Chemical Engineering at The Petroleum Institute

The Department of Chemical Engineering at The Petroleum Institute is designed to give students a rigorous education in the fundamentals of chemical engineering science, and specific training in applications of chemical engineering in the oil and gas industries. The program features a summer internship in industry where students will gain significant exposure to the petroleum processing industries in the United Arab Emirates.

Currently the Chemical Engineering program offers a degree program leading to the Bachelor of Science degree (BSc) in Chemical Engineering. The program also offers a degree leading to the Master of Engineering (MEng). Advanced studies leading to the Master of Science (MSc) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees are planned for the future.

The field of Chemical Engineering deals with the science and engineering of chemical reactions and chemical separations. Accordingly, the degree program begins with basic studies in chemistry, including organic and physical chemistry, and the thermodynamic properties of fluids. The program continues with courses in basic chemical engineering calculations and advanced courses in fluid mechanics, mass and heat transfer, and transport phenomena. Studies in reactor design, and petroleum refining and gas processing are important components of the program as is the use of computer-aided process design.

The Department of Chemical Engineering features state-of-the-art laboratories in unit operations, reaction engineering, and control systems engineering, where small scale versions of common industrial equipment and instrumentation will be present in a pilot-plant setting. Moreover, the program incorporates extensive laboratory work and computer process simulation in order to reinforce the principles and concepts used in the classroom.