Natural Gas Course

Lesson 1 • Chemical Composition and Properties

Examines methane dominance, hydrocarbon fractions, and impurities in raw gas. Links composition to downstream processing and quality specifications.

Lesson 2 • Physical Behavior of Gas

Introduces equations of state, compressibility, and phase behavior. Provides the thermodynamic foundation needed for pipeline and processing calculations.

Lesson 3 • Origin and Formation of Natural Gas

Covers thermogenic and biogenic gas formation processes in geological time. Establishes the scientific basis for understanding where and why gas deposits form.

Lesson 1 • Unconventional Gas Resources

Introduces shale gas, tight gas, and coalbed methane as distinct resource types. Highlights how unconventional plays differ from conventional reservoir engineering.

Lesson 2 • Reservoir Characterization

Examines porosity, permeability, and fluid saturation as key reservoir parameters. Builds the quantitative basis for volumetric reserve estimation.

Lesson 3 • Reserve Estimation Methods

Applies volumetric, material balance, and decline curve methods to estimate gas reserves. Introduces proved, probable, and possible reserve categories.

Lesson 4 • Well Deliverability and Performance

Analyzes inflow performance relationships and well test data to predict production rates. Supports field development planning decisions.

Lesson 1 • Completion Techniques for Gas Wells

Examines perforation, gravel packing, and tubing design for gas well completions. Links completion choices to expected production performance.

Lesson 2 • Casing and Cementing Design

Details casing string selection, setting depths, and cement job design for well integrity. Ensures students understand zonal isolation critical to gas production.

Lesson 3 • Well Control and Pressure Management

Covers kick detection, blowout prevention, and well control procedures for gas wells. Directly addresses the high-pressure hazards unique to gas drilling.

Lesson 4 • Hydraulic Fracturing Principles

Introduces fracture mechanics, fluid systems, and proppant selection for gas stimulation. Prepares students to evaluate fracture treatment designs.

Lesson 1 • Liquid Loading and Deliquification

Identifies liquid loading symptoms and applies deliquification strategies to restore gas flow. Directly addresses one of the most common gas well productivity problems.

Lesson 2 • Wellhead and Surface Equipment

Covers wellhead assemblies, choke manifolds, and surface safety valves for gas production. Establishes equipment knowledge needed for safe field operations.

Lesson 3 • Well Intervention and Workover

Covers coiled tubing, wireline, and workover rig operations for gas well maintenance. Prepares students to plan and execute production restoration activities.

Lesson 4 • Production Monitoring and Surveillance

Applies well testing, flow measurement, and data analytics to track production performance. Enables proactive identification of decline trends and intervention needs.

Lesson 1 • Natural Gas Liquids Recovery

Applies refrigeration, turboexpander, and lean oil absorption to recover NGL fractions. Connects NGL yield to revenue optimization and product specifications.

Lesson 2 • Acid Gas Removal

Examines amine treating, physical solvent, and membrane processes for H2S and CO2 removal. Links sweetening to product specifications and environmental compliance.

Lesson 3 • Sulfur Recovery and Waste Treatment

Covers the Claus process, tail gas cleanup, and produced water treatment for sour gas plants. Addresses environmental obligations tied to processing operations.

Lesson 4 • Gas Dehydration Processes

Covers glycol absorption, molecular sieve adsorption, and refrigeration dehydration methods. Addresses hydrate prevention, a critical pipeline integrity requirement.

Lesson 1 • SCADA and Pipeline Control Systems

Introduces SCADA architecture, remote terminal units, and leak detection algorithms for gas pipelines. Enables students to understand real-time pipeline monitoring and control.

Lesson 2 • Pipeline Integrity Management

Applies inline inspection, pressure testing, and risk assessment to maintain pipeline safety. Directly supports regulatory compliance and asset life extension.

Lesson 3 • Pipeline Materials and Construction

Examines pipe grade selection, coating systems, cathodic protection, and trench construction. Establishes the physical infrastructure basis for integrity management.

Lesson 4 • Compression Station Design and Operation

Covers centrifugal and reciprocating compressor selection, staging, and station layout. Connects compression to pipeline pressure maintenance and throughput targets.

Lesson 1 • LNG Storage and Containment

Examines full-containment tank design, boil-off gas management, and rollover prevention. Addresses the cryogenic safety requirements unique to LNG facilities.

Lesson 2 • LNG Shipping and Marine Operations

Covers LNG carrier types, cargo containment systems, and loading and unloading operations. Links marine logistics to supply chain reliability.

Lesson 3 • LNG Liquefaction Processes

Covers cascade, mixed refrigerant, and expander-based liquefaction cycles and their efficiency trade-offs. Establishes the thermodynamic basis for LNG plant design.

Lesson 4 • Regasification Terminal Operations

Examines open-rack vaporizers, submerged combustion vaporizers, and send-out pressure control. Connects terminal operations to downstream grid injection requirements.

Lesson 1 • Environmental Controls and Emissions

Covers methane emission quantification, flaring reduction, and produced water discharge standards. Addresses the environmental obligations of gas operations.

Lesson 2 • Emergency Response and Crisis Management

Develops emergency response plans, evacuation procedures, and crisis communication protocols for gas facilities. Prepares students to lead incident response effectively.

Lesson 3 • Fire, Explosion, and Gas Dispersion

Covers flammability limits, ignition sources, explosion overpressure, and gas cloud dispersion modeling. Directly supports facility layout and emergency response planning.

Lesson 4 • Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment

Applies HAZID, HAZOP, and quantitative risk assessment to gas facility design and operations. Builds the analytical foundation for all subsequent safety management topics.