UT PGE professors conduct interdisciplinary research in petroleum and geosystems engineering, subsurface engineering applications like geothermal energy, carbon capture and storage, and hydrogen storage and distribution; engineering data science and machine learning; and other areas related to energy and the environment. Our annual research expenditures total $9.2 million annually, and our faculty members publish about 270 journal and conference papers each year. 

PGE researchers wearing lap PPE looking at microscope on table in laboratory.

Research Areas

UT PGE faculty produce innovative research in 12 dedicated areas related to oil and gas, led by our world-renowned faculty.

PGE student wearing lab PPE looking at various beakers and test tubes on table in lab.

Summer Undergraduate Research Internship

Every summer, UT PGE hosts the Summer Undergraduate Research Internship (SURI), an undergraduate research program that gives leading students from across the country the opportunity to work with our highly esteemed faculty.

Recent Theses and Dissertations

UT PGE graduate students produce influential reports, theses and dissertations that help solve the oil and gas industry’s recovery and environmental challenges. Below are some of their most recent works. Visit the UT Libraries online collection for more.

  1. 3D pore-scale reactive transport modeling using the lattice Boltzmann method
    Li, Ruoyu, Doctor of Philosophy, May 2026
  2. Development of fractured reservoir uncertainty calibration models based on machine learning optimization
    Liu, Chuxi, Doctor of Philosophy, December 2025
  3. Development of an integrated model for subsurface geochemistry, fracturing, geomechanics and flow
    Mura, Miki, Doctor of Philosophy, December 2025
  4. Rare earth elements recovery from ion-adsorption kaolinite using dilute seawater
    Alsheikh, Feras, Master of Science, December 2025
  5. Measurement-informed life cycle analysis of greenhouse gas emissions from global liquefied natural gas and plastic supply chains
    Zhu, Yuanrui, Doctor of Philosophy, December 2025