Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering Department's Mission

1. To offer educational programs in Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering based on engineering analysis, earth and physical science, economics, engineering and design aspects of oil and natural gas extraction consistent with human health, safety, ethics, and environmental needs.
   
• Maintain and improve the quality of education in Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering at the undergraduate and graduated degree levels.
• Retain professional accreditation for the Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering undergraduate program.
• Improve instructional methods by adoption of those pedagogical techniques relevant to the students' educational programs.
• Improve the quality of education through an assessment program.
2. Discover and develop new techniques and processes for the efficient and economical extraction of oil and gas resources consistent with human health, ethics, safety, and environmental needs.
   
• Conduct basic and applied engineering and scientific research on the development of new, safer, and more economical ways to extract petroleum and natural gas from the rock formations in which they are found.
• Seek out and solve environmental problems created by the extraction and field processing of petroleum and natural gas.
• Develop new uses and markets for West Virginia mineral and energy resources.
3. Give professional advice and provide technical assistance to West Virginia's industry, government, and citizens, in matters concerning the extraction and field processing of petroleum and natural gas.
   
4. Disseminate scholarly and technical knowledge through publications, audiovisual materials, presentation of papers, seminars and symposia, short courses relevant to the needs of West Virginia and the industry worldwide.