Petroleum Fundamentals

Understand how petroleum businesses evaluate resources, prices, investments, cash flow, and rates of return across the oil and gas value chain.

Petroleum Economics introduces learners to the business and financial factors that shape the petroleum industry. The module explains how petroleum products move from exploration and drilling through transportation, refining, marketing, and sale to consumers. Learners explore upstream, midstream, and downstream business models, crude oil and natural gas pricing, energy supply and demand trends, investment decision-making, financial modelling for oil wells, and return-on-investment calculations.

Duration

6 Months

Delivery Mode

Online / E-Learning

Category

Oil & Gas / Energy Training

Provider / Partner

PETEX / The University of Texas at Austin

Assessment

Module Quiz

Passing Grade

70%

Duration

6 Months

Delivery Mode

Online / E-Learning

Category

Oil & Gas / Energy Training

Provider / Partner

PETEX / The University of Texas at Austin

Assessment

Module Quiz

Passing Grade

70%

Program Overview

Everything you need to know, at a glance

1. Program at a Glance

Program Name

Petroleum Economics

Category

Oil & Gas / Energy Training

Duration

6 Months

Delivery Mode

Online / E-Learning

Learning Format

Self-paced lessons, practice items, and module quiz

Passing Score

70%

Key Focus Areas

Petroleum value chain, upstream/midstream/downstream business models, crude oil and gas pricing, energy supply and demand, oil well financial modelling, and investment returns

Assessment

Practice items and module quiz

Quiz Attempts

2 attempts

Preview Link
Application Status

Open / Enquiry Available

2. About This Program

There are many steps required to bring petroleum products to consumers. New reserves must be located and explored. Wells must be planned and drilled. Raw crude oil and gas must be transported and refined. Finally, petroleum products must be created, marketed, and sold to consumers.

The Petroleum Economics module helps learners understand the economic and financial principles behind these activities. It introduces the major petroleum business streams, the factors that influence revenue, crude oil and natural gas pricing, commodity price forecasting, investment decisions, and financial evaluation of oil and gas projects.

This course is suitable for learners seeking practical understanding of petroleum business economics, oil and gas decision-making, energy markets, and financial modelling within the petroleum sector.

Strategy in Action

Apply frameworks to live business challenges.

Peer Learning

Engage with mid-career professionals globally.

Capstone Project

Demonstrate strategic thinking end-to-end.

3. Who Should Enrol

This program is suitable for:

Oil and gas professionals
Energy-sector employees
Finance, accounting, and commercial staff in petroleum-related organizations
Operations and logistics professionals supporting oil and gas activities
Project and business development professionals
Government, regulatory, and public-sector staff working with energy-sector issues
Students and professionals seeking oil and gas industry knowledge
Corporate teams requiring petroleum economics awareness
Individuals interested in upstream, midstream, and downstream petroleum business models

4. What You Will Learn

By the end of this program, learners should be able to:
The business models of upstream, midstream, and downstream business units
How each business stream makes revenue and is influenced by macroeconomics
The business stream units that different types of companies operate within
The variables that contribute to fluctuations in world crude oil prices
Common crude oil and natural gas pricing indexes
The factors considered in forecasting commodity prices
The relationship between price, investment, drilling rig counts, number of wells, and supply
Trends in world energy supply and demand
How upstream businesses evaluate prospective sites before drilling new crude oil and natural gas wells
The factors involved in financial decision-making for new oil wells
How to complete a financial model of cash flow for an oil well
How to calculate rates of return on investments in new supplies

5. Program Structure

Core Learning Areas

Learners examine the major steps involved in bringing petroleum products to consumers, including exploration, drilling, transportation, refining, marketing, and sales.

6. Entry Requirements

Recommended Entry Profile:

This course is suitable for learners seeking practical knowledge of petroleum economics, oil and gas business models, energy markets, and financial decision-making.

Prerequisites:

No specific prerequisite is stated in the provided course information.

Suggested Background:

A basic understanding of business, finance, energy, oil and gas operations, or project economics may be helpful but is not mandatory unless otherwise advised by GSBTI or the course provider.

7. How You Will Study

Online / E-Learning Format
Learners complete the module through online lessons.
Practice Activities
Learners complete practice items to reinforce understanding.
Self-Paced Learning
The course is suitable for learners who need flexible study around work, professional, or personal commitments.
Course Preview:
https://petex.utexas.edu/images/elearning_previews/petroleum_economics_preview/story.html

8. Assessment and Award

Assessment methods may include:
Go through all lessons in the module
Complete the practice items
Complete the module quiz with a passing grade of 70%
Learners will have 2 chances to complete the quiz.

9. Fees and Financial Support

GSBTI may offer payment guidance, group pricing, corporate sponsorship options, or special arrangements for selected courses and cohorts. Availability, eligibility, pricing, and approval conditions may vary.

10. Career Benefits

Understand petroleum business economics
Build knowledge of upstream, midstream, and downstream operations
Strengthen understanding of crude oil and natural gas pricing
Improve awareness of energy supply and demand trends
Understand how oil and gas investments are evaluated
Build confidence in discussing cash flow, return on investment, and petroleum project economics
Support professional development in oil and gas, energy, finance, operations, project management, and commercial roles

13. For Employers and Sponsored Groups

GSBTI supports employers, oil and gas companies, energy-sector organizations, government agencies, ministries, regulators, contractors, and corporate groups seeking petroleum economics training for staff or sponsored cohorts.

This course is suitable for organizations seeking to strengthen staff understanding of petroleum business models, pricing, investment decisions, and the financial factors that influence oil and gas operations.

14. Related Programs

15. Apply or Enquire About This Program

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Submitting an enquiry does not guarantee admission, enrolment, scholarship approval, discount approval, or programme placement. The GSBTI team will review the enquiry and provide guidance.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

Build practical understanding of petroleum business models, pricing, energy markets, financial modelling, and investment returns across the oil and gas value chain.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

Build practical understanding of petroleum business models, pricing, energy markets, financial modelling, and investment returns across the oil and gas value chain.