A Hands-on Introductory Course to Increase Interest in the Petroleum Engineering Workforce: A Case Study

Abstract

This study highlights the benefits of a four-day hands-on course on recruitment of high school students for petroleum engineering programs. This course sought to inform students of different areas in the oil and gas sector, highlight the importance of petroleum engineering in today's efforts toward energy sustainability, and stimulate their interest in petroleum engineering as a potential career direction. The first three days of the course lasted four hours, and the final day lasted two hours. The first day outlined the course's activities, the history of petroleum engineering, reasons for considering petroleum engineering as a career choice, and the available STEM scholarships students can use to support their college studies. The second and third day covered technical content and their application in group based hands-on experimental activities. The fourth day covered the remaining technical content and their application, in addition to a general summary of what was learned throughout the course. Twenty-six students participated in the course, of which 95% were of Hispanic origin and 27% were female. The course, via a pre- and post-survey analysis, proved successful in increasing awareness and interest in petroleum engineering at a critical point when students are trying to determine what career to pursue. Moreover, the results reflect the effectiveness of the course in leveraging their understanding of the oil and gas sector and its importance for future energy sustainability. This course represents a potentially viable approach to bridge STEM education and workforce needs in the U.S oil and gas sector. What follows in this paper is a detailed outline of the course, and its results, for easy replication and future research. The novelty of this study is the use of a pre- and post-survey evaluation method on a course that provides an overview of the three aspects of petroleum engineering.