Research
World class departments have a reputation for their outstanding quality of research results and this department aspires to be such a world class department in petroleum engineering. The department recently changed its direction to make research the main focus of its future, and boasts capabilities not readily available in world class departments.
For example, the department houses a world class core flooding high pressure high temperature laboratory which is able to obtain seismic and resistivity measurements while flooding reservoir cores with three phase fluids.
It has a world-class experimental centre known as the Woodside Research Facility which focuses on a number of practical research areas, and was the recipient of the top Australian award (The Eureka Prize) for innovations in engineering technology (Prof Robert Amin). In addition, it is developing a triaxial pressure facilitiy for testing what happens to the stress field in blocks of sedimentary rock when fluid pressure varies.Academic Links
Curtin has established links with South American universities to assist their education and research possibilities.
During 2007, Curtin won a contract with Petrobras to build an ultrasonic laboratory which could be used for understanding the seismic response for 3-D and 4-D time lapse seismic research and education; with a particular emphasis on helping students understand the use of seismic methods to delineate oil and gas fields. Under the agreement, Curtin will be assisting the training of North Fluminense State University (UENF) staff to develop their expertise, which will be passed on to UENF students.
Graduates of UENF may also apply to take the Curtin Master of Petroleum Engineering degree, which is takes 1 ½ years to complete at the Perth-based campus.