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Reservoir Evaluation and Management at Heriot-Watt University - UCAS

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2025 - 2026
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Course summary

MSc Reservoir Evaluation and Management equips you with the knowledge and skills to work internationally in the oil and gas industry to the standard required. It will appeal to science and engineering graduates or those of you from a different numerate academic background who are interested in gaining an appreciation of the variety of disciplines associated with reservoir engineering and geoscience. You’ll understand fundamental concepts, principles, and theories of the main reservoir engineering and geoscience disciplines which are:

  • Reservoir engineering
  • Reservoir sedimentology
  • Formation evaluation
  • Reservoir simulation
  • Well testing
  • Modelling and management
  • Geomechanics and geophysics
You’ll use leading computer software tools for the design and analysis of reservoir engineering and geoscience, integrate theory into practice, and understand the ethics and standards involved in professional engineering practice, using your knowledge to problem solve in a variety of contexts. As a graduate, you will be able to join an oil company asset team as a productive member and be able to apply your learning to real oilfield problems. Customise your learning You’ll take eight mandatory courses encompassing a unique combination of reservoir geoscience and reservoir engineering. You’ll learn about the full range of issues from geological concepts to simulation models and use them in decision-making in reservoir appraisal and development. The content of the mandatory courses covers the general workflow for generating a model of the subsurface that can predict the flow of oil from the reservoir into the wells and to the surface. You will study general geological concepts and understand what is relevant for modelling a hydrocarbon reservoir. You’ll construct a model of the reservoir, based on available measurements and data from the field, and use the model to assess volumes of hydrocarbons in place and to predict the future production of hydrocarbons from the field. In semester three, you’ll strengthen your collaborative and communication skills through the field evaluation project, where you will work in groups and produce a full field evaluation and development plan, using data from a real oilfield. The field evaluation project will involve a field trip to observe the realistic geology that is present in the project. You can customise your learning in semester three to match your specific interests or desired career pathway by choosing the topic of reservoir geoscience and engineering in which you’ll complete your detailed individual project. Projects are offered by the Institute of GeoEnergy Engineering and by industry, and normally include a wide choice of experimental research, computer modelling, and real-world problems. Following the taught courses, there is a nine-day field trip to the Southern Pyrenean Basin and Ebro Basin in Spain. The trip enables the examination of rocks deposited in a wide range of environments, including fluvial, shallow marine, deltaic, and deep marine. You will work in a team and will consider the rocks observed in terms of their reservoir behaviour, and discuss issues related to drilling, well testing, petrophysics, and geophysics. You’ll then build a numerical model of one of the outcrops studied and will simulate fluid flow through the model using industry-standard software to gain a better understanding of the modelling issues and potential reservoir behaviour.

Modules

September Intake Year 1 Mandatory September -Formation Evaluation -Reservoir Concepts -Reservoir Engineering -Reservoir Sedimentology Mandatory January -Geomechanics -Reservoir Geological Modelling -Reservoir Simulation -Reservoir Engineering - Well test Analysis Mandatory May -Field Evaluation Project -Individual Project January Intake Year 1 Mandatory January -Geomechanics -Reservoir Simulation -Reservoir Geological Modelling -Reservoir Engineering - Well test Analysis Mandatory September -Formation Evaluation -Reservoir Concepts -Reservoir Sedimentology -Reservoir Engineering Mandatory Second January -Individual Project -Field Evaluation Project

Assessment method

You will be assessed by coursework, exams, written reports and oral presentation, including group presentations. You’ll be supported and receive feedback throughout the programme.

Entry requirements

A minimum of a 2:2 honours degree or non-UK equivalent in geology, earth science or engineering discipline. Accepted science degrees include Geology, geophysics, petroleum or chemical engineering or any similar geoscience or engineering degree. The applicant must also demonstrate a sufficient level of mathematical ability. We welcome applications from international students and accept qualifications from around the world. Please refer to the entry requirements for your country for more details. English language requirements If your first language is not English, we'll need to see evidence of your English language ability. The minimum English language requirement for entry to this programme is IELTS 6.0 (or equivalent) with no score lower than 5.5. If you do not have IELTS 6.0, we offer a range of English language courses to help you meet the English language requirement for this programme prior to commencing your studies.

English language requirements

Applicants whose native language is not English and who have not been educated previously in the English language must provide evidence of their English language ability to ensure they can cope with the demands of a Heriot-Watt programme taught and assessed in English. Further information about the English Language tests that we currently accept as proof of English Language ability including our own English Language programmes, can be viewed on our website.

HWU English Language Requirements

https://www.hw.ac.uk/study/entry/english-language-requirements.htm

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

England £13000 Whole course
Northern Ireland £13000 Whole course
Scotland £13000 Whole course
Wales £13000 Whole course
International £29960 Whole course

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .

Additional fee information

No additional fees or cost information has been supplied for this course, please contact the provider directly.

Sponsorship information

Postgraduate scholarships and bursaries We aim to encourage well-qualified, ambitious students to study with us and we offer a wide variety of scholarships and bursaries to achieve this. Over £6 million worth of opportunities are available in fee and stipend scholarships, and more than 400 students benefit from this support.

Reservoir Evaluation and Management at Heriot-Watt University - UCAS