Bob L. Herd
Petroleum
Engineering

Study petroleum engineering in Texas and become part of the global energy solution — with hands-on training, innovative technologies, and strong industry partnerships.

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Petroleum Engineering at the
Edward E. Whitacre Jr. College of Engineering

From West Texas to global energy hubs, our graduates lead the way in efficient and responsible energy production. With hands-on labs, industry-standard software, and direct access to leading researchers, our students gain the technical skills and field-ready experience to innovate across drilling, production, and reservoir systems. Whether you’re optimizing oil recovery or advancing energy sustainability, your path starts here.

Undergraduate Graduate

Fuel the World

ENERGY STARTS HERE

Power progress through petroleum engineering. From drilling and production to energy innovation and sustainability, backed by strong industry demand.

$104K/yr.

Average Starting Salary

Oilfield Technology Center

Texas Tech is the only university in the country with a working Oil Rig

100%

Job Placement At Graduation

The Bigger Picture

The world needs more energy, not less. Our petroleum engineers are trained to lead the solution in an evolving world.

Earn your petroleum engineering degree in Texas and gain the expertise to power the future. From drilling technologies to sustainable resource development, you’ll be equipped to innovate, solve real-world energy challenges, and make an immediate industry impact.

Be Part of the Energy Solution

Research Areas

Carbon-Zero Hydrogen Production

Dr. Yuan and his PhD student Keju Yan are working on generating hydrogen within petroleum reservoirs using catalytic microwave heating.

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OTC

The Oilfield Technology Center (OTC) is a unique educational facility designed to serve both research and teaching needs to give petroleum engineering students a hands-on experience in the design and operation of typical oilfield equipment.

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SWPSC

Petroleum companies are working on new methods of performing tasks in safer and more environmentally consious methods.

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Fiber Optic Sensing

Dr. Leggett's lab is utilizing fiber optic sensing technology to gather valuable data on multiphase flow, including strain, temperature, and noise measurements over long extents of pipe.

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