Questions and Answers
What is engineering?
The application of math and science to create efficient, safe, and economical design that improves human life.
What does an engineer do? (Select all that apply)
What does petroleum engineering involve?
Studying, designing, implementing techniques, and executing projects to recover petroleum fluids from beneath the earth's surface.
Petroleum engineering overlaps with civil, electrical, industrial, chemical, and mechanical engineering.
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What is the main goal of a petroleum engineer?
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The term 'petroleum' combines words from Greek and Latin: Petra = ______ and Oleum = ______.
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What is petroleum primarily composed of?
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What are the forms in which hydrocarbons can exist?
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The inorganic theory states that petroleum comes from the decomposition of organisms.
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What is the primary source of petroleum according to the organic theory?
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Why is petroleum considered a non-renewable fossil fuel?
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Study Notes
Introduction to Petroleum Engineering
- Engineering is the application of mathematics and science for efficient, safe, and economical designs to improve human life.
- Roles of engineers include designing, evaluating, developing, testing, modifying, installing, inspecting, supervising, and maintaining products and systems.
Petroleum Engineering Discipline
- Focuses on studying, designing, and executing projects to recover petroleum fluids located beneath the Earth's surface.
- Involves transferring recovered petroleum to the downstream sector, such as refineries and export facilities.
- Integrates various disciplines: mathematics, physics, geology, chemistry, and economics.
- Overlaps with civil, electrical, industrial, chemical, and mechanical engineering.
Objectives of a Petroleum Engineer
- Aim to maximize petroleum recovery while minimizing associated costs and considering environmental impacts.
- Involves designing, testing, and implementing recovery methods from underground sources.
- Participation in confirming the existence of commercial oil and gas, designating drilling sites, and developing monitoring software for equipment.
- Oversees extraction processes and pipeline simulations to enhance safety and efficiency.
Importance of Petroleum Engineering
- Unique field that deals with resources stored underground for millions of years.
- Challenges include a lack of available data for analysis.
Definition and Composition of Petroleum
- The term "petroleum" comes from the Greek "petra" (rock) and Latin "oleum" (oil).
- Composed predominantly of hydrocarbons: about 85% carbon and 13% hydrogen.
- Exists in three states: gas (natural gas), liquid (crude oil), solid (tar).
Sources and Origin of Petroleum
- Origin theories:
- Inorganic: Suggested formation through chemical reactions between water and carbonate rocks, with little support.
- Organic: Predominantly accepted theory involving decomposition of organisms (plants and animals) under heat, pressure, and bacterial action over long timescales.
- Recognized as a non-renewable fossil fuel formed over millions of years from organic remains exposed to extreme conditions.
Hydrocarbon Generation Process
- When an organism dies, its organic matter is oxidized and buried under sediments.
- Special conditions aid in preserving organic material, influencing the generation of coal, oil, or gas.
- Key components of organic matter include proteins and carbohydrates, which play significant roles in the formation of hydrocarbons.
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Description
This quiz covers the foundational concepts of engineering, including its definition, applications, and the roles of engineers. It provides an overview of how math and science are utilized in creating efficient designs to enhance human life.
