Reservoir Engineering Courses

  • Course Objectives

          The key objectives of this course are to develop the skills needed for reservoir modeling and how to apply both deterministic and stochastic techniques for constructing 3D reservoir models. The integration of geosciences and engineering data into high-resolution static model, the upscaling techniques and the preparation of data for input into a reservoir simulator to run a dynamic model and perform history matching of actual production data and prediction will be discussed in detail.

  • Steam Injection is a thermal drive process that adds heat to the reservoir to expand the oil-in-place, reduce it viscosity, provide drive and thereby improve the displacement efficiency of injected fluid. This course explores the concepts behind steam injection processes in the field. The emphasis is the practical aspects of steam injection.  Equations and calculation methods are included in the course. There is an emphasis on the surface facilities, field practices, and operational problems. The material presented in this course is directed toward engineers, technicians, independent operators.

  • The course provides many examples from all over the world which are used to illustrate the various techniques. Participants will take from the course clear and systematic methodologies to tackle the more demanding types of well tests commonly encountered.

  • One-third to one-half of the original oil-in-place may remain in a reservoir as it reaches abandonment due to its economic limit. The primary reasons are: heterogeneity of the reservoir, unfavorable fluid properties, inefficient nature of the displacement process, oil price, and production cost considerations. The secondary reasons, however, are: inappropriate development, inefficient reservoir management practices, and escalating costs of remedial interventions/corrective measures and producing operations. The oil recovery is generally lower than expected due to some combination of the above reasons. Gaining a better understanding of the reservoir fundamentals and the important variables that influence the recovery process can enhance it. This overview course aims to provide such an understanding. It presents the subject material with a clear focus on: developing and producing the reservoir efficiently within its complexity constraints, harnessing energies available within the reservoir-aquifer-injection system, realizing technical benefits and application limitations of the various EOR methods, and selecting the optimum time window. This course covers the recovery improvement possibilities that present themselves at all stages in the reservoir life cycle. It thereby enables one to timely select the most beneficial method and set realistic expectations on production behavior changes and recovery improvement. The impacts of the selected method on personnel training, technology transfer, and facility modification are also covered. The material is presented in simple terms that would enable a participant to understand what works where, what fails when, and why. It is light on theoretical equations, but it scrutinizes these to comprehend importance of significant parameters. It utilizes case studies from projects around the world; their analyses and interpretations aid the participant in understanding of the material. Many illustrative problems, worked in the class by teams, are helpful in gaining a better grasp of the subject matter.

  • This is a 5-day classroom based course with micro model reservoir condition flow visualization videos, lab visit, practical field and worked examples, hands-on exercises and discussion.

  • One-third to one-half of the original oil-in-place may remain in a reservoir as it reaches abandonment due to its economic limit. The primary reasons are: heterogeneity of the reservoir, unfavorable fluid properties, and inefficient nature of the displacement process, oil price, and production cost considerations. The secondary reasons, however, are: inappropriate development, inefficient reservoir management practices, and escalating costs of remedial interventions/corrective measures and producing operations. The oil recovery is generally lower than expected due to some combination of the above reasons. Gaining a better understanding of the reservoir fundamentals and the important variables that influence the recovery process can enhance it. This overview course aims to provide such an understanding. It presents the subject material with a clear focus on: developing and producing the reservoir efficiently within its complexity constraints, harnessing energies available within the reservoir-aquifer-injection system, realizing technical benefits and application limitations of the various EOR methods, and selecting the optimum time window. This course covers the recovery improvement possibilities that present themselves at all stages in the reservoir life cycle. It thereby enables one to timely select the most beneficial method and set realistic expectations on production behavior changes and recovery improvement. The impacts of the selected method on personnel training, technology transfer, and facility modification are also covered. The material is presented in simple terms that would enable a participant to understand what works where, what fails when, and why. It is light on theoretical equations, but it scrutinizes these to comprehend importance of significant parameters. It utilizes case studies from projects around the world; their analyses and interpretations aid the participant in understanding of the material. Many illustrative problems, worked in the class by teams, are helpful in gaining a better grasp of the subject matter.

  • Course Objectives

    1. Use the exponential, hyperbolic and harmonic decline curve equations - including exercises to perform the calculations

    2. See the relationships between reservoir recovery mechanisms and decline curve types

    3. Identify and understand how the transient flow period can lead to an overestimation of reserves etc.

  • Get extensive theoretical knowledge on Hydrocarbon Reserves and acquire expertise in Reserves Calculations.

  • This course discusses the physical characterization of crude oil, gas liquids and gas. Discussions of the causes of problems in all types of wells to include oil, gas, shale oil, coal bed methane, gas storage, injection, EOR produced wells and all types of surface equipment are included. The type of problems encountered in oils from 8 ° API to 90°API caused by paraffin and asphaltenes will be discussed. Field strategies for the production of these oils from these wells and practical solutions to produce these oils are presented. Testing methods for characterizing the physical characteristics of these oils and selecting possible treatment methods are covered. Discussions of current treatment methods, Mechanical, Thermal, Chemical and Others, to reduce or eliminate problems are included. A section will be included on effects of paraffin and asphaltenes on emulsion, corrosion and scale problems. A section on selecting Cost Effective treatment methods will be included. Formation damage removal of paraffin and asphaltenes from new and mature wells will be included. Questions will be taken throughout the course and discussion of the participants own problems will be encouraged. Laboratory and Field case histories are a large part of this course.

  • Basic Reservoir Engineering is a course designed to help the participants develop a more complete understanding of the characteristics of oil and gas reservoirs, from fluid and rock characteristics through reservoir definition, delineation, classification, development, and production. Data collection, integration, and application directed toward maximizing recovery and Net Present Value are stressed. Basic reservoir engineering equations are introduced with emphasis directed to parameter significance and an understanding of the results. For nearly 30 years this has been one of our most popular and successful courses. The Basic Reservoir Engineering course includes class exercises designed to be solved by hand with a calculator. For those who prefer to use spreadsheets to do the calculations, participants are welcome to bring their own laptop computers.

  • This course is aimed at creating an understanding of WATER FORMATION RE-INJECTION AND WATER TREATMENT AND DISPOSAL. The course is designed to build up knowledge in the participant to understand the WATER RE-INJECTION process facilities design and Water treatment and disposal. The course studies in depth and in accordance to classic and new technology. Also the effect of Separation pressure is introduced using the engineering system concept of nodal analysis, and by using the classic flash calculations method. The calculations for pump specifications in the petroleum industry is treated in a formal and practical way.

  • To train the participant for Developing Hydrocarbon Reservoirs optimally, ensuring maximum recovery of reserves, with less possible investment, and preserving the environment.

  • This course gives the non-reservoir engineer a better understanding of reservoir engineering practices and limitations. The course is designed to provide a good understanding of reservoir engineering processes, the required data, and the limitations on the engineers' analysis and interpretations. The course also provides persons who are already well trained in the other upstream petroleum industry technical disciplines with an understanding of the current state-of-the-art practice of reservoir engineering. One personal computer is provided, at additional cost, for each two participants.

    • This training course will provide a comprehensive coverage of the simulation key topics, challenges, pitfalls and the approach to a quality result.

    • The participants will be trained in the methods and use of simulation software for practical exercises throughout this course.

  • This course is designed to cover all the traditional and modern Thermal Recovery Methods used in the oil industry for Heavy Oil recovery. Perhaps no other single subject dominates the oil industry like thermal recovery. For many of oil fields, particularly where low-to-medium gravity oils are found or where the oil viscosity is unfavourable for conventional EOR methods application, Thermal Recovery Methods are the best techniques for ultimate recovery. Vast deposits of heavy oil exist in Canada, Venezuela and USA that are amenable to recovery by Thermal Recovery. Thermal Recovery is usually applied to heavy & medium oils, however these methods can be applied to any field being considered and be competitive with alternative methods. The course consider the following methods: Cycle Steam Injection, Double Injection Nitrogen-Steam, CO2-Steam Injection, Flue Gas-Steam Injection-This methods have given excellent results in China and Louisiana (USA), Steam Drive Process, Hot Water Injection Processes, In Situ Combustion Processes, Cold Heavy Oil Production with Sand (CHOPS),  Vapor Extraction Method (VAPEX) and Steam-Assisted Drainage (SAGD).

  • Water alternating gas (WAG) injection are improved oil recovery methods that involve three-phase fluid flow. It was originally proposed as a method to improve the sweep efficiency of gas by using water to control the mobility ratio and to stabilize the front (Caudle and Dyes, 1958; Christensen et al., 1998). WAG injection can lead to improved oil recovery by combining better mobility control and contacting upswept zones, and by leading  to  improved microscopic displacement. WAG flooding has been successfully applied to more than 60 oilfields worldwide. This course will present WAG Miscible, WAG Immiscible, WAG alternating different types of Hydrocarbon Gases and Non-HC such as N2 and CO2 Gases. Also, the course will present and study the Factors Influencing Wag Process Design such as Fluid properties and rock-fluid, Availability and composition of injection gas, Heterogeneous Permeability, Injection Pattern, Capillary pressure, Relative permeability and Wettability. A WAG Process is presented and discussed in the course as well as Field cases and Laboratory research cases and results.

  • Water flooding is one of the most important methods of improving recovery from oil reservoirs. This section of the course concentrates on reservoir and field operations aspects of water injection for pressure maintenance and secondary recovery. Participants will study fractional displacement theory and all methods available in the oil & gas industry to predict oil recovery. The course is a theoretical practical course where participants have to work towards solving a series of projects, and to immediately apply the concepts, mathematical principles and theories presented and learned during the course. Laptop/computers will be used to solve problems related to water flooding.

  • This course concentrates on Reservoir and field operations aspects of water flooding injection for pressure maintenance and Secondary Recovery. Study in depth of Fractional Displacement theory and all methods available in the oil and gas industry to predict oil recovery. The course is a theoretical-practical course and is designed to as a workshop where the participant has to work hard solving a series of projects to apply immediately the concepts, mathematical principle as and theories presented and learned during the course. The participants will use a reservoir engineering software designed for water injection. The software will be provided to each participant without additional cost.

  • Approximately 20 billion barrels of water are reinjected in the US every year. Any technology that minimizes the amount of water or gas produced in conjunction with the produced oil would have a significant impact on the energy consumption and on the cost oil production. There are many factors, such as the presence of thief zones or high permeability zones, fractures and water coning which lead to an increase in water production. In an attempt to block out the undesired water production and increase the volumetric sweep efficiency of on-going waterfloods, the industry has used crosslinked polymer gels. The process involves strategically injecting a gelling fluid into water coning well or into a high permeability watered out zone, restricting flow in that zone and redirecting water flow into the lower permeability unswept oil zones. Thus water shut off and conformance-control treatments can be used to generate relatively large volumes of incremental oil production with low costs and selectively, targeted small volume treatments, which extends the economic lives of marginal and mature wells.