PETROENG 7050 - Production Engineering

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2014

The aim of this course is to provide familiarization of the principles and applications of various theories and techniques necessary to design, estimate and maximize production performance in a cost effective manner within various constraints from the oil and gas well systems. Attempts will be made to understand how these techniques could be applied in a practical field development project to identify the best way of exploiting petroleum reserves, as well as maximizing ultimate production. This course will address details of reservoir inflow performance, well flowing performance, design of artificial lift systems, familiarization of petroleum production facilities, and analysis and optimization of total petroleum production systems using conventional and nodal analysis. Students will also be given opportunity to apply these theories and methods through numerical problem based exercises and practical project assignments. The project assignment may require the use of a commercial simulator.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code PETROENG 7050
    Course Production Engineering
    Coordinating Unit Australian School of Petroleum & Energy Resources
    Term Semester 2
    Level Postgraduate Coursework
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Intensive short course of lectures and seminars
    Course Description The aim of this course is to provide familiarization of the principles and applications of various theories and techniques necessary to design, estimate and maximize production performance in a cost effective manner within various constraints from the oil and gas well systems. Attempts will be made to understand how these techniques could be applied in a practical field development project to identify the best way of exploiting petroleum reserves, as well as maximizing ultimate production.

    This course will address details of reservoir inflow performance, well flowing performance, design of artificial lift systems, familiarization of petroleum production facilities, and analysis and optimization of total petroleum production systems using conventional and nodal analysis.

    Students will also be given opportunity to apply these theories and methods through numerical problem based exercises and practical project assignments. The project assignment may require the use of a commercial simulator.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Prof Peter Behrenbruch

    Course Coordinator: Prof. Peter Behrenbruch
    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    1 Understanding of the fundamental principles of different elements of petroleum production systems
    2 Designing and optimizing petroleum production systems, and evaluating such systems in terms of performance
    3 Designing and optimizing of artificial lift systems
    4 Understanding of petroleum production forecasting concepts: balancing economic return with other values, applying this knowledge to analyse real data, predicting future production and to understand the importance of such activities from a company perspective, including safety aspects
    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)
    Knowledge and understanding of the content and techniques of a chosen discipline at advanced levels that are internationally recognised. 1
    The ability to locate, analyse, evaluate and synthesise information from a wide variety of sources in a planned and timely manner. 1,2
    An ability to apply effective, creative and innovative solutions, both independently and cooperatively, to current and future problems. 3
    Skills of a high order in interpersonal understanding, teamwork and communication. 4
    An awareness of ethical, social and cultural issues within a global context and their importance in the exercise of professional skills and responsibilities. 4
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    Please bring supplied lecture notes, pen and pencil, eraser and ruler, workbook and laptop to lectures classes.
    Recommended Resources
    The following are useful references:
    • Production Optimization using Nodal Analysis by H. Dale Beggs, OGCI and Petro-skills Publications, Tulsa, Oklahoma, 2003
    • Petroleum Production Systems, By Michael J. Economides, et al, Prentice Petroleum Engineering Series, 1994
    • Petroleum Production Engineering – A Computer Assisted Approach, by Boyun Guo, et al, Elsevier Science and Technology Books, February 2007
    • Surface Production Operations, by Arnold, K., and Stewart, M. (2nd Ed., Vol 1 and Vol 2), Gulf Publishing Company, 1999
    • Lecture notes
    Online Learning
    Lecture, tutorial and exercise materials will be made available in hard/softcopy during classes.
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    Lectures, tutorials and exercises will be conducted each day. A group project will form part of the course.
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with course requirements. The entire course will be delivered in intensive short course format over a period of six days.
    Learning Activities Summary
    Each day lectures will commence at 9:00 am and end at 12.30 pm. The afternoons 1:30 to 5:00 pm will be used for tutorials, exercises and group work.

    Course Outline
    (PETROENG 7050)
    Day 1:
    I1 – Course Information
    L1 – Introduction
    L2 – Nodal Analysis
    L3 – Oil Well Performance (some recap)
    L4 – Gas Well Performance (some recap)
    E1 – Exercises: Gas Deliverability and VFP

    Day 2:
    L5 – Horizontal Pipe Flow
    L6 – Vertical Pipe Flow and Vertical Lift Performance (VLP)
    L7 – Choke Performance
    L8 – Vertical Flow Performance Software and Modelling (PVTP, PROSPER)
    T1 – Tutorial: Vertical Flow Performance
    E2 – Exercises: Vertical Flow Performance (software based)

    Day 3:
    L9 – Artificial Lift (L10)
    L10 – Process Facilities (separators and other)
    L11 – Gas Compressors
    E3 – Exercises: Gas Lift Optimisation (software based), Compressor Problem

    Day 4:
    L12 – Formation Damage and Stimulation
    L13 – Decline Curve Analysis (DCA)
    L14 – Material Balance Modelling of Reservoirs (some recap)
    L15 – Material Balance Software (MBAL)
    T2 – Tutorial: Material Balance
    E4 – Exercises: Material Balance (software based), DCA Problem

    Day 5:
    L16 – Basis of Design for Offshore Facilities
    L17 – Floating Offshore Facilities
    L18 – Fixed Offshore Facilities
    E5 – Exercises: Total Well Performance (software based),
    G – Facilities Discussion

    Day 6:
    L19 – Deepwater Facilities
    L20 – Subsea Systems
    L21 – Surface System Software and Modelling (GAP)
    L22 – Case History (time permitting)
    Q1 – Quiz
    E6 – Exercises: Total System Analysis (software based); Group assignment
    Specific Course Requirements
    This course requires the use of Integrated Production Modelling (IPM) software for design and performance prediction of complex petroleum production systems. The software will be demonstrated with tutorial problems. Students are required to complete the group project using this software, available to the department under a licensing agreement.
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    The course will be assessed based on the following: quiz, problem assignment, group project and final exam.
    Assessment Detail
    There are four assessment tasks (for the overall course assessment, 100%):
    • Quiz – 10%
    • Group assignment – 30%
    • Individual assignment – 20%
    • Final exam – 40%
    Submission

    No information currently available.

    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

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    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

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