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Overview

The oil and gas industry is complex and ever-changing, requiring professionals with expertise in exploration, drilling, production, and processing operations. Designed for industry newcomers and professionals in technical support or operations, SAIT’s Upstream Petroleum Certificate of Achievement provides the practical skills and industry knowledge you need to thrive in the dynamic oil and gas industry.

This flexible, online, self-paced program covers geology, geophysics, drilling, well evaluations, completions, and production operations. You’ll learn how reservoirs are identified and developed, gain insight into drilling techniques, casing design, and blowout prevention, and study completion methods, artificial lift systems, and hydrocarbon processing. The program also explores oil and gas transportation, pipeline systems, and regulatory compliance, ensuring a well-rounded understanding of upstream operations.

To bridge theory with real-world application, the final course, PTPR 002 - Petroleum Industry Project, challenges you to apply your knowledge to an industry-focused project, culminating in a formal report that demonstrates your expertise.

If you are looking for the foundational tools to excel in oil and gas operations in roles like field operations, well servicing, technical sales, and pipeline management, then it makes sense to consider the Upstream Petroleum Certificate of Achievement.

Upon successful completion of this program, you'll be able to:

  • explain the fundamentals of oil and gas exploration, drilling, and well completion, including reservoir properties, hydrocarbon recovery, and evaluation techniques
  • analyze geological and geophysical data to identify and assess potential oil and gas reservoirs
  • describe key drilling operations, well control, casing design, and directional drilling techniques, applying industry-standard practices
  • evaluate completion and production processes, including artificial lift systems, fluid characteristics, and well interventions, to optimize field operations
  • identify and interpret log analysis, core data, and drilling records to support decision-making in exploration and production
  • discuss oil and gas regulation, land ownership, and market factors to understand their impact on industry operations
  • differentiate between oil and gas transportation and processing systems, including refining, fractionation, stabilization, and gas sweetening
  • assess the function and operation of pipelines, processing facilities, and compression systems in oil and gas production.

Program outline

To successfully complete this certificate, you are required to complete seven mandatory courses.

Required courses & electives

If you're pursuing the certificate, we recommend that you complete the seven required in the order listed:

  • PETR 110 – Canadian Oil and Gas Industry
  • GEOL 101 – Petroleum Geology - Basic
  • DRLG 106 – Introduction to Drilling
  • PTPR 123 – Well Evaluation
  • PTPR 124 – Well Completion
  • PTPR 125 – Production Operation
  • PTPR 002 – Petroleum Industry Project

How to apply for this certificate

Once you have registered for any course offered in this certificate, you will be automatically eligible to complete the certificate. You will have up to three years to complete this program. You may track your progression by signing in to your Continuing Education student account.

Certifications and professional designations

Upon successful completion of all the required courses in this certificate program, you’ll receive an electronically issued SAIT Certificate of Achievement and transcript.

You’ll be able to self-print a proof of completion document from your Continuing Education student account. Please note parchments are not issued for individual courses.

Costs

This program consists of seven mandatory courses with varying fees. Fees include access to all course-related materials and resources found in Brightspace (D2L).

Please review the individual course pages for this certificate to determine costs and to learn more about additional learning materials including textbooks.

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Financial support

Financial opportunities are available to help pay for your course fees. Learn more about how to reduce your education or training costs with available awards, bursaries, loans and grants including the Canada Alberta Job Grant. 

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Careers and opportunities

Skills learned in this program can be applied to a variety of supervisory and management careers. Expect to start at the entry level, and as you gain experience and additional education, your career opportunities will expand.

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SAIT is located on the traditional territories of the Niitsitapi (Blackfoot) and the people of Treaty 7 which includes the Siksika, the Piikani, the Kainai, the Tsuut’ina and the Îyârhe Nakoda of Bearspaw, Chiniki and Goodstoney.

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