King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals

College of Petroleum Engineering and Geosciences

Department of Petroleum Engineering

PETE-560: MATHEMATICAL METHODS IN PETROLEUM ENGINEERING (3-0-3)

Course Description:
This course introduces the students to topics in Applied Mathematics that are relevant to Petroleum
Engineering. The main areas considered are special functions, integral transforms and linear algebra.
Applications to solving flow problems is achieved through assignments and project.

PREREQUISITE Graduate Standing; Students are expected to have adequate background in

Elementary Calculus and Matrix Operations and must demonstrate good
programming skills.

TEXTBOOK(§) Erwin Kreyszig. Advanced Engineering Mathematics, Wiley,

10th edition (2011)

REFERENCES: 1. Gilbert Strang. Linear Algebra and its Applications. Brooks Cole, 4th edition
(2006).
2. Sherman Stein and Anthony Barcillos. Calculus and Analytic Geometry.
McGraw-Hill, 5th edition (1992)

COURSE OBJECTIVES:
Upon successful completion of this course, students will:
1. Understand mathematical techniques required to solve Petroleum Engineering problems.
2. Be comfortable working with linear transforms such as Laplace and Fourier transforms.
3. Be able to solve PDEs using LT and FT.
4. Be able to identify Linear Equations, their forms and properties.
5. Understand the concept of vector space and subspace.
6. Be able to perform orthogonalization and eigen-decomposition.
COURSE OUTLINE

Topic and Associated number of Lecture

Part Topics Lectur
es
1 Fundamentals of Single Phase Flow 4
- Mass Conservation
- Darcy’s Law
- Derivation of Flow Equation from Divergence
Theorem
- Reduction of Flow Equation to Simplified Forms
- Initial and Boundary Conditions
- Dimensionless Forms
2 Special Functions and Orthogonal Polynomials 6
- Series Expansion of Functions
- Even and Odd Functions
- Improper Integrals
- Gamma and Betta Functions
- Error and Complementary Error Functions
- Exponential Integral Function
- Bessel Functions and Bessel ODEs
- Orthogonal Polynomial Sequences: Hermite,
Laguerre and Jacobi
3 Integral Transforms and Applications 10
- Laplace Transform (LT)
- Solutions to Differential Equations Using LT
- Fourier Transform (FT)
- Solutions to Partial Differential Equations Using FT
4 Linear Algebra 10
- Matrices
- Systems of Linear Equations and Direct Solution Methods
- Eigenvalues and Eigenvectors
- Vector Spaces and Subspaces
- Orthogonalization and Eigen-Decomposition

Total Number of Lectures 30

CONTRIBUTION TO GRADUATE COMPONENT:
The course gives the student a strong background in some mathematical techniques needed to solve a
variety of Petroleum Engineering problems. The use of computer software helps students to develop
computer-aided solutions. The term project gives the students hand-on-experience in applying the
techniques learnt in class to solving complex Petroleum Engineering problems.

COURSE GRADE
The final grade will be based on the following distribution:
Assignments 10%
Project 15%
Major Exams 45%
Final Examination 30%
Total 100%

PROJECT
The term project will be an important element of the course. A project topic will be given to the
students by the advisor and students are required to work on the project in teams of three. Students in
each team discuss the project together and can seek help only from the instructor or the TA but not
from others. The class project carries 15% of the final grade.

EXAMINATIONS
There will be two major exams each of 2 to 3-hour duration. There will be a final examination of 2 to
3-hour duration. All exams will be closed book/notes and use of calculators is permitted.

PREPARED and REVISED BY: Dr. Abeeb A. Awotunde, Department of Petroleum Engineering, 76-
2125, (013) 860-7560, awotunde@kfupm.edu.sa. March 2017.