tools).
• Petrophysics Cut-Off Study — Choose porosity and shale cut-offs and compute net pay. Skills: petrophysics, net pay. Tools: Python. Data lab, 15–45 h, Software only (free tools).
• Reservoir Volumetrics Calculator — Estimate STOIIP from area, thickness, porosity and saturation. Skills: volumetrics, reserves. Tools: web calculator. Visualizer, 15–45 h, Software only (free tools).
• Field Operations Daily Report App — Collect daily drilling and production reports digitally. Skills: reporting, workflows. Tools: mobile app. Workflow, 15–45 h, Software only (free tools).
• Oilfield Water Treatment Model — Model produced water treatment stages to disposal specs. Skills: water treatment, separation. Tools: spreadsheet. Simulator, 15–45 h, Software only (free tools).

Advanced projects

• Gas Lift Optimization Sandbox — Allocate limited lift gas across wells to maximise oil. Skills: gas lift optimisation, numerical modelling. Tools: Python. Simulator, 45–100 h, Software only (free tools).
• Pipeline Transient Model — Simulate pressure surges after valve closures. Skills: transients, water hammer. Tools: Python. Simulator, 45–100 h, Software only (free tools).
• Reservoir Uncertainty Ensemble — Run ensembles of reservoir parameters to estimate P10/P50/P90. Skills: uncertainty, Monte Carlo. Tools: Python. Simulator, 45–100 h, Software only (free tools).
• Fracture Network Visualization — Generate and visualise discrete fracture networks. Skills: DFN modelling, visualisation. Tools: Python. Visualizer, 45–100 h, Software only (free tools).
• Drilling Dysfunction Detector — Detect stick-slip and whirl from drilling sensor data. Skills: drilling dynamics, anomaly detection. Tools: Python. Data lab, 45–100 h, Software only (free tools).
• Cement Job Quality Tracker — Evaluate cement bond logs and job records for zonal isolation. Skills: cement evaluation, data analysis. Tools: Python. Data lab, 45–100 h, Software only (free tools).
• Flare Reduction Planner — Rank options to reduce routine flaring with economics. Skills: flare reduction, economics. Tools: spreadsheet. Workflow, 45–100 h, Software only (free tools).
• Sand Production Risk Estimator — Estimate sanding risk from rock strength and drawdown. Skills: geomechanics, sanding. Tools: Python. Simulator, 45–100 h, Software only (free tools).
• Enhanced Oil Recovery Comparison — Screen EOR methods for a reservoir by criteria. Skills: EOR screening, process documentation. Tools: spreadsheet. Workflow, 45–100 h, Software only (free tools).
• Well Control Scenario Simulator — Simulate kick detection and circulation with the driller's method. Skills: well control, kill methods. Tools: Python. Simulator, 45–100 h, Software only (free tools).
• Flow Assurance Hydrate Estimator — Predict hydrate formation conditions and inhibitor needs. Skills: hydrates, inhibition. Tools: Python. Simulator, 45–100 h, Software only (free tools).
• Reservoir Simulation of a Waterflood — Run a simple black-oil simulation and match production. Skills: reservoir simulation, numerical modelling. Tools: OPM Flow/Python. Simulator, 45–100 h, Software only (free tools).
• Geomechanical Wellbore Stability Model — Predict breakouts and safe mud windows from stresses. Skills: wellbore stability, geomechanics. Tools: Python. Simulator, 45–100 h, Software only (free tools).
• ESP Performance Monitoring — Track ESP efficiency and detect pump wear. Skills: ESP monitoring, diagnostics. Tools: dashboard. Dashboard, 45–100 h, $30–150.
• Seismic Attribute Analysis — Compute seismic attributes to highlight reservoir features. Skills: seismic attributes, data analysis. Tools: Python. Data lab, 45–100 h, Software only (free tools).
• Production Optimisation With Network Model — Model a gathering network and optimise choke settings. Skills: network modelling, optimisation. Tools: Python. Simulator, 45–100 h, Software only (free tools).
• Wax Deposition Model — Estimate wax deposition in pipelines and pigging frequency. Skills: flow assurance, wax. Tools: Python. Simulator, 45–100 h, Software only (free tools).
• Drilling Cost Estimator — Estimate well cost from depth, days and services. Skills: cost estimation, KPI design. Tools: spreadsheet. Dashboard, 45–100 h, Software only (free tools).
• History Matching With Optimisation — Calibrate a reservoir model to production data. Skills: history matching, optimisation. Tools: Python. Simulator, 45–100 h, Software only (free tools).
• Corrosion Inhibitor Program Planner — Plan inhibitor dosing for pipelines from corrosion data. Skills: corrosion management, process documentation. Tools: spreadsheet. Workflow, 45–100 h, Software only (free tools).
• Hydraulic Fracture Design Calculator — Estimate fracture geometry with PKN/KGD models. Skills: hydraulic fracturing models, numerical modelling. Tools: Python. Simulator, 45–100 h, Software only (free tools).
• Methane Emissions Detection Program — Plan LDAR surveys and quantify emission reductions. Skills: methane management, LDAR. Tools: spreadsheet. Workflow, 45–100 h, Software only (free tools).
• Rate Transient Analysis Workbench — Analyse production data to estimate reservoir properties. Skills: RTA, type curves. Tools: Python. Data lab, 45–100 h, Software only (free tools).
• Oil and Gas Facility Layout Study — Lay out a processing facility with safety spacing. Skills: facility layout, safety distances. Tools: CAD. CAD / design, 45–100 h, Software only (free tools).
• Machine Learning Lithology Classifier — Classify lithology from well logs with ML. Skills: ML classification, logs. Tools: Python. Data lab, 45–100 h, Software only (free tools).

Expert projects

• Digital Twin of a Producing Well — Mirror a well's flow, pressures and lift system to optimise output. Skills: digital twins, production. Tools: Python. Digital twin, 100 h+, Software only (free tools).
• Carbon Storage Site Screening Tool — Screen saline aquifers and depleted fields for CO2 storage. Skills: CCS screening, capacity. Tools: Python, GIS. Visualizer, 100 h+, Software only (free tools).
• Subsurface Data Provenance Tracker — Track origin, processing and versions of subsurface datasets. Skills: data provenance, governance. Tools: database. Workflow, 100 h+, Software only (free tools).
• Production Chemistry Scale Predictor — Predict mineral scale from water chemistry. Skills: scale prediction, chemistry. Tools: Python. Simulator, 100 h+, Software only (free tools).
• Field Development Optimization Model — Optimise well count, placement and facility size for value. Skills: field development, optimisation. Tools: Python. Simulator, 100 h+, Software only (free tools).
• Geothermal Repurposing of Oil Wells — Assess converting old wells to geothermal energy. Skills: geothermal, repurposing. Tools: Python. Simulator, 100 h+, Software only (free tools).
• Hydrogen Underground Storage Study — Evaluate a depleted reservoir for hydrogen storage. Skills: underground storage, hydrogen. Tools: Python. Simulator, 100 h+, Software only (free tools).
• AI Drilling Rate Optimiser — Optimise ROP from drilling parameters with ML. Skills: ROP optimisation, ML. Tools: Python. Data lab, 100 h+, Software only (free tools).
• CO2 Plume Migration Model — Simulate CO2 plume spread in a storage formation. Skills: CO2 storage, flow modelling. Tools: Python. Simulator, 100 h+, Software only (free tools).
• Automated Well Log Correlation — Correlate formation tops across wells automatically. Skills: log correlation, ML. Tools: Python. Data lab, 100 h+, Software only (free tools).
• Real-Time Kick Detection With ML — Detect kicks early from rig sensor streams. Skills: anomaly detection, well control. Tools: Python. Data lab, 100 h+, Software only (free tools).
• Decommissioning Planning Tool — Plan plug-and-abandonment and removal with cost and risk. Skills: decommissioning, planning. Tools: spreadsheet. Workflow, 100 h+, Software only (free tools).
• Reservoir Surrogate Model — Train a fast surrogate of a reservoir simulator for optimisation. Skills: surrogate modelling, numerical modelling. Tools: Python. Simulator, 100 h+, Software only (free tools).
• Lithium Extraction From Brines Study — Assess direct lithium extraction from oilfield brines. Skills: DLE, brines. Tools: spreadsheet. Data lab, 100 h+, Software only (free tools).
• Smart Well Inflow Control — Optimise inflow control valves in a multi-zone well. Skills: smart wells, optimisation. Tools: Python. Simulator, 100 h+, Software only (free tools).
• Emissions-Intensity Field Dashboard — Track CO2e per barrel across operations. Skills: emissions intensity, KPI design. Tools: dashboard. Dashboard, 100 h+, $150+.
• Uncertainty-Aware Well Placement — Place wells robustly across geological realisations. Skills: robust optimisation, numerical modelling. Tools: Python. Simulator, 100 h+, Software only (free tools).
• Seismic Inversion Prototype — Invert seismic data for impedance with regularisation. Skills: seismic inversion, data analysis. Tools: Python. Data lab, 100 h+, Software only (free tools).
• Pipeline Integrity Risk Model — Rank pipeline segments by failure likelihood and consequence. Skills: integrity management, risk. Tools: Python. Data lab, 100 h+, Software only (free tools).
• Natural Gas Network Hydrogen Blending — Assess hydrogen blending limits in a gas network. Skills: gas networks, blending. Tools: Python. Simulator, 100 h+, Software only (free tools).
• Geostatistical Reservoir Modelling — Build porosity maps with kriging and simulation. Skills: geostatistics, kriging. Tools: Python. Visualizer, 100 h+, Software only (free tools).
• Produced Water Reuse Feasibility — Evaluate treating produced water for reuse. Skills: water reuse, treatment. Tools: spreadsheet. Data lab, 100 h+, Software only (free tools).
• Digital Oilfield Control Room Concept — Design an integrated operations centre with KPIs and alerts. Skills: integrated operations, KPI design. Tools: dashboard. Dashboard, 100 h+, $150+.
• Enhanced Geothermal Systems Model — Model heat extraction from fractured hot rock. Skills: EGS, heat transfer. Tools: Python. Simulator, 100 h+, Software only (free tools).
• Energy Transition Portfolio Model — Compare oil company portfolios under carbon price scenarios. Skills: portfolio analysis, scenarios. Tools: spreadsheet. Dashboard, 100 h+, Software only (free tools).

Project ideas for every branch · Petroleum Engineering roadmap