Petroleum Production Engineer Course

Lesson 1 • Reservoir Drive Mechanisms

Explains natural energy sources that drive fluids to surface. Links drive type to expected production decline behaviour.

Lesson 2 • Hydrocarbon Phase Behaviour Basics

Covers pressure-temperature diagrams, phase envelopes, and fluid classification. Enables correct fluid identification for production design.

Lesson 3 • Key Production Performance Metrics

Defines rate, cumulative production, GOR, WC, and productivity index. Establishes baseline KPIs used in every subsequent chapter.

Lesson 4 • The Petroleum Production System Overview

Maps the reservoir, wellbore, and surface facility as an integrated flow system. Provides the mental model used throughout the course.

Lesson 1 • Darcy's Law and Radial Flow Fundamentals

Derives radial flow equations from Darcy's law and defines permeability, skin, and drainage radius. Forms the mathematical basis for all inflow calculations.

Lesson 2 • Well Testing for Inflow Characterisation

Introduces pressure transient analysis methods to determine permeability and skin from field tests. Connects test results to IPR model inputs.

Lesson 3 • Gas Well Deliverability Analysis

Applies backpressure equations and LIT analysis to gas wells. Enables deliverability testing design and absolute open flow estimation.

Lesson 4 • Inflow Performance Relationships for Oil Wells

Covers Vogel, Fetkovich, and composite IPR methods for solution-gas-drive wells. Students select and apply the appropriate IPR model for a given well.

Lesson 1 • Tubing Performance Curves and Nodal Analysis

Constructs tubing performance (outflow) curves and combines them with IPR for nodal analysis. Determines the natural flow rate and operating point.

Lesson 2 • Multiphase Flow Correlations and Models

Compares empirical correlations and mechanistic models for multiphase pressure drop. Students select and apply correlations appropriate to well conditions.

Lesson 3 • Multiphase Flow Regimes in Vertical Pipes

Identifies bubble, slug, churn, and annular flow regimes and their pressure loss characteristics. Enables correct correlation selection for tubing design.

Lesson 4 • Single-Phase Wellbore Pressure Calculations

Applies hydrostatic, friction, and acceleration pressure loss equations to single-phase flow. Establishes the calculation framework extended to multiphase flow.

Lesson 1 • Production Decline Analysis

Applies Arps decline curve methods to forecast production and estimate reserves. Connects decline parameters to reservoir drive and depletion stage.

Lesson 2 • System Analysis and Sensitivity Studies

Uses nodal analysis to evaluate how changes in reservoir pressure, GOR, and WC shift the operating point. Builds systematic optimisation thinking.

Lesson 3 • Surface Facility Constraints and Back-Pressure

Quantifies how separator pressure, flowline friction, and facility limits impose back-pressure on wells. Integrates surface constraints into nodal analysis.

Lesson 4 • Choke Performance and Flow Control

Covers critical and subcritical flow through chokes and choke performance curves. Enables choke sizing for rate control and sand management.

Lesson 1 • Artificial Lift Monitoring and Surveillance

Establishes surveillance routines using downhole gauges, surface data, and diagnostic tools. Enables proactive intervention before lift system failure.

Lesson 2 • Rod Pump and Progressive Cavity Pump Systems

Designs sucker rod pump and PCP installations for low-rate and viscous-oil applications. Interprets dynamometer cards for troubleshooting.

Lesson 3 • Artificial Lift Selection and Screening

Applies screening criteria—depth, rate, GOR, WC, fluid properties—to select the optimal lift method. Prevents costly mismatches between lift type and well conditions.

Lesson 4 • Electric Submersible Pump Systems

Covers ESP component selection, pump curve matching, and cable sizing. Addresses common failure modes and monitoring practices.

Lesson 1 • Hydraulic Fracture Design and Execution

Designs fracture treatment schedules, pad volumes, and proppant ramp programmes. Addresses real-time execution monitoring and treatment screening.

Lesson 2 • Formation Damage Identification and Diagnosis

Identifies damage mechanisms—scale, fines, emulsions, wettability alteration—and quantifies damage using skin analysis. Guides treatment selection.

Lesson 3 • Matrix Acidising Design and Evaluation

Designs acid type, volume, and placement for sandstone and carbonate matrix treatments. Evaluates treatment success using pre- and post-skin comparison.

Lesson 4 • Hydraulic Fracturing Fundamentals

Covers fracture mechanics, in-situ stress, and fracture geometry models. Provides the physical basis for fracture design decisions.

Lesson 1 • Wax and Asphaltene Management

Characterises wax appearance temperature and asphaltene onset pressure to predict deposition risk. Designs chemical and thermal mitigation programmes.

Lesson 2 • Scale Deposition Prediction and Control

Predicts scale type and location using saturation index calculations and water analysis. Designs chemical and mechanical scale control programmes.

Lesson 3 • Emulsion Treatment and Produced Water

Diagnoses emulsion stability and designs demulsifier programmes for oil-water separation. Addresses produced water treatment and disposal constraints.

Lesson 4 • Hydrate Formation and Prevention

Predicts hydrate formation conditions using phase diagrams and thermodynamic models. Designs prevention strategies including inhibitor injection and insulation.

Lesson 1 • Enhanced Oil Recovery Methods

Evaluates waterflooding, gas injection, and chemical EOR methods for incremental recovery. Screens EOR candidates using reservoir and fluid criteria.

Lesson 2 • Field Development Planning Fundamentals

Structures a field development plan covering well count, spacing, phasing, and facility sizing. Links reservoir management objectives to surface infrastructure decisions.

Lesson 3 • Production Economics and Value of Information

Applies NPV, IRR, and payout analysis to production investment decisions. Quantifies the value of additional data before committing capital.

Lesson 4 • Integrated Asset Modelling

Builds integrated production models linking reservoir, wells, and surface network. Uses the model to identify constraints and optimise field production.

Lesson 5 • Reserves Estimation and Reporting

Applies volumetric, material balance, and decline methods to estimate proved and probable reserves. Aligns estimates with international reserves classification standards.