ComboUniversity: Shaping the Future of Petroleum Engineering With Texas A&M

At Texas A&M University, the next generation of Petroleum Engineers is getting hands-on experience with ComboCurve.  

Petroleum Engineering professor Dr. John Lee has integrated ComboCurve into his Deterministic Reserves Evaluation course. The goal? Preparing students for real-world industry application and giving them a head start with the skills needed not only to be employable, but to excel. This includes learning using tools that are both user-friendly and reliable. 

“The main thing we need to do is make sure they are broadly aware of the technologies available. They need to understand the tools they’re working with,” Dr. Lee explains. “I want them to get experience in using commercial software. I want it to be easy to use and for them to have training on it.”

– Dr. John Lee, PhD, Professor, Petroleum Engineering at Texas A&M University

Dr. Lee has been a key figure in the University’s engineering department for 47 years. With 15 years at Exxon and a role in establishing the undergraduate and PhD programs in the Petroleum Engineering Department at the University of Houston, Dr. Lee brings a deep understanding of both industry and academia.

 

How it Works

Each semester, ComboCurve conducts a reserves certification course at A&M. This course includes a half-day or full-day introduction to ComboCurve. Then a detailed walkthrough of the platform, and a hands-on segment where students dive into forecasting scenarios.  

“With the available training modules and the support you offer, students are able to get up to speed quickly, which meets one of my key criteria.”

– Dr. John Lee, PhD, Professor, Petroleum Engineering at Texas A&M University

Beyond the Reserves certification course, ComboCurve also works closely with other faculty at Texas A&M who integrate the platform into their coursework. These interactions are more focused, and often linked to specific projects that students are working on that semester. The goal is to provide an overview of ComboCurve’s capabilities, enabling students to apply it directly to their coursework.  

 

TA-led Support Structure

Students seeking additional support are directed to their TA, who serves as their primary contact for any issues. The TA, in turn, has full access to ComboCurve’s support resources, including the Customer Support team and ticketing portal. This approach helps maintain academic integrity while ensuring students receive the assistance they need.

 

Preparing Students for the Job Market

One of the key benefits of students learning ComboCurve at Texas A&M is its growing presence in the industry.  

Job postings are asking for ComboCurve experience. Whether you have worked in it five hours or one year, if you have that certification on your resume and LinkedIn, it really goes a long way.

– Caden Overall, Petroleum Engineer – Product Solutions at ComboCurve

Many oil and gas companies, from industry giants like ExxonMobil and Pioneer to smaller operators, are actively looking for candidates proficient in ComboCurve. By completing the reserves certification and gaining hands-on experience with the platform, Texas A&M students are not only mastering the software, but also securing a competitive edge in a crowded job market.

 

Advanced Tools for Student Success

Dr. Lee stresses the importance of critically assessing engineering tools. One must question software outputs instead of accepting them at face value. While many platforms have limitations, he highlights ComboCurve’s unique capabilities. “ComboCurve has some unique features that I have my students use, which I don’t believe are available in any other commercial software. It prepares special graphs and data to identify different flow regimes that a well goes through over time and tracks its history by creating log-log diagnostic plots,” he says.  

 

Exploring Non-traditional energy sources

As the energy industry evolves, there is a growing focus on non-traditional resources, which require new approaches to forecasting and economic analysis. Dr. Lee highlights the importance of understanding these resources, such as geothermal energy, lithium recovery, and subsurface carbon dioxide storage, which differ significantly from traditional oil and gas activities. “We need to learn how to forecast and determine the economic value of various kinds of resources,” he explains. This involves not only predicting production or injection profiles but also assessing the costs and success potential of emerging technologies, particularly in areas like subsurface storage, which is gaining prominence in research and funding.

 

The Value of Industry-Relevant Education

For Texas A&M alumni, the integration of ComboCurve into the curriculum is a sign of the University’s commitment to providing industry-relevant education. The feedback from students has been positive, with many appreciating the practical knowledge and skills gained from the course.  

In an industry that is constantly evolving, having up-to-date, practical skills is invaluable. Texas A&M is equipping its students with the tools to succeed in a competitive field. As more job postings demand proficiency in ComboCurve, Texas A&M graduates with this experience are well-positioned to stand out.