GATE Petroleum Engineering Syllabus 2027, Subject-Wise Topics

GATE PE Syllabus for General Aptitude

Topics

Sub-topics

Verbal Aptitude

• Basic English grammar: tenses, articles, adjectives, prepositions, conjunctions, verb-noun agreement, and other parts of speech.

• Basic vocabulary: words, idioms, and phrases in context.

• Reading and comprehension.

• Narrative sequencing.

Quantitative Aptitude

• Data interpretation: data graphs (bar graphs, pie charts, and other graphs representing data), 2-and 3-dimensional plots, maps, and tables.

• Numerical computation and estimation: ratios, percentages, powers, exponents and logarithms, permutations and combinations, and series.

• Mensuration and geometry.

• Elementary statistics and probability.

Analytical Aptitude

• Logic: deduction and induction.

• Analogy.

• Numerical relations and reasoning.

Spatial Aptitude

• Transformation of shapes: translation, rotation, scaling, mirroring, assembling, and grouping.

• Paper folding, cutting, and patterns in 2 and 3 dimensions.

Topics

Syllabus

Linear Algebra

Matrix algebra; Systems of linear equations; Eigenvalues and eigenvectors.

Calculus

Functions of single variable; Limit, continuity and differentiability; Taylor series; Mean value theorems; Evaluation of definite and improper integrals; Partial derivative; Total derivative; Maxima and minima; Gradient, divergence and curl; Vector identities; Directional derivatives; Line, surface and volume integrals; Stokes', Gauss' and Green's theorems.

Differential Equations

First-order equations (linear and nonlinear); Higher-order linear differential equations with constant coefficients; Cauchy's and Euler's equations; Initial and boundary value problems; Laplace transform; Solution of one-dimensional diffusivity equation and Laplace equation.

Complex Variables

Complex number; Polar form of complex number; Triangle inequality.

Probability and Statistics

Definitions of probability and sampling theorems; Conditional probability; Mean, median, mode and standard deviation; Random variables; Poisson, normal and binomial distributions; Linear regression analysis.

Numerical Methods

Numerical solutions of linear and non-linear algebraic equations; Integration by trapezoidal and Simpson's rule; Single and multi-step methods for numerical solution of differential equations.

Subject

Topics

Petroleum Exploration

Classification and description of common rocks with special reference to clastic and non-clastic reservoir rocks; Origin, migration and accumulation of petroleum; Petroleum exploration methods; Petroleum resource classification and evaluation.

Oil and Gas Well Drilling Technology

Well planning; Drilling methods; Drilling rigs; Rig operating systems; Drilling fluids, function and properties; Drilling fluid maintenance equipment; Oil and gas well cementing operations; Drill bit types and their applications; Drill string and casing string function, operation, selection and design; Drilling problems, their control and remedies; Directional drilling tools; Directional survey; Application of horizontal, multilateral, extended reach and slim wells; Intelligent drilling and completion techniques including image assisted drilling, managed pressure drilling and underbalanced drilling.

Reservoir Engineering

Petrophysical properties of reservoir rocks; Coring and core analysis; Reservoir fluid properties; Phase behaviour of a hydrocarbon system; Single-phase and multiphase flow through porous media; Water and gas coning; Reservoir pressure measurement; Reservoir drives, drive mechanisms and recovery factors; Theory of material balance; Reserve estimation techniques; Field development and reservoir management; Reservoir geomechanics (stress analysis and fracturing); Basics of reservoir simulation including mathematical models, finite difference discretization, Cartesian and radial grid systems, black oil reservoir simulation and history matching.

Petroleum Production Operations

Well equipment; Well completion techniques; Well production problems and mitigation; Well servicing and workover operations; Workover and completion fluids; Formation damage; Well stimulation techniques; Artificial lift techniques; Field processing of oil and gas; Storage and transportation of petroleum and petroleum products; Metering and measurement of oil and gas; Production system analysis and optimization including inflow performance, tubing performance and nodal analysis; Production testing; Multiphase flow in tubing and flow-lines; Flow assurance (problems and remedies); Pressure vessels; Storage tanks; Shell and tube heat exchangers; Pumps and compressors.

Offshore Drilling and Production Practices

Offshore oil and gas operations and ocean environment; Buoyancy and stability; Offshore fixed platforms; Offshore mobile units; Station keeping methods including mooring and dynamic positioning systems; Offshore drilling from fixed platforms, jack-ups, ships and semi-submersibles; Use of conductors, risers and umbilicals; Offshore well completion; Deep-water applications of subsea technology; Offshore production including oil processing platforms, water injection platforms, storage, Single Point Mooring (SPM), Single Buoy Mooring (SBM), transportation and utilities; Deep-water drilling and production systems.

Petroleum Formation Evaluation

Petrophysical evaluation of subsurface formations; Principles, applications, advantages and disadvantages of Spontaneous Potential (SP), resistivity, radioactive, acoustic and gamma ray logs; Types of logging tools; Logging While Drilling (LWD); Evaluation of Cement Bond Log (CBL), Variable Density Log (VDL), Ultrasonic Imager Tool (USIT), Segmented Frequency Tool (SFT) and Repeat Formation Tester (RFT); Production logging tools, principles, limitations and applications; Special logging tools; Casing inspection tools (principles, applications and limitations); Formation Micro Scanner (FMS); Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) logging principles; Standard log interpretation methods; Cross-plotting methods.

Oil and Gas Well Testing

Diffusivity equation and its solutions; Radius of investigation; Principle of superposition; Horner's approximation; Drill stem testing; Pressure transient tests (drawdown and build-up test analysis); Pressure derivative analysis; Wellbore effects; Multilayer reservoirs; Injection well testing; Multiple well testing; Interference testing; Pulse testing; Well-test analysis using type curves; Gas well testing; Inflow testing.

Health, Safety and Environment in Petroleum Industry

Health hazards in the petroleum industry including toxicity, physiological, asphyxiation, respiratory and skin effects of petroleum hydrocarbons and sour gases; Safety systems including manual and automatic shutdown systems, blowdown systems, gas detection systems, fire detection and suppression systems, personal protection systems and measures; HSE policies; Disaster and crisis management; Environmental concepts; Impact on ecosystems, air, water and soil; Environmental impact of drilling and production operations; Environmental transport of petroleum wastes; Offshore environmental studies; Offshore oil spill and oil spill control; Environmental regulations and compliance.

Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) Techniques

Basic principles and mechanisms of EOR; Screening of EOR processes; Pattern flooding; Recovery efficiency; Permeability heterogeneity; Macroscopic and microscopic displacement efficiency; EOR methods including chemical flooding, miscible flooding, thermal recovery (steam stimulation, hot water flooding, steam flooding and in-situ combustion), microbial EOR and low salinity water flooding.

Latest Trends in Petroleum Engineering

Coal bed methane; Shale gas; Oil shale; Gas hydrate; Heavy oil; Physical and chemical trapping of CO₂ in underground reservoirs.

Particulars

Details

Mode of Exam

Online (Computer Based Test - CBT)

Duration of Exam

3 hours (180 minutes)

Total Number of Questions

65

Total Marks

100

Pattern / Types of Questions

• MCQs (Multiple Choice Questions)

• MSQs (Multiple Select Questions)

• NATs (Numerical Answer Type Questions)

Marking Scheme & Negative Marking

• 1-Mark & 2-Mark questions.

• MCQs: 1/3 mark deducted for 1-mark questions; 2/3 mark deducted for 2-mark questions.

• NATs & MSQs: No negative marking and no partial marking (for MSQs).

Number of Sections

Section 1: General Aptitude (GA)

Section 2: Engineering Mathematics & Petroleum Engineering (PE)

Section-wise Marks / Weightage

• General Aptitude: 15 Marks (15%)

• Engineering Mathematics: 13 Marks (13%)

• Petroleum Engineering (Core): 72 Marks (72%)