GeosciencePPDC

This intensive, online course will provide basic content material for teachers concerning geology, astronomy, oceanography, and meteorology. Topics include the origin of the universe and the life cycle of stars; the origin of the solar system and its components; the composition and structure of the Earth; plate tectonics; the rock cycle and water cycle, energy resources; the atmosphere, weather, and climate; and Earth’s oceans. Demonstration lessons and application assignments supplement the comprehensive presentations. Extensive, integrated digital resource links will connect participants with lesson plans, videos, animations, and accessible satellite imagery sources. Participants will engage with materials that address knowledge and skills as outlined in the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills standards for High School Earth Systems Science, as well as the Next Generation Science Standards for the same course. Teachers of Environmental Systems and Advanced Placement Environmental Science will also benefit from much of the content materials covered in this workshop.

course DATES

Fall 2026

October 19, 2026 - February 26, 2027

cost

Scholarships available! Please reach out to the PPDC for more information.

Registration

COURSE DETAILS

• PTRT 1091; 60 Hours, 6.0 CEUs
• COST: $1,000 (out-of-state participants add $25 to course fee)
• Minimum of 5 students required to run course

The practice and profession of petroleum geology is firmly rooted in the science of geology itself. This course will review the process of petroleum exploration and the rationale behind the methodology. The class will introduce the non-geologist to the concepts, tools, techniques, and terminology used by geologists in the search for oil and gas. Understanding the vocabulary of petroleum geology will aid in communication between team members and those in other departments. Topics include: Rocks and Minerals, Plate Tectonics and Petroleum Basins, Sedimentology and Stratigraphy, Structural Geology, Geologic Time and History of the Earth, Correlating and Mapping Formations, Exploring for Oil and Gas Traps.

The objective of this course is to provide non-geologists with a practical understanding of petroleum geology by reviewing both the scientific background and the practical applications of geology in the search for oil and gas. The tools, techniques, and vocabulary of the petroleum geologist will be emphasized throughout the course. This understanding will enable the non-geologist to communicate more efficiently and perform their job more effectively. Participants will learn about the origin and accumulation of oil and gas, the basic principles of Petroleum Systems and the methods used in studying geologic history and basin evolution and about the relationship of depositional systems, sedimentary facies, and reservoirs for oil and gas.

course DATES

October 19 - 22
Time: 8:30 am - 5:30 pm

Cost

$1,835
Scholarships available!

Location

Jack E. Brown Conference Center
3600 N. Garfield Midland, TX 79705

Registration

COURSE DETAILS

• PTRT 2005; 30 Hours, 3.0 CEUs
• COST: $1,835 (out-of-state participants add $25 to course fee)
• Minimum 5 students required to run course

INTERESTED?

This one-day course introduces participants to the core principles of unconventional reservoir engineering with a focus on practical applications in the Permian Basin. Topics include decline curve analysis, rate and pressure transient analysis, numerical simulation, and artificial lift strategies.

Through real-world case studies, students will explore lateral length versus recovery, drawdown management, underperforming well diagnostics, and fracture-driven interactions. By the end of the course, participants will be able to apply engineering fundamentals to analyze reservoir performance, optimize production, and propose effective development strategies for unconventional reservoirs.

Course Dates

spring 2026

October 5
Time: 8:30 am - 5:30 pm

Cost

$500

Location

Jack E. Brown Conference Center
3600 N. Garfield Midland, TX 79705

Registration

Course Details

• PTRT 1091: 8 Hours, 0.8 CEUs
• COST: $500 (out-of-state participants add $25 to course fee)
• Minimum 4 students required to run course

Interested?

Contact: Marina Rodriguez
Coordinator PPDC
(432) 683-2832
cepetroleumtraining@midland.edu