SCIT 1270 - Petroleum Chemistry

SCIT 1270:

Description

The overall purpose of this course is to provide students with an understanding of Petroleum Chemistry and the skills needed for successful employment. The course is primarily focused on the oil and gas sector of the petroleum industry. The skills include knowledge of chemical composition, properties of petroleum (oil and gas), petroleum products and alternative fuels. Hands on skills, behaviors and attitudes are demonstrated in the laboratory and/or in the oil-gas field (work site), as testing techniques are taught, developed and mastered. The team oriented learning environment in the laboratory provides further professional development for the student. The course will also review the chemical basis for the most important production processes.

Credits 2 Lecture Hours 1 Lab Hours 4

Extended Hours

Contact Hours

State Approval Code

40.0504

Alternate Operations During Campus Closure

In the event of an emergency or announced campus closure due to a natural disaster or pandemic, it may be necessary for Panola College to move to altered operations. During this time, Panola College may opt to continue delivery of instruction through methods that include, but are not limited to: online learning management system (CANVAS), online conferencing, email messaging, and/or an alternate schedule. It is the responsibility of the student to monitor Panola College's website (www.panola.edu) for instructions about continuing courses remotely, CANVAS for each class for course-specific communication, and Panola College email for important general information.

Class Attendance

Regular and punctual attendance of classes and laboratories is required of all students. When a student has been ill or absent from class for approved extracurricular activities, he or she should be allowed, as far as possible, to make up for the missed work. If a student has not actively participated by the census date, they will be dropped by the instructor for non-attendance. This policy applies to courses that are in-person, online, hybrid, and hyflex.

Attendance in online courses is determined by submission of an assignment or participation in an activity. According to federal guidelines, simply logging into a distance learning course without participating in an academic assignment does not constitute attendance. Distance learning is defined as when a majority (more than 50%) of instruction occurs when the instructor and students are in separate physical locations. Students must engage in an academic activity prior to the course census date.

When an instructor feels that a student has been absent to such a degree as to invalidate the learning experience, the instructor may recommend to the Vice President of Instruction that the student be withdrawn from the course. Instructors may seek to withdraw students for non-attendance after they have accumulated the following number of absences:

Fall or spring semesters:

3 or more class meeting times per week - 5 absences

2 class meeting times per week - 3 absences

1 class meeting per week - 2 absences

The student is responsible for seeing that he or she has been officially withdrawn from a class. A student who stops attendance in a class without officially withdrawing from that class will be given a failing grade; consequently, the student must follow official withdrawal procedures in the Admissions/Records Office.

Please note: Health Science and Cosmetology courses may require more stringent attendance policies based on their accreditation agencies. Please see the addendum and/or program handbook for further information concerning attendance.

Pregnant/Parenting Policy

Panola College welcomes pregnant and parenting students as a part of the student body. This institution is committed to providing support and adaptations for a successful educational experience for pregnant and parenting students. Students experiencing a need for accommodations related to pregnancy or parenting will find a Pregnancy and Parenting Accommodations Request form in the Student Handbook or may request the form from the course instructor.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Course Policy

No use of Generative AI permitted.

This option assumes that all work submitted by students will be generated by the students themselves, whether they are working individually or in groups. Students should not have another person or entity do the writing of any portion of an assignment, which includes hiring a person or a company to write assignments and/or using artificial intelligence (AI) tools like ChatGPT. Use of any AI-generated content in this course qualifies as academic dishonesty and violates Panola College’s standards of academic integrity.

Instructional Goals and Purposes

The overall purpose of this course is to provide students with an understanding of Petroleum Chemistry and the skills needed for successful employment. The course is primarily focused on the oil and gas sector of the petroleum industry. The skills include knowledge of chemical composition and properties of petroleum (oil and gas), petroleum products and alternative fuels. Hands on skills, behaviors and attitudes are demonstrated in the laboratory, as testing techniques are taught, developed and mastered. The team oriented learning environment in the laboratory provides further professional development for the student. The course will also review the chemical basis for the most important production processes.

Learning Outcomes

Understand factors that affect the choice of production chemicals including greener chemicals
Understand the control of… production chemicals for the oil & gas industry… water and gas; scale; acid stimulation; sand; corrosion in production; gas hydrate; wax (paraffin wax); demulsifiers; foam; flocculants; biocides; hydrogen sulfide scavengers; oxygen scavengers; and drag-reducing agents.
Understand hydrogen carbon… terminology, definitions, classifications, properties and chemical composition and associated metals, and including natural gas properties
Understand the chemistry of the cementing process as it relates to casings and other applications
Understand the equipment and procedures for evaluating drilling fluid performance
Understand clay mineralogy and the colloid chemistry of drilling fluids
Understand hole stability, well logging and wire logging
Understand chemical analysis associated with natural gas processing: oil and gas separation have conversion and finishing which includes physical properties and analytical analysis… Understand the chemistry associated with natural gas processing and separation techniques. Also, discuss the ideal gas laws and their effect on processing and separation
Understand the chemistry of crude oil refining: distillation and separation; hydrogenation and dehydrogenation; thermal, hydro and catalytic cracking; isomerization and vis breaking

Specific Course Objectives (includes SCANS)

After studying all materials and resources presented in the course, the student will be able to:

Understand factors that affect the choice of production chemicals including greener chemicals. (1A-i, 1A-ii, 1A-iv, 1B-iii, 1B-iv, 1C-i, 1C-iv, 2A-I, 2A-iii, 2B-I, 2C-i, 2C-ii, 2C-iii, 2D-ii, 2D-iii, 2E-ii)
1. Chemical injection
2. Where to inject
3. Other methods of chemical deployment
4. Designing greener chemicals
Understand the control of production chemicals for the oil & gas industry… water and gas; scale; acid stimulation; sand; corrosion in production; gas hydrate; wax (paraffin wax); demulsifiers; foam; flocculants; biocides; hydrogen sulfide scavengers; oxygen scavengers; and drag-reducing agents. (1A-i, 1A-ii, 1A-iv, 1B-iii, 1B-iv, 1C-i, 1C-iv, 2A-I, 2A-iii, 2B-I, 2C-i, 2C-ii, 2C-iii, 2D-ii, 2D-iii, 2E-ii)
1. Definitions and Terminology
2. Chemicals used
3. Chemical methods and control strategies
Understand hydrogen carbon… terminology, definitions, classifications, properties and chemical composition and associated metals, and including natural gas properties (1A-i, 1A-ii, 1A-iv, 1B-iii, 1B-iv, 1C-i, 1C-iv, 2A-I, 2A-iii, 2B-I, 2C-i, 2C-ii, 2C-iii, 2D-ii, 2D-iii, 2E-ii)
1. Introduction and discussion
Understand the chemistry of the cementing process as it relates to casings and other applications (1A-i, 1A-ii, 1A-iv, 1B-iii, 1B-iv, 1C-i, 1C-iv, 2A-I, 2A-iii, 2B-I, 2C-i, 2C-ii, 2C-iii, 2D-ii, 2D-iii, 2E-ii)
1. Procedures
2. Composition and forms of cements
3. API cements
4. Additives
Understand the equipment and procedures for evaluating drilling fluid performance (1A-i, 1A-ii, 1A-iv, 1B-iii, 1B-iv, 1C-i, 1C-iv, 2A-I, 2A-iii, 2B-I, 2C-i, 2C-ii, 2C-iii, 2D-ii, 2D-iii, 2E-ii)
1. Density, Viscosity, Gel Strength, Filtration
2. Particle size determination
3. Determination of Gas, Oil and Solids content
4. Electrical properties
5. Foams and foaming agents rheological properties
6. Chemical analysis
Understand clay mineralogy and the colloid chemistry of drilling fluids (1A-i, 1A-ii, 1A-iv, 1B-iii, 1B-iv, 1C-i, 1C-iv, 2A-I, 2A-iii, 2B-I, 2C-i, 2C-ii, 2C-iii, 2D-ii, 2D-iii, 2E-ii)
1. Clay swelling mechanisms
2. Flocculation
3. DE flocculation
Understand hole stability, well logging and wire logging (1A-i, 1A-ii, 1A-iv, 1B-iii, 1B-iv, 1C-i, 1C-iv, 2A-I, 2A-iii, 2B-I, 2C-i, 2C-ii, 2C-iii, 2D-ii, 2D-iii, 2E-ii)
1. The mechanics of borehole stability
2. Hole instability caused by interaction between the drilling fluid and shale formations
Understand chemical analysis associated with natural gas processing: oil and gas separation have conversion and finishing which includes physical properties and analytical analysis… Understand the chemistry associated with natural gas processing and separation techniques. Also, discuss the ideal gas laws and their effect on processing and separation (1A-i, 1A-ii, 1A-iv, 1B-iii, 1B-iv, 1C-i, 1C-iv, 2A-I, 2A-iii, 2B-I, 2C-i, 2C-ii, 2C-iii, 2D-ii, 2D-iii, 2E-ii)
1. Separation techniques
2. Hydrates
3. Conversion and finishing which includes physical properties and analytical analysis
4. The Chemistry associated with separation
5. The ideal gas laws and their effect on processing and separation
Understand the chemistry of crude oil refining: distillation and separation; hydrogenation and dehydrogenation; thermal, hydro and catalytic cracking; isomerization and vis breaking (1A-i, 1A-ii, 1A-iv, 1B-iii, 1B-iv, 1C-i, 1C-iv, 2A-I, 2A-iii, 2B-I, 2C-i, 2C-ii, 2C-iii, 2D-ii, 2D-iii, 2E-ii)
1. distillation and separation
2. Hydrogenation and dehydrogenation
3. Thermal, hydro and catalytic cracking
4. Isomerization
5. Vis-breaking

Course Content

Students in all sections of this course will be required to do the following:

Students will study assigned materials and complete quizzes and exams to assess understanding and comprehension.
Students will complete all lab assignments as scheduled and all students are required to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in the lab.

Methods of Instruction/Course Format/Delivery

Students in traditional, hybrid and Internet classes will have access to courses via Canvas. Students in the traditional class will meet regularly for lecture. Students in the Internet class will be required to take quizzes and exams at an approved testing facility or, they may also be administered by the instructor. Students in hybrid classes will have both in class and online assignments. Resources for this course have provided through Canvas, include the following Sections in Canvas…

Modules: Chapter study materials, self-assessment exercises, quizzes and exams
Announcements and Recent Activities List: Instructor Announcements
Inbox: Email (to communicate with instructor and classmates inside Canvas)
Grades: Student grades
Other sections, as assigned by the Instructor: Students in both the traditional and Internet classes should use the People feature within Canvas (includes Canvas Email) to communicate with the instructor. Using Canvas Email located in the “In Box” menu, gives the student access to the instructor and other classmates without having to remember or type email addresses; the student just selects a name from the list. The instructor will attempt to respond to all Canvas email within 24 hours. For example, if a student makes an appointment with the instructor through Canvas email to take an exam, the instructor will reply to the student’s Canvas email – if the instructor does not reply within the time needed, call the instructor’s at his or her office. Please, always include in the subject line of the Canvas email, the student’s name, course number and course section number.

Course Grade

The grading scale for this course is as follows:

Assignments/Quizzes: 20%
Labs: 30%
Exams: 30%
Final Exam: 20%

Other

Courses conducted via video conferencing may be recorded and shared for instructional purposes by the instructor.
For current texts and materials, use the following link to access bookstore listings: https://www.panolacollegestore.com.
For testing services, use the following link: https://www.panola.edu/student-services/studentsupport/academic-testing-center.
If any student in this class has special classroom or testing needs because of a physical learning or emotional condition, please contact the ADA Student Coordinator in Support Services located in the Charles C. Matthews Student Center or go to https://www.panola.edu/studentservices/student-support/disability-support-services for more information.
Withdrawing from a course is the student’s responsibility. Students who do not attend class and who do not withdraw will receive the grade earned for the course.
Student Handbook: https://www.panola.edu/ (located on at the bottom under student)

SCANS Criteria

Foundation skills are defined in three areas: basic skills, thinking skills, and personal qualities.
1. Basic Skills: A worker must read, write, perform arithmetic and mathematical operations, listen, and speak effectively. These skills include:
  1. Reading: locate, understand, and interpret written information in prose and in documents such as manuals, graphs, and schedules.
  2. Writing: communicate thoughts, ideas, information, and messages in writing, and create documents such as letters, directions, manuals, reports, graphs, and flow charts.
  3. Arithmetic and Mathematical Operations: perform basic computations and approach practical problems by choosing appropriately from a variety of mathematical techniques.
  4. Listening: receive, attend to, interpret, and respond to verbal messages and other cues.
  5. Speaking: Organize ideas and communicate orally.
2. Thinking Skills: A worker must think creatively, make decisions, solve problems, visualize, know how to learn, and reason effectively. These skills include:
  1. Creative Thinking: generate new ideas.
  2. Decision Making: specify goals and constraints, generate alternatives, consider risks, and evaluate and choose the best alternative.
  3. Problem Solving: recognize problems and devise and implement plan of action.
  4. Visualize ("Seeing Things in the Mind's Eye"): organize and process symbols, pictures, graphs, objects, and other information.
  5. Knowing How to Learn: use efficient learning techniques to acquire and apply new knowledge and skills.
  6. Reasoning: discover a rule or principle underlying the relationship between two or more objects and apply it when solving a problem.
3. Personal Qualities: A worker must display responsibility, self-esteem, sociability, self management, integrity, and honesty.
  1. Responsibility: exert a high level of effort and persevere toward goal attainment.
  2. Self-Esteem: believe in one's own self-worth and maintain a positive view of oneself.
  3. Sociability: demonstrate understanding, friendliness, adaptability, empathy, and politeness in group settings.
  4. Self-Management: assess oneself accurately, set personal goals, monitor progress, and exhibit self-control.
  5. Integrity and Honesty: choose ethical courses of action.
Workplace competencies are defined in five areas: resources, interpersonal skills, information, systems, and technology.
1. Resources: A worker must identify, organize, plan, and allocate resources effectively.
  1. Time: select goal-relevant activities, rank them, allocate time, and prepare and follow schedules.
  2. Money: Use or prepare budgets, make forecasts, keep records, and make adjustments to meet objectives.
  3. Material and Facilities: Acquire, store, allocate, and use materials or space efficiently. Examples: construct a decision timeline chart; use computer software to plan a project; prepare a budget; conduct a cost/benefits analysis; design an RFP process; write a job description; develop a staffing plan.
2. Interpersonal Skills: A worker must work with others effectively.
  1. Participate as a Member of a Team: contribute to group effort.
  2. Teach Others New Skills.
  3. Serve Clients/Customers: work to satisfy customer's expectations.
  4. Exercise Leadership: communicate ideas to justify position, persuade and convince others, responsibly challenge existing procedures and policies.
  5. Negotiate: work toward agreements involving exchange of resources, resolve divergent interests.
  6. Work with Diversity: work well with men and women from diverse backgrounds. Examples: collaborate with a group member to solve a problem; work through a group conflict situation, train a colleague; deal with a dissatisfied customer in person; select and use appropriate leadership styles; use effective delegation techniques; conduct an individual or team negotiation; demonstrate an understanding of how people from different cultural backgrounds might behave in various situations.
3. Information: A worker must be able to acquire and use information.
  1. Acquire and Evaluate Information.
  2. Organize and Maintain Information.
  3. Interpret and Communicate Information.
  4. Use Computers to Process Information. Examples: research and collect data from various sources; develop a form to collect data; develop an inventory record-keeping system; produce a report using graphics; make an oral presentation using various media; use on-line computer databases to research a report; use a computer spreadsheet to develop a budget.
4. Systems: A worker must understand complex interrelationships.
  1. Understand Systems: know how social, organizational, and technological systems work and operate effectively with them.
  2. Monitor and Correct Performance: distinguish trends, predict impacts on system operations, diagnose deviations in systems' performance and correct malfunctions.
  3. Improve or Design Systems: suggest modifications to existing systems and develop new or alternative systems to improve performance. Examples: draw and interpret an organizational chart; develop a monitoring process; choose a situation needing improvement, break it down, examine it, propose an improvement, and implement it.
5. Technology: A worker must be able to work with a variety of technologies.
  1. Select Technology: choose procedures, tools or equipment including computers and related technologies.
  2. Apply Technologies to Task: understand overall intent and proper procedures for setup and operation of equipment.
  3. Maintain and Troubleshoot Equipment: Prevent, identify, or solve problems with equipment, including computers and other technologies. Examples: read equipment descriptions and technical specifications to select equipment to meet needs; set up and assemble appropriate equipment from instructions; read and follow directions for troubleshooting and repairing equipment.