Production Operations Engineering

This is an IChemE approved training course and not delivered directly by the Institution. For more information about the course, contact the training provider directly.

Overview

This extensive course covers an introduction to petroleum production, well performance concepts and applications, and a review of artificial lift systems design and diagnosis and applications in both conventional and unconventional reservoirs.

Production operations topics include data measurement and analysis, well surveillance, well integrity, well intervention and sand control, formation damage and stimulation, production chemistry and flow assurance, surface production facilities and fluids treatment and corrosion control and materials selection.

This course provides a solid and comprehensive foundation for all production engineers. Ten days classroom equivalent. A shorter course entitled Fundamentals of Production Operations (five days) is also available on the Baobab LMS micro-learning website.

"The videos are very didactic, short and with concise explanations. I have been using it to remind me of important concepts in the well performance theme and also to learn about some software applications. And definitely I can apply on my day-to-day job. I found it very useful and a fast way of learning, rather than being in a classroom."
Production Engineer, Total

Course outline

• World energy overview and an introduction to the petroleum industry
• Production systems concepts and a review of reservoir fluid properties
• Well performance modelling (inflow, outflow and nodal analysis) and applications using commercial software (Prosper)
• Artificial lift systems concepts, operation, design and selection
• Artificial lift applications in unconventional reservoirs
• Petroleum production measurement concepts, purpose and accuracy
• Production surveillance, data analysis and production allocation
• Well integrity management
• Well intervention and sand control
• Formation damage and well stimulation
• Production chemistry and flow assurance
• Surface processing and treatment facilities
• Corrosion control and material selection

Learning outcomes

On completion of this course you will be able to:

• explain the formation of reservoirs and their properties; describe the exploration and appraisal process leading to field development production systems and how these relate to water depth
• describe the concepts of nodal analysis for flow-rate prediction and the effect of sensitivity variables. Explain the concepts of slip and holdup and how this influences flow correlation selection
• build, validate and match a naturally flowing oil well model, run nodal analysis sensitivities, interpret the results and export lift curves (Prosper)
• describe the concepts of artificial lift systems operation, design and diagnosis
• identify the key selection criteria for artificial lift methods and how these apply in unconventional wells
• identify best practice in measurement system design and application and compare the strengths and weaknesses of various primary devices
• list the key types of production data that are measured and collected and used in production surveillance, allocation and optimisation
• list the principal types of formation damage and their treatment. Compare and contrast the various well intervention and stimulation techniques available for production wells
• analyse the various threats to well integrity and flow assurance in production and injection systems and identify the associated key maintenance strategies
• explain the mechanisms and the methods of control for the various forms of corrosion prevalent within the oil and gas industry including the appropriate selection of materials
• describe the objectives, options and layout of surface production facilities for onshore and offshore fields. Explain the selection, sizing and operation of primary separation systems
• identify the main equipment types used in the treatment of oil, water and gas to meet export specifications and explain their operation.

Who will benefit

Production, petroleum, facilities or process engineers or field operations staff involved in the planning, design and operation of oil and gas production facilities and fields.

In-company training

This can also be delivered as a customised in-company course. Contact us for more details.