Gas and Petroleum Engineering Department

Details: 17 August 2021

In February 2012, Kenya discovered its first commercially viable Oil reserves after many years of failed exploration activities. The country is currently estimated to have in excess of 800 Million Barrels of Crude Oil Reserves. To date, Kenya’s extraction rate has hovered at 2,000 barrels/day while our neighbor Uganda is estimated to have in excess of 1.3 Billion Barrels of Crude Oil Reserves. Tanzania holds 0.23 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of proven gas reserves as of 2017, ranking 82 nd in the world and accounting for about 0.003% of the world’s total natural gas reserves of 6,923 Tcf . In order to support the human resource development for the newly emerging Kenya’s Oil and Gas Industry, the growing Petrochemical Industry and other Oil and Gas discoveries in the region ,the Department of Gas and Petroleum Engineering was established in February 2013 from the then Department of Energy Engineering in the School of Engineering and Technology, Kenyatta University .

Our Vision:
The vision of the Department of Gas and Petroleum Engineering is to become a globally recognized Petroleum Engineering Teaching, Research and Technical Training Centre of Excellence, for the Oil and Gas Industry.

Our Mission:
The mission of the Department of Gas and Petroleum Engineering, is to provide quality Knowledge in, Technical and Engineering Training, Research and Skills development in Petroleum Engineering, for the Region and the International Oil and Gas Industry.

Objectives of Our Department:
i. To develop highly flexible and quality Petroleum Engineering responsive Program suited to the Oil and Gas sector of the Economy.
ii. To provide Industry recognized Petroleum Engineering Training Solutions to meet the Oil and Gas industry needs.
iii. To ensure that the training provided is accredited, internationally recognized and leads to current, transferable skills.
iv. To provide research solutions for the advancement and development of the Oil and Gas sector.

The B.Sc. Petroleum Engineering Program at Kenyatta University is designed to focus on the need for expertise Engineering and Technical Training in the Oil and Gas Industry in the region and in the world at large. Upon completion of our five years program, our graduate Engineers are competent enough to apply the knowledge and skills acquired in the various thematic areas to solve problems in the Oil and Gas Industry. The Thematic areas include Drilling, Reservoir Operations, Production Activities, Natural Gas Engineering, Transportation, QHSE, Petroleum Economics, Petro Chemistry and Data Science Analysis. Our Petroleum Engineering graduates have been able to take up Masters Degree Programs in our public, private and overseas universities. They are able to work with and establish Consulting Businesses or even becoming Independent Oil Producers. Opportunities also exist for travel and work overseas.

Duration and Structure of the programme.
The B.Sc. Petroleum Engineering programme covers a minimum of five academic years, with all subjects taught in units including practical lessons. Each candidate is required to take a minimum of 16 units per academic year. To qualify for the B.Sc. Petroleum Engineering Degree award, the candidate will be required to have taken a minimum of 80 units .A semester shall consist of 16 weeks and 2 examination weeks. To facilitate hands on industrial practice experience, the B.Sc. Petroleum Engineering students shall have a trimester in second, third and fourth years in conformity with the requirements of the Engineering board of Kenya (EBK).During the second year trimester the student will undertake a compulsory practical attachment while during the third and fourth years trimesters, they will undertake compulsory industrial attachments.

Entry Requirements.
1. For KCSE candidates ,applicants must meet the University common regulations and score C+ (Plus) and above at KCSE or equivalent with at least;

Mathematics: B+,
Physics: B+,
Chemistry: B,
English: C+,

Candidates who have done Geography at KCSE and passed well will have an added advantage.

2. National Diploma holders in Petroleum Engineering or Chemical Engineering , from recognized institutions will be accepted as follows :

i) Higher Diploma or Equivalent

A candidate with at least a credit pass in the Higher Diploma shall be eligible for admission into the programme. A qualified Higher Diploma applicant shall normally be
admitted into the second year of study or given equivalent credit transfer.

ii) Basic University Diploma or Ordinary Diploma or Equivalent.

A candidate with at least accredit pass in the Ordinary Diploma or University Basic Diploma (lasting at least 3 academic years) and who in addition had attained at least a C (Plain) for mean aggregate and C+ (plus) in Mathematics and Physic at K.C.S.E shall be eligible for admission into the programme. A qualified diploma applicant shall normally be admitted into the second year of study or given equivalent credit transfers.

a) University Linkages:

Our Department also share expertise and participates in joint collaboration research for new concepts and technologies in the emerging oil and Gas industry in the region and internationally .The Universities we collaborate with include:

i) The University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
ii) The University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
iii) The University of Benin, Nigeria.
iv) The China University of Petroleum, Quindao, China.
v) Kangwon University, South Korea.
vi) Higher colleges of Technology, Abu Dhabi,UAE.
vii) IOWA State University.USA.
viii) University of Missouri, USA.
ix) University of Colorado, USA.

b) Industrial linkages.
On industrial linkage and collaboration, the emerging oil and gas industry in Kenya has been very supportive of our program. Attachment and Internships have been made available freely to our students. The Ministry of Petroleum, Kenya Oil Gas Association (KOGA), and Tullow Kenya have been instrumental in leading this initiative. We are currently working with around 47 oil and gas related companies which provide attachments and internships opportunities to our students.

Industrial linkage and Mentorship board

1. Eng. Dr. Fredrick Breins. Wataalam Oil and Gas Consultants, Kenya.
2. Eng. Mitchell Boit. Glencore, Chad.
3. Eng. Elizabeth Rogo Tsavo Oil.Kenya.
4. Eng. James Mwangi Kurrent Technologies, Kenya
5. Eng. Joseph Wachira S.P.E, K.U Alumni.

c) Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE)- KUSC
Society of Petroleum Engineers -Kenyatta University Student Chapter (SPE- KUSC) is our Departmental student welfare society. It is part of the global professional body for Petroleum Engineers which is based in Houston Texas, USA. Since initiation in March 2016, SPE- KUSC has been at the forefront of supplementing our curriculum by giving our students a vital link to Oil and Gas industries worldwide.
This has given them a much needed competitive edge in this ever evolving industry. In 2017, it was globally recognized as a Gold Standard Chapter, a much acclaimed prize. In 2020 we received the Millstones Anniversary certificate for furthering SPE-KUSC mission and supporting local membership.
Some of the activities include; technical workshops, career fairs, networking dinners and team building excursions. It is truly a joy to see our students flourishing and gaining relevant technical skills, leadership skills, networking and mentorship opportunities. We always encourage new students to plug in and get the best out of such initiatives.
SPE -KUSC is vibrant on social media on twitter (@spe_ku), Instagram (spe_ku), LinkedIn (SPE KUSC) and Facebook (spe ku). Follow and stay informed!

Chairperson:-

Dr. Francis Njoka

Chairman Gas and Petroleum Engineering Department

Gas and Petroleum Engineering Department

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