How is the Bachelor of Drilling and Production Management delivered at LOU?

The Bachelor of Drilling and Production Management is delivered entirely online through LOU's virtual learning environment. Students attend live online lectures each week covering well engineering, reservoir management, production surveillance, well integrity, upstream economics, and energy transition, with all sessions recorded and available on demand. This format is specifically designed to accommodate professionals on offshore rotations and field-based work schedules.

What support is available for online learners on this petroleum engineering degree?

Online learners on the Bachelor of Drilling and Production Management receive virtual tutorial sessions with petroleum engineering academics and upstream practitioners, research project supervision, digital library access to SPE technical papers and Energy Institute publications, and LOU's online career support service. Career support includes virtual CV coaching, technical portfolio review, and online interview preparation for drilling superintendent, production director, and asset management roles.

Is this degree aligned with SPE and Energy Institute professional standards?

Yes. The Bachelor of Drilling and Production Management is aligned with Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) competence frameworks, Energy Institute (EI) professional standards, and Offshore Energies UK (OEUK) guidelines. The curriculum also draws on IChemE engineering management frameworks. These alignments ensure graduates develop upstream expertise that is technically rigorous and credible to operators, national oil companies, and service organisations worldwide.

What are the entry requirements for this degree?

Direct entry requires A-Levels at BBC or above, an IB score of 26 or more, or equivalent overseas qualifications. Holders of a UK Higher Diploma or Advanced Diploma in Drilling and Production or Petroleum Engineering may apply for the top-up route. International applicants require IELTS 6.0 overall with no band below 5.5. A personal statement and two academic or professional references are required.

How long is the degree and what roles does it lead to?

The Bachelor of Drilling and Production Management spans 36 months of full online study, with a shorter top-up route for UK Higher Diploma holders. Graduates can proceed to LOU's Master of Drilling and Production Management or take on drilling operations manager, production asset manager, well integrity lead, and upstream business development roles with international operators, national oil companies, and drilling contractors worldwide.

Bachelor Drilling and Production Management | LOU | Harold International College of London

Course Overview

The Bachelor of Drilling and Production Management is a full online degree programme delivered entirely online through LOU's virtual learning environment, spanning 36 months of full-time study or a top-up route for holders of a UK Higher Diploma in Drilling and Production or a related petroleum engineering discipline. The degree develops strategic capability in well engineering, production optimisation, reservoir management, and upstream business leadership at the depth required for Asset Manager, Drilling Superintendent, and Production Director roles across international oil and gas operators at London academic standards.

By graduation, students are equipped to lead drilling programmes at field level, manage production assets from appraisal through development and production stages, apply reservoir economics to investment decisions, and contribute to corporate upstream strategy. The degree includes an online research project investigating an upstream management challenge in depth. Every module is accessible via LOU's virtual learning environment, enabling oil and gas professionals worldwide to study from anywhere in the world around field and offshore schedules.

Key Features

Full undergraduate degree with a top-up route for UK Higher Diploma holders in drilling, production, or petroleum engineering
Curriculum aligned with Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) competence frameworks, Energy Institute (EI) standards, and OEUK guidelines
Strategic modules covering reservoir engineering, well integrity, production optimisation, upstream economics, and energy transition management
Live online lectures with recorded sessions available on demand to support professionals on offshore rotations and field-based schedules
Digital library access to SPE technical papers, Energy Institute publications, and upstream petroleum management research
Virtual tutorial sessions for engineering project work, research supervision, and career development discussions
Online research project examining a strategic upstream production or well management challenge
Online career support including technical portfolio coaching and online interview preparation for senior upstream roles

What You Will Learn

Design and evaluate well programmes including formation evaluation, casing design, completion strategies, and barrier verification
Apply reservoir engineering principles to production forecasting, decline curve analysis, and enhanced recovery evaluation
Manage production asset performance through systematic production surveillance, well testing, and artificial lift optimisation
Lead well integrity management programmes using risk-based inspection, intervention planning, and P&A strategy
Evaluate upstream investment decisions using reserves estimation, economic analysis, and project economics frameworks
Develop energy transition strategies for upstream assets, including carbon capture, electrification, and emissions reduction planning
Lead cross-disciplinary upstream project teams across drilling, reservoir, production, and facilities functions at programme level
Research upstream management problems using quantitative petroleum engineering methods and business analysis at degree level

Who This Course Is For

Petroleum engineers and drilling professionals holding a UK Higher Diploma in Drilling and Production seeking full degree-level status
Production engineers, reservoir engineers, and well engineers with A-Levels or equivalent seeking a strategic upstream management degree
Asset managers and operations supervisors in oil and gas companies aiming to formalise their upstream business knowledge
Oil and gas professionals who need flexible online study to complete a degree around demanding offshore rotations and field schedules
Students worldwide aiming to study upstream oil and gas management at London academic standards through LOU's online platform

Career Pathways

Drilling Operations Manager
Upstream Operations Manager
Petroleum Engineer
Energy Manager
Sustainability Manager, Energy Sector
Oil and Gas Business Development Manager
Chief Energy Officer

LOU's online career support service provides virtual CV coaching, LinkedIn profile guidance, and online interview preparation for oil and gas graduates pursuing drilling superintendent, production director, asset manager, and upstream business development roles across international operators, national oil companies, and service organisations worldwide.

Entry Requirements

A-Levels (BBC or above) or IB (26+ points) or equivalent overseas qualifications for direct entry
A completed UK Higher Diploma or Advanced Diploma in Drilling and Production, Petroleum Engineering, or a related upstream discipline for top-up routes
IELTS 6.0 overall (no band under 5.5) or equivalent English proficiency for international applicants
Personal statement outlining online learning goals and career objectives in upstream oil and gas management
Two academic or professional references

Why Study at LOU

LOU — London Online University — is an online-first division of Harold International College of London, enabling oil and gas professionals worldwide to access London academic standards through a fully online delivery model. The Bachelor of Drilling and Production Management is delivered entirely through LOU's virtual learning environment, combining live online lectures, recorded sessions available on demand, digital library access to SPE and Energy Institute publications, and virtual tutorial sessions with petroleum engineering academics and industry practitioners.

The programme is aligned with SPE competence frameworks, Energy Institute standards, and OEUK guidelines, ensuring graduates develop upstream expertise that is credible and valued by operators, national oil companies, and service organisations worldwide. LOU's online career support service operates throughout the degree, and the programme leads into LOU's Master of Drilling and Production Management for those pursuing the most senior upstream leadership roles.

Apply for Bachelor of Drilling and Production Management

For petroleum engineers and upstream professionals ready to achieve degree-level expertise in drilling management, production optimisation, and upstream business strategy, the Bachelor of Drilling and Production Management at LOU delivers the technical depth and strategic credentials your career demands. Apply for your LOU online Bachelor degree and study from anywhere in the world. Enrol Now