Basic Reservoir Engineering for Non-Engineers

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

Who Should Attend

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

Description

This 4-day course describes the main aspects of reservoir engineering. Reservoir engineering has been defined as “the art of developing and producing oil and gas fluids in such a manner as to obtain a high economic recovery” (Moore, 1955). The module begins with a broad overview showing how reservoir engineers assess the value of the reservoir from volumetric, fluids, flow, and investment perspectives and contrasts conventional and unconventional resources. Next is an elaboration on how much gas or oil can be recovered from various natural conventional reservoir drive mechanisms in gas or oil reservoirs, respectively. Then is a review of unconventional gas resources, contrasting with conventional gas reservoirs, followed by a similar review for unconventional oil resources.

Learning Outcomes

  • Learn how reservoir engineers assess the value of an asset
  • Learn how conventional reservoir reserves are estimated based on production and
    reservoir pressure data
  • Learn how unconventional resources contrast with conventional reservoirs
  • Facilitate communication between reservoir engineers and geoscientists

Course Content

  • Overview – Assessing the Asset [general overview of key points to be covered in the course]
  • Static Reservoir Description [estimation of oil and/or gas in place mainly based on log data]
  • Conventional Reservoir Drive Mechanisms [estimation of gas/oil in place based on production data; recovery factors from primary production with or without gas cap and/or aquifer pressure support]
  • Unconventional gas/oil Resource Engineering

Optional Course Topics: [in place of above or for additional days]

  • Decline Curve Analysis [empirical models used for reserves estimation]
  • Reservoir Testing [single phase single well transient flow and basic pressure buildup analysis as applied to appraisal and primary development wells]
  • Flow Simulation [introduction to multiphase multiwall modeling for reservoir management]

Optional Course Topics: (In place of above or for additional days)

  • Secondary Recovery Processes [introduction to waterflooding and gas cycling]
  • Enhanced Oil Recovery Processes [Description of recovery enhancement via CO2 injection, steam injection, surfactant injection, polymer injection]

In-Person

Length
4 Days

Virtual

Length
8 Half-Days

Upcoming Events

Houston

Instructor

Christine Ehlig-Economides, PhD headshotChristine Ehlig-Economides, PhD