PGE 310 Formulation and Solution of Geosystems Engineering Problems (Sp97)

The University of Texas at Austin
Unique No. 16205


MEETING TIME AND PLACE


INSTRUCTORS

Mark A. Miller, PhD, PE

Office: CPE 4.186A
Phone: (512) 471-3250
Fax: (512) 471-9605
E-mail: Mark_Miller@pe.utexas.edu

Kamy Sepehrnoori, PhD, PE

Professor of Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering
PhD Petroleum Engineering, U. of Texas, 1977
MS Engineering Mechanics, U. of Texas, 1974
BS Mechanical Engineering, U. of Texas, 1973
Office: CPE 4.104A
Phone: (512) 471-0231
Fax: (512) 471-9605
E-mail: Kamy@pe.utexas.edu


TA/GRADER

To be arranged.


OFFICE HOURS

Miller: MF 10-12 am, W 10-11 am
Sepehrnoori: MWF 1-2 pm

Please try to use class time and office hours as much as possible for your questions. If you must see us outside normal office hours, please make an appointment. E-mail is a good way to reach us.


WWW & E-MAIL

Information for the course, including this syllabus, can be accessed at the www site:

www.pe.utexas.edu/usr/local/information/Dept/Academic/Courses/SP97/PGE310

This web site will be used throughout the semester to post solutions to homework, provide additional information, etc.

Data for some homework assignments and other things will be e-mailed to students in the class to avoid having to retype things. Early in the semester, everyone should send an e-mail message to majordomo@pe.utexas.edu with the body of the message stating:

subscribe pge310

You should get a message back stating that you were added to the list. Please let us know if you have any difficulties in doing this. You can unsubscribe from the majordomo list with a similar command in the body of the message:

unsubscribe pge310


CATALOG LISTING

Application of engineering methods to problem solving; computer programming; formulation of physical concepts into mathematical equations; approximations and rules of thumb; graphic, analytic, and numeric solution methods.


PREREQUISITES

Physics 303L and 103N and credit or registration for Mathematics 427K.


TEXT

Required:


GRADING

Homework
200
A=
900-1000
Lowest Midterm
200
B=
800-899
Highest Midterm
300
C=
700-799
Final Exam
300
D=
600-699
Total
1000

No makeup exams will be given for any reason. If you must miss a midterm, the midterm you take will count 300 points and the final 500 points.

Up to an additional 20 points may be awarded at the instructors' discretion for class participation, exceptional effort, improvement, etc. These points are non-negotiable!

Some adjustments in the grading scheme may be made in the interest of fair and uniform grading. In no case will grading be harsher than the above.

Questions about grading should be brought to the instructor's attention as soon as possible. You will have one week after an item is returned to discuss your grade. On homework see the grader first. No grade will be changed after this one-week period.


EXAMS

There will be two midterms and a final. Both midterms will be given at night to allow more time for completion. Make certain your schedule includes the times and dates below. See one of the instructors as soon as possible if there is a scheduling problem.

Midterm Exam #1
Wednesday, February 26
6-8 pm
Midterm Exam #2
Wednesday, April 9
6-8 pm
Final Exam
Tuesday, May 13
2-5 pm

Be forewarned that exams will be strictly timed. Automatic grade deductions will be made for turning them in late.


HOMEWORK

A document will be handed out the first day of class which details the homework format required for this course.


ATTENDANCE

Class attendance is not mandatory, however, the course includes a large amount of interpretative and explanatory material that will be presented only during lectures. If it is necessary for you to miss class, you should arrange to get class notes and handouts from someone in the class.


SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

University policy applies to dropping the course. A student may not drop a course after the fourth class day except for good cause (health or serious personal problems, or a demonstrated need to work more hours). A student seeking to drop a class after the fourth class day should go to the Engineering Student Affairs Office (ECJ 2.200).

Academic honesty is taken very seriously in this course. It is your responsibility to avoid situations where academic honesty can be a problem either for yourself or for those around you. Violations will be referred to the Dean of Students.

The University of Texas at Austin provides upon request appropriate adjustments for qualified students with disabilities. For more information, contact the Office of the Dean of Students at 471-6259, 471-4241 TDD or the College of Engineering Director of Students with Disabilities at 471-4382.


COURSE EVALUATIONS

A course/instructor evaluation will be conducted during class time sometime the last week of class. The evaluation will be conducted by someone in the class and returned to the Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering departmental office. Results will not be seen by the instructors until after grades have been turned in. All course/instructor evaluations are anonymous.


CONTENT

I. Problem Solving Issues, Methods, and Tools
A. Problem solving concepts and strategies
B. Symbolic mathematics (Mathematica)
C. Spreadsheets (Excel)
D. Graphing (DeltaGraph)
E. Programming (VisualBasic)
F. Modeling
II. Mathematical Principles
A. Systems of algebraic equations
B. Curve fitting, root finding, optimization
C. Numerical integration and differentiation
D. Analytical and numerical solutions of differential equations
E. Probability and statistics