Oil and Gas Production Engineering I

At the end of this course, the students should be able to: 1. demonstrate an overview knowledge of subsurface and surface production operations; 2. explain how pressure differential is used to analyse the flow of fluid at various points from the oil and gas reservoir to the surface; 3. relate how to apply Darcy’s law in solving reservoir to sand face flow problems, solve problems of vertical pipe flow and flow through surface restrictions (chokes); 4. state how to diagnose well problems and proffer technical solutions; 5. describe the concept of workover; 6. explain the possible actions to be taken to optimise production and the principles of well stimulation methods; and 7. state how the various pressure maintenance methods work.

Introduction to Petroleum Engineering: Subsurface and surface operations. Operational functions and output of subsurface production engineer. Nodal analysis in flow and outflow performances: governing equations, inflow performance relationship (IPR), productivity index, formation damage, fines migration and skin effect, vertical lift well head equipment performance and pressure losses, and choke performance. Problem wells analysis: sand, water, hydrate, scale, unstable flow, surge, waxy crude production, etc. Well surveillance. Well stimulation: fracturing and acidising. Introduction to artificial lift methods. Gas lift and pumping system.