Basic Petroleum Engineering for Non-Engineers

Disciplines
Engineering
Category
Foundational • Introductory • Drilling • Completion • Production • Reservoir Characterization
Format
Classroom • Live Online 
Available
Public • Private 

Who Should Attend

Geoscientists, geotechs, engineering techs, landmen, attorneys, financial and accounting managers, support professionals, and other non-technical personnel who require a basic understanding of petroleum engineering.

Description

This course describes the main aspects of petroleum engineering with the different engineering functions of the petroleum business broken down into a discussion of each discipline, with an emphasis on what a reservoir engineer does, what data is required, where it is obtained and how it affects the analysis of the reservoir. Discussions include volumetric parameters, hydrocarbon characteristics, volumetric calculations, recovery and drive mechanisms, reservoir evaluation, the difference between resources and reserves, and the basics of economic analysis (cash flow). Some basic calculations are undertaken, but complex equations and calculations are not utilized. The course is an introduction to petroleum engineering, and it is not intended to develop expertise in petroleum engineering but rather to make attendees aware of what their petroleum engineer associates do and what they need to best do their jobs.

Learning Outcomes

  • Understand the various petroleum engineering functions and how geoscientists interact with each.
  • Obtain a basic knowledge of the physical properties of hydrocarbons and how they affect production.
  • Gain an understanding of what occurs in the reservoir in relation to drive mechanisms and resulting recovery.
  • Gain an understanding of the necessity for accurate reservoir characterization in resource/reserve calculations.
  • Understand the basics of how to estimate oil/gas in place more accurately with volumetric calculations.
  • Obtain a basic understanding of economic evaluation through the use of cash-flow.

Course Content

  • Petroleum engineering functions
    • Drilling Engineer
    • Completion Engineer
    • Production Engineer
    • Operations Engineer
    • Facilities Engineer
    • Reservoir Engineer
  • Reserves Calculation Methods
  • Rock and Fluid Parameters
  • Volumetric Calculations
  • Recovery and Drives
  • Resources / Reserves
  • Economics
  • EOR

In-Person

Length
1 Day

Virtual

Length
2 Half-Days

Upcoming Events

Houston

Instructor

Susan Howes, PE, PHR headshotSusan Howes, PE, PHR