1. (a) Implementation.

   1. (1) The provisions of this section shall be implemented by school districts beginning with the 2020-2021 school year.
   2. (2) School districts shall implement the employability skills student expectations listed in §127.15(d)(2) of this chapter (relating to Career and Technical Education Employability Skills) as an integral part of this course.
2. (b) General requirements. This course is recommended for students in Grades 11 and 12. Prerequisite: Oil and Gas Production III. Students shall be awarded one credit for successful completion of this course.

3. (c) Introduction.

   1. (1) Career and technical education instruction provides content alignment with challenging academic standards and relevant knowledge and skills for students to further their education and succeed in current or emerging professions.
   2. (2) The Energy Career Cluster focuses on Texas's diverse economic landscape, geography and natural resources, including renewable energy potential, transportation system, labor force, and leadership in environmental research.
   3. (3) Oil and Gas Production IV is designed to extend training for future petroleum engineering technicians in all areas of down and mid-stream operations. Students complete an intense core curriculum in areas that include hydrocarbon safety, drilling, petroleum geology, oil and gas exploration and production, reservoir operations, well head completions, petroleum data management operations and analysis, natural gas production, and economics. In conjunction with this course, students employ the latest computer software in engineering and petroleum, operations, data mining, and geological mapping.
   4. (4) Students are encouraged to participate in extended learning experiences such as career and technical student organizations and other organizations that foster leadership and career development in the profession such as student chapters of related professional associations.
   5. (5) Statements that contain the word "including" reference content that must be mastered, while those containing the phrase "such as" are intended as possible illustrative examples.

4. (d) Knowledge and skills.

   1. (1) The student explains the phases of well construction. The student is expected to:

      1. (A) describe the function of the well completion phase and the different hole tests used in well completions;
      2. (B) design the completion of the reservoir using technology such as computer designing software;
      3. (C) describe the open hole completion and sand control completion processes; and
      4. (D) describe conventional completions and their components and how they relate to production tubing.

   2. (2) The student explains the concepts of safety in well completions and indicates tools and procedures for completing a drilled wellbore. The student is expected to:

      1. (A) research health and safety standards for the workplace and environment such as Standards and Wireline Operations and Procedures and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and standards provided by professional organizations in the oil and gas industry such as the American Chemical Society, American Institute of Chemical Engineers, Center for the Advancement of Process Technology, Gulf Coast Process Technology Alliance, and American Petroleum Institute (API);
      2. (B) identify well completion tools and equipment and their use during each well completion phase; and
      3. (C) analyze the cost of safety during well completions.

   3. (3) The student explains the concepts of hydraulic fracturing and its role during the well completion phase. The student is expected to:

      1. (A) describe how the generic well design and drilling mud systems impact drilling;
      2. (B) interpret ways in which generic platform wells, cuttings disposal routes, and drilling fluid design impact the generic well design; and
      3. (C) evaluate the significance of reservoir formations.

   4. (4) The student discusses the potential hazards and possible solutions of well and equipment testing. The student is expected to:

      1. (A) evaluate potential hazards and formulate a safety plan that covers safety guidelines and equipment, including first-aid and safety uniforms;
      2. (B) describe and accurately measure the flow of oil, gas, and water in real time;
      3. (C) ensure precautions and measures are considered during the surface well testing; and
      4. (D) discuss the importance of knowing the surrounding environment when well testing.

   5. (5) The student researches the different types of coring and core analysis used in well completions and how they play an important role in well completion. The student is expected to:

      1. (A) describe the role of coring and core analysis in well completions;
      2. (B) identify the relationship between the factors such as core analysis and well logging that play an active role in well completions;
      3. (C) explain well logging and its importance in formation evaluation;
      4. (D) research different methods of formation testing by acquiring core samples;
      5. (E) research drill stem testing;
      6. (F) explain drill stem tests and their importance in measuring the flow of oil and gas in well completions; and
      7. (G) evaluate the cost of completion operations for well completion.

Source Note:The provisions of this §127.355 adopted to be effective August 1, 2025, 50 TexReg 4421.