Nontechnical Guide to Petroleum Geology, Exploration

Petroleum Engineering 435
Technical Presentations II
Credit 1: (1-0)
Required for Seniors
Catalog Description: Preparation of a written technical paper on a subject related to petroleum
technology and an oral presentation of the paper in a formal technical conference format; oral
presentations are judged by petroleum industry professionals at the departmental student paper contest
held during the same academic year.
Prerequisites(s): PETE 335; senior classification in petroleum engineering
Instructors: Duane A. McVay, Associate Professor, Petroleum Engineering Department, 401P
Richardson, (979)862-8466, mcvay@pe.tamu.edu, W. John Lee, Professor, Petroleum Engineering
Department, 407C Richardson, (979)845-2208, john.lee@pe.tamu.edu
Textbooks Required: SPE Style Guide, Society of Petroleum Engineers, Richardson, TX, 2007;
excerpts from other sources provided as class notes
Topics Covered:
1. Review of library and literature database resources
2. Conducting and writing a review of technical literature
3. Engineering method vs. scientific method
4. Conducting an independent study of an engineering problem
5. Analysis/interpretation of results and drawing conclusions
6. Organizing and writing the technical paper
7. Writing Titles, Abstracts
8. Designing and developing PowerPoint slides
9. Developing and delivering the oral presentation
Class/Laboratory Schedule: 1 50-min lecture session per week
Method of Evaluation:
Weekly Written Assignments 70%
Oral Presentation 30%
Total 100%
Contributions to Professional Component:
Math and Science None
Petroleum Engineering Provides skills to conduct an independent study of a petroleum engineering
problem, and to synthesize results and draw appropriate conclusions from the
study
General Education Provides skills to write technical papers and give oral presentations in a
professional setting
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