Overview
We have all come to appreciate energy as the prime mover of our economy, but beyond that, energy is an essential part of our daily life. At the flick of a switch, we have light; at the turn of an ignition key and a shift of a few levers, automobiles, trains, ships, airplanes transport us and our goods from one place to another. With the tap of a few keys, a doctor begins a laser surgical procedure, information from around the world is brought to the fingertips of a scientist, and the world is brought into our homes. These are only a few examples of our dependence on "external" energy, the prime mover behind all of these processes. It used to be said that to sustain life, only air, water and food are needed. In our modern society, energy may well be the fourth realm of life sustainability. Our increasingly complex society with its developing industrial base has created a demand for energy that our forefathers could in no way have imagined. As the population grew and our society changed from an agrarian economy to one of industrialization, other basic energy sources were clearly needed. It was this need, then, which occasioned first the development of our coal resources and finally our deposits of crude oil and natural gas.
Our nation has, for more than half a century, relied upon two premium fossil fuels - oil and gas - to satisfy a wide range of energy needs. The oil and gas provide about two-thirds of this "external" energy consumed in the U.S. In harmony with this, the industry has experienced a number of technological improvements, driven by the increasing global demand for crude oil and natural gas. Improved methods of exploration, such as three dimensional seismic imaging, directional drilling, completion engineering, and processing technologies have all dramatically improved, thereby intensifying the need for highly qualified technical specialists.
ABET Accreditation
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, 111 Market Place, Suite 1050, Baltimore, MD 21202-4012, telephone: (410) 347-7700.