Overview

The programme philosophy is to produce highly motivated and innovative graduates of petroleum engineering prepared to solve the problems of a demanding engineering market.

The Eastern and Southern African region is endowed with rich oil and gas resources with a potential of at least 27.6 billion barrels of crude oil and 441 trillion cubic feet of gas. In Kenya, recent discoveries of oil in the Tertiary Rift Basin and gas in the offshore wells of Lamu Basin indicate the existence of viable quantities of oil and gas and therefore significant potential for oil and gas production. However, the region lacks technical capacity, particularly in the upstream oil and gas sector. This together with other midstream and downstream challenges pose significant constraints to the economic exploitation of the enormous oil and gas potential in the Eastern and Southern African region. It is without a doubt that the region has a shortage of specialized local and regional manpower in the fields relevant to the oil and gas sector such as reservoir characterization, drilling and reservoir production technology, and enhanced oil and gas recovery technologies.

MODE OF DELIVERY

Face to face, Open, Distance And E-Learning Mode and Blended Learning Mode

BACKGROUND

In 2014, the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kenya gave a grant of fifty-six million shillings (Kes 56,000,000) to the School of Engineering to support the establishment of a Bachelor of Science degree in Petroleum Engineering at the University of Nairobi. The first batch of students was subsequently admitted in 2016 and 2 cohorts had graduated by the end of 2021.

The Petroleum Engineering undergraduate programme at the University of Nairobi is primarily concerned with the upstream operations of economic extraction of oil, gas, and other natural resources from the earth. Producing oil and gas is accomplished through the design, drilling and operation of wells and well systems, and the integrated management of the underground reservoirs in which the resources are found. There is however a minor emphasis of the program on the transportation of crude and refined petroleum products as well as downstream activities such as storage and distribution of petroleum products.

The curriculum is tailored to give the students a solid foundation in mathematics and sciences from the start. In the first year of study, courses in mathematics, physics, chemistry, mechanics, technical drawing and computer science are taught as well as other courses in the humanities such as communication skills, philosophy and HIV/AIDS. These courses are common to other disciplines of engineering such as Mechanical Engineering. The courses offered in the second and third years of the program are to a large extent designed to provide the students with a strong foundation in engineering and sciences. These include courses such as solid and structural mechanics, fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, mechanics of machines, materials science, non-destructive testing, electrical circuits and electrical machines, electronics, reservoir fluids and reservoir petrophysics, drilling systems, well performance, process principles, exploration physics, and engineering design. Students are also introduced to relevant concepts of business management and law as well as further mathematics principles.

For more information: dept-mmengineering@uonbi.ac.ke or call +254 02 04913527

Structure

COURSE STRUCTURE AND DURATION

The course shall run for a minimum of five academic years.

The programme shall be covered in a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 20 semesters from the date of registration and each semester will be 15 weeks.

Each course unit shall have a minimum of 45-contact hours and shall be covered within a semester.

Each student shall be required to take a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 8-course units in one semester.

The course structure and requirements for the degree programme through open, distance and electronic learning remain the same as under the full-time and part-time mode of study.

The open, distance and electronic learning mode of study will run for a minimum of 8 and a maximum of 16 semesters of 24 weeks each, from the date of registration.

The open, distance and electronic learning mode of study will be offered off-campus using a multi-media approach, including a variety of self-instructional print and electronic study materials.

In addition, there will be limited face-to-face instruction during residential training. The face-to-face instruction shall not exceed one-third of the instruction time.

Academic Year	No. of course units
First	15
Second	14
Third	16 (Including 8 weeks of field assignment)
Fourth	15 (Including at least 8 weeks of assessed Industrial Attachment)
Fifth	14 (Inclusive of Engineering Project)
Total	74 (Including internal and industrial attachment)

First Year

Code	Course Title	Contact Hours
Code	Course Title	Semester I	Semester II	Credit Hours
FPE 111	Physics I	45		3
FPE 112	Physics II		45	3
FPE 151	Chemistry I	45		3
FPE 152	Chemistry II		45	3
FME 161	Engineering Drawing I	60		4
FME 162	Engineering Drawing II		60	4
FPE 165	Communication Skills (CCS 001)	45		3
FPE 168	Elements of Philosophy (CCS 008)		45	3
FPE 169	HIV/AIDS (CCS 010)	45		3
FPE 171	Fundamentals of Engineering Mathematics	45		3
FPE 172	Calculus I		45	3
FPE 173	Engineering Mechanics I (Statics)	60		4
FPE 174	Engineering Mechanics II (Dynamics)		60	4
FPE 181	Computer Science I	60	60	4
FPE 182	Computer Science II		60	4
TOTAL		405	420	51

Second Year

Code	Course Title	Contact Hours
Code	Course Title	Semester I	Semester II	Credit Hours
FPE 201	Solid and Structural Mechanics I	60		4
FPE 202	Solid and Structural Mechanics II		60	4
FPE 203	Introduction to Physical geography & Geology	45		3
FPE 204	Introduction to Geophysics		60	4
FPE 221	Thermodynamics I	60		4
FPE 222	Thermodynamics II		60	4
FPE 231	Fluid Mechanics I	60		4
FPE 232	Fluid Mechanics II		60	4
FPE 242	Non Destructive Testing (NDT)		60	4
FPE 251	Materials Science and Engineering I: Fundamentals	60		4
FPE 271	Calculus II	45		3
FPE 272	Differential Equations & Linear Algebra		45	3
FPE 291	Electrical Circuits Theory	60		4
FPE 292	Electrical machines (AC and DC)		60	4
TOTAL		390	405	53

Third Year

Code	Course Title	Contact Hours		Credit Hours
Code	Course Title	Semester I	Semester II	Credit Hours
FPE 311	Engineering Mechanics III	60		4
FPE 322	Petroleum Drilling Systems		60	4
FPE 323	Well Performance	60		4
FPE 324	Reservoir Fluids		60	4
FPE 331	Formation Evaluation	60		4
FPE 332	Process Principles		60	4
FPE 342	Exploration Geophysics		60	4
FPE 343	Management & Business for Engineers	45		3
FPE 344	Law for Engineers		45	3
FPE 351	Reservoir Petro-physics	60		4
FPE 353	Engineering Materials Science II	60		4
FPE 354	Engineering Materials Science III		60	4
FPE362	Mechanical Engineering Design		60
FPE 371	Complex Analysis & Differential equations	45		3
FPE 372	Probability & statistics for Engineers		45	3
FPE 391	Analogue & Digital Electronics	45		3
TOTAL		435	450	59

FPE 399: Internal Attachment – (8 weeks)

Module	Title	Hours	Credit Hours
I	Computer Aided Drawing and Laboratory Practice including field assignments	192	13
II	Creativity and Innovation	32	2
III	Technical Writing and Presentation Skills	32	2
IV	Industrial Visits	64	4
TOTAL		320	21

Fourth Year

Code	Course Title	Contact Hours		Credit Hours
Code	Course Title	Semester I	Semester II	Credit Hours
FPE411	Drilling Engineering	60		4
FPE 412	Advanced Drilling Engineering		60	4
FPE 413	Well testing and production logging	60		4
FPE 414	Petroleum Chemistry		60	4
FPE 421	Petroleum Refining	60		4
FPE 431	Production Engineering	60		4
FPE 432	Reservoir Models		60	4
FPE 441	Engineering Project Management	45		3
FME 442	Maintenance management		45	3
FPE451	Materials Science and Engineering IV	60		4
FPE 461	Integrated Reservoir Design I	60		4
FPE 462	Integrated Reservoir Design II		60	4
FPE 472	Numerical Methods for Engineers		45	3
FPE 491	Electrical Measurement & Instrumentation	60		4
FPE 492	Programmable Logic Controllers		60	4
	TOTAL	465	390	57

FPE 499 – Industrial Attachment – (Minimum of 8 weeks)

Code	CourseTitle	Hours	Credit Hours
FME 499	Industrial Attachment	320	21
TOTAL		320	21

Fifth Year

Code	Course Title	Contact Hours		Credit Hours
Code	Course Title	Hours Semester I	Hours Semester II	Credit Hours
FPE 503	Advanced Production Engineering	60		4
FPE 504	Petroleum Production Systems		60	4
FPE 511	Dynamic Systems and Control	60		4
FPE 521	Heat transfer I	60		4
FPE 522	Heat transfer II		60	4
FPE 531	Reservoir Simulation I	60		4
FPE 532	Reservoir Simulation II		60	4
FPE 542	Downstream Operations		45	3
FPE 544	Production Enhancement		60	4
FPE 551	Petroleum Economics	45		3
FPE 561	Engineering Project I	60		4
FPE 562	Engineering Project II		60	4
FPE 5XX	Elective I	45		3
FPE 5YY	Elective II		45	3
	TOTAL	390	390	52

ELECTIVE COURSES

To offer a level of specialisation, during the 5^th year of study, students, with the guidance of the Class Tutor, can select any two courses from the list below provided the selected course is on offer.

Course Code	Course Title	Hours Per Semester
FPE 506	Natural Gas Engineering	45
FPE 508	Rock Mechanics	45
FPE 513	Hydraulic & Pneumatic Control Systems	45
FPE 514	Reliability Engineering	45
FPE 515	Corrosion Engineering	45
FPE 543	Hydrocarbon Phase Behaviour	45
FPE 545	Pipeline Transportation	45
FPE 552	Petroleum Project Economics	45
FPE 553	Entrepreneurship for Engineers	45
FPE554	Sustainable Development	45

Admission Requirements

Admission Requirements for BSc Petroleum Engineering

Candidates shall be eligible for admission into the Bachelor of Science degree in the School of Engineering in the following categories.

MINIMUM ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Candidates shall be eligible for admission into the Bachelor of Science degree in the Faculty of Engineering in the following categories.

KCSE Candidates

The basic admission requirement shall be the minimum requirement set for entry into Public Universities which is a mean grade of at least C+ in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE). In addition, candidates shall have obtained at least C+ in each of the four cluster subjects from any of the following alternative clusters.

However, a cut-off Grade higher than C+ in each cluster subject shall be preferred if limitations of the number of places available for each degree programme versus the number of qualified candidates so demand. The said cut-off grades shall be determined and implemented by the Faculty Academic Committee.

Alternative A:

Physics Biology or Geography or any Group IV Subject

Chemistry

Mathematics

Alternative B:

Physical Sciences Geography or any Group IV Subject or Business studies

Biological Sciences

Mathematics

Group IV Subjects:

Home Science Building Construction

Art and Design Power Mechanics

Agriculture Electricity

Woodwork Drawing and Design

Metalwork Aviation Technology

2. A-Level Candidates

A-level candidates with two (2) principals in Mathematics and Physics and a subsidiary level pass in Chemistry with Credit pass in English at O level

3. KNEC Higher National Diploma (HND) or Equivalent

Candidates with Higher National Diploma in the following broad areas of study:

1. Agricultural Engineering
2. Civil engineering
3. Electrical engineering
4. Mechanical engineering
5. Geospatial Engineering
6. Any other approved subject area.

5. Diploma from Science/Technical Teacher Training Colleges

Candidates with a Diploma in Mathematics and Physics from recognized teacher training colleges.

6. B. Sc. /B. Ed (Science) degrees from Universities or any other relevant degrees

Candidates with a Bachelor of Science or Education degree in Physics and Mathematics from recognized institutions or any other relevant degree from a recognized institution.

CREDIT TRANSFERS AND EXEMPTIONS

The point of entry into the programme for candidates with a KNEC higher national diploma or its equivalent in accordance with 3.1.3 shall be in the second year of study.

1. 1. The point of entry into the programme for candidates with an ordinary KNEC diploma or its equivalent in accordance with 3.1.4 shall be in the first year of study.
  2. The point of entry into the programme for candidates with a qualification other than those outlined in 3.1.1, 3.1.2, 3.1.3 and 3.1.4 shall be approved by Senate on the recommendations of the Faculty Academic Committee and shall be based on the qualifications of the applicant.
  3. Where a candidate wishes to be exempted from any course or courses, he/she shall send a formal application to the Academic Registrar justifying his/her request and attaching evidence of the credentials which support such request. Such a candidate may be required to sit and pass an exemption examination set and administered by the Faculty and approved under the authority of the Senate after payment of a prescribed fee.
  4. Based on the assessment of the exemption examination, the Departmental Committee shall make its recommendations to the Senate. The Academic Registrar shall communicate to the candidate, the Senate’s decision.

Careers

At the end of the training, graduates of Petroleum Engineering will be able to fit in the job market where they will work in oil exploration and extraction industries, research institutions, government ministries and government parastatals.

Fees and Funding

Fees Structure for Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN PETROLEUM ENGINEERING - F22
Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering-Year 1 -14units
	Semester 1	Semester 2	Yearly TOTAL
TUITION	198,000	198,000	396,000
MEDICAL FEE (PER YEAR)	6,500	-	6,500
ICT SERVICES - (PER YEAR)	7,000	-	7,000
ACTIVITY-( PER YEAR)	2,000	-	2,000
CAUTION - (ONCE)	5,000	-	5,000
REGISTRATION (PER SEMESTER@2250)	2,250	2,250	4,500
EXAMINATION (PER UNIT @1000)	7,000	7,000	14,000
ID CARD ( PER YEAR)	1,000	-	1,000
STUDENT ORGANISATION(PER YEAR)	1,000	-	1,000
LIBRARY (PER YEAR)	4,000	-	4,000
TOTAL	233,750	207,250	441,000

Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering-Year 2 -16units
	Semester 1	Semester 2	Yearly TOTAL
TUITION	198,000	198,000	396,000
MEDICAL FEE (PER YEAR)	6,500	-	6,500
ICT SERVICES - (PER YEAR)	7,000	-	7,000
ACTIVITY-( PER YEAR)	2,000	-	2,000
REGISTRATION (PER SEMESTER@2250)	2,250	2,250	4,500
EXAMINATION (PER UNIT @1000)	8,000	8,000	16,000
ID CARD ( PER YEAR)	1,000	-	1,000
STUDENT ORGANISATION(PER YEAR)	1,000	-	1,000
LIBRARY (PER YEAR)	4,000	-	4,000
TOTAL	229,750	208,250	438,000

Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering-Year 3 -14units
	Semester 1	Semester 2	Yearly TOTAL
TUITION	198,000	198,000	396,000
MEDICAL FEE (PER YEAR)	6,500	-	6,500
ICT SERVICES - (PER YEAR)	7,000	-	7,000
ACTIVITY-( PER YEAR)	2,000	-	2,000
REGISTRATION (PER SEMESTER@2250)	2,250	2,250	4,500
EXAMINATION (PER UNIT @1000)	7,000	7,000	14,000
ID CARD ( PER YEAR)	1,000	-	1,000
STUDENT ORGANISATION(PER YEAR)	1,000	-	1,000
LIBRARY (PER YEAR)	4,000	-	4,000
TOTAL	228,750	207,250	436,000

Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering-Year 4 -14units
	Semester 1	Semester 2	Yearly TOTAL
TUITION	198,000	198,000	396,000
MEDICAL FEE (PER YEAR)	6,500	-	6,500
ICT SERVICES - (PER YEAR)	7,000	-	7,000
ACTIVITY-( PER YEAR)	2,000	-	2,000
REGISTRATION (PER SEMESTER@2250)	2,250	2,250	4,500
EXAMINATION (PER UNIT @1000)	7,000	7,000	14,000
ID CARD ( PER YEAR)	1,000	-	1,000
STUDENT ORGANISATION(PER YEAR)	1,000	-	1,000
LIBRARY (PER YEAR)	4,000	-	4,000
TOTAL	228,750	207,250	436,000

Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering-Year 5 - 14units
	Semester 1	Semester 2	Yearly TOTAL
TUITION	198,000	198,000	396,000
MEDICAL FEE (PER YEAR)	6,500	-	6,500
ICT SERVICES - (PER YEAR)	7,000	-	7,000
ACTIVITY-( PER YEAR)	2,000	-	2,000
REGISTRATION (PER SEMESTER@2250)	2,250	2,250	4,500
EXAMINATION (PER UNIT @1000)	7,000	7,000	14,000
ID CARD ( PER YEAR)	1,000	-	1,000
STUDENT ORGANISATION(PER YEAR)	1,000	-	1,000
LIBRARY (PER YEAR)	4,000	-	4,000
TOTAL	228,750	207,250	436,000

Grand TOTAL			2,187,000

Department

MECHANICAL AND MANUFACTURING ENGINEERING

Admission Requirements for BSc Petroleum Engineering

Fees Structure for Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering

Contact Info

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