Production Engineering Training Course

1. Introduction to Production Engineering

1.1 Production Engineering Fundamentals

• Role of production engineering in field development including (reservoir to market approach, asset lifecycle)

• Production system components including (wellbore, flowlines, processing facilities)

• Production engineering workflow including (data gathering, analysis, optimization)

• Key performance indicators including (production rates, water cut, GOR, decline rates)

• Introduction to API RP 14B and SPE guidelines for production operations

1.2 Well Productivity Concepts

• Inflow performance relationships including (Darcy, Vogel, Fetkovich models)

• Outflow performance analysis including (pressure losses, flow correlations)

• Productivity index and well potential including (calculation methods, limiting factors)

• Formation damage mechanisms including (permeability reduction, skin factor)

• Production forecasting methods including (decline curve analysis, type curves)

2. Well Performance Analysis

2.1 Nodal Analysis Fundamentals

• Systems analysis approach including (selection of nodes, pressure references)

• Inflow performance curve development including (PVT data utilization, skin effects)

• Vertical lift performance including (multiphase flow correlations, gradient curves)

• Operating point determination including (intersection analysis, sensitivity studies)

• Software applications for nodal analysis including (commercial tools, calculation methods)

2.2 Well Testing and Surveillance

• Well test objectives and types including (deliverability tests, pressure buildup tests)

• Test design and execution including (equipment requirements, operational procedures)

• Production logging including (flowmeters, temperature surveys, noise logs)

• Pressure transient analysis including (buildup interpretation, drawdown analysis)

• Data validation and quality control including (error identification, anomaly detection)

3. Artificial Lift Systems

3.1 Artificial Lift Selection

• Lift system selection criteria including (reservoir characteristics, production rates, lift requirements)

• Comparative analysis of lift methods including (applicability ranges, limitations)

• Economic considerations including (CAPEX, OPEX, maintenance requirements)

• Technical feasibility evaluation including (well depth, deviation, fluid properties)

• Decision matrix approach including (weighted factors, risk assessment)

3.2 Sucker Rod Pumping

• System components including (surface unit, rods, downhole pump)

• Design considerations including (pump sizing, rod string design, stroke length)

• Dynamometer analysis including (surface cards, downhole cards, interpretation)

• Optimization techniques including (fillage improvement, efficiency enhancement)

• Troubleshooting common problems including (gas interference, solids production)

3.3 Electrical Submersible Pumps

• ESP components and configurations including (motor, seal section, pump stages)

• System design including (pump selection, motor sizing, cable selection)

• Performance monitoring including (electrical parameters, pump efficiency)

• Variable frequency drive applications including (speed optimization, soft starts)

• Failure analysis and reliability improvement including (run life extension strategies)

3.4 Gas Lift Systems

• Gas lift principles and mechanisms including (continuous gas lift, intermittent gas lift)

• System design including (valve spacing, pressure settings, injection rates)

• Unloading procedures including (valve sequencing, pressure management)

• Optimization techniques including (gas injection rates, valve depth adjustment)

• Troubleshooting issues including (valve failure, liquid loading, instability)

3.5 Other Artificial Lift Methods

• Progressive cavity pumps including (stator/rotor design, torque requirements)

• Hydraulic pumping systems including (jet pumps, piston pumps)

• Plunger lift including (cycle optimization, production enhancement)

• Emerging lift technologies including (linear rod pumps, hydraulic diaphragm pumps)

• Hybrid lift systems including (combined methods, transitional applications)

4. Production Chemistry and Flow Assurance

4.1 Production Chemistry Fundamentals

• Oilfield water chemistry including (ion composition, scaling tendency)

• Hydrocarbon phase behavior including (phase envelopes, critical conditions)

• Chemical inhibition principles including (threshold inhibition, crystal modification)

• Sampling and analysis methods including (representative sampling, laboratory techniques)

• Chemical management programs including (selection criteria, performance monitoring)

4.2 Flow Assurance Challenges

• Scale formation and control including (prediction models, inhibitor selection)

• Corrosion mechanisms and mitigation including (H₂S, CO₂, oxygen corrosion)

• Paraffin and asphaltene management including (deposition control, removal techniques)

• Hydrate prevention and remediation including (inhibition methods, risk assessment)

• Emulsion handling including (demulsifier selection, separation enhancement)

5. Well Stimulation and Damage Removal

5.1 Matrix Stimulation

• Formation damage assessment including (damage mechanisms, skin quantification)

• Acidizing fundamentals including (acid types, reaction mechanisms)

• Treatment design including (fluid selection, volume determination, placement techniques)

• Stimulation operations including (pressure monitoring, execution procedures)

• Post-treatment evaluation including (productivity improvement, skin reduction)

5.2 Hydraulic Fracturing

• Fracturing mechanics including (stress orientation, propagation mechanisms)

• Treatment design including (fluid selection, proppant loading, pump schedules)

• Execution and monitoring including (pressure analysis, real-time adjustments)

• Production impact evaluation including (post-frac testing, production enhancement)

• Refracturing considerations including (candidate selection, design modifications)

6. Production Optimization Techniques

6.1 Production System Optimization

• Constraint identification including (system bottlenecks, limiting factors)

• Choke management including (bean-up procedures, optimal settings)

• Wellhead pressure optimization including (separation pressure effects, system integration)

• Artificial lift optimization including (efficiency improvement, operating point adjustment)

• Integrated production system modeling including (interaction effects, system-wide optimization)

6.2 Production Enhancement Methods

• Well intervention techniques including (cleanout operations, reperforating)

• Workover candidate selection including (economic screening, technical feasibility)

• Water and gas shut-off treatments including (mechanical methods, chemical methods)

• Idle well reactivation including (evaluation criteria, restoration procedures)

• Optimization workflow implementation including (continuous improvement cycle)

7. Production Monitoring and Control

7.1 Production Data Management

• Data acquisition systems including (SCADA, RTU, wireless sensors)

• Production allocation methods including (test separators, multiphase meters)

• Data validation techniques including (material balance, trend analysis)

• Key performance indicators including (production efficiency, system availability)

• Reporting and documentation including (regulatory requirements, management reports)

7.2 Well and Network Monitoring

• Surveillance programs including (routine monitoring, exception-based surveillance)

• Alarm management including (threshold setting, response protocols)

• Production decline analysis including (normal decline, accelerated decline)

• Predictive maintenance including (failure prediction, preventive intervention)

• Digital oilfield applications including (data analytics, predictive models)

8. Surface Production Facilities

8.1 Separation Systems

• Separator types and functions including (two-phase, three-phase, test separators)

• Separation principles including (residence time, internals design)

• Sizing and selection including (capacity determination, operating pressure)

• Performance monitoring including (separation efficiency, carry-over detection)

• Troubleshooting separation problems including (foaming, emulsion stability)

8.2 Processing Facilities

• Oil treating systems including (heater-treaters, electrostatic treaters)

• Gas processing including (dehydration, sweetening, compression)

• Water treatment including (de-oiling, dissolved gas removal, disposal)

• Storage and measurement including (tank farms, LACT units, custody transfer)

• Facility optimization including (energy efficiency, throughput maximization)

9. HSE in Production Operations

• Process safety management including (hazard identification, risk assessment)

• Environmental protection including (emission control, spill prevention)

• Operational safety including (permit to work, energy isolation)

• Regulatory compliance including (reporting requirements, audit preparation)

• Emergency response including (contingency planning, spill response)

10. Production Economics

• Operating cost structure including (fixed costs, variable costs, workover costs)

• Economic limit determination including (lifting cost analysis, production thresholds)

• Capital project evaluation including (NPV, IRR, payback period)

• Incremental production value including (marginal economics, intervention justification)

• Risk and uncertainty analysis including (sensitivity analysis, probabilistic models)

11. Case Studies & Group Discussions

• Regional case studies from Middle East operations including (mature fields, challenging well conditions)

• Production optimization successes including (significant rate increases, cost reduction)

• Problem-solving exercises including (production decline diagnosis, system bottlenecks)

• Integrated asset optimization including (reservoir-to-surface integration, facility debottlenecking)

• The importance of proper training in successful production operations