Action Learning Plans in Petroleum Engineering topics

1. Reservoir Engineering Fundamentals
2. Drilling, Workover and Well Servicing Fundamentals
3. Production Fundamentals
4. Well Logging and Subsurface Mapping
5. Reservoir Characterization and Modeling
6. Geology and Geophysics Applied to Reservoir Management
7. Reservoir Surveillance
8. Reservoir Development Strategies
9. Reservoir Management Practices
10. Drilling and Well Completion Practices
11. Production and Operating Practices
    
    

Learning Plan 1: Reservoir Engineering Fundamentals

Scenario: You are part of a team of E&P specialists responsible for evaluating a recent discovery in the Republic of Sucre. Your immediate objective is to determine formation properties and estimate hydrocarbon recovery potential, based on the limited information currently available. This will be the first step in developing a detailed reservoir model and, if justified, a long-term reservoir management plan.

Task Summary: Collect representative formation fluid samples and measure their PVT properties. Obtain core material and analyze reservoir rock characteristics. Describe the subsurface stress environment. Use volumetric and material balance methods to estimate the reservoir’s initial hydrocarbon in place, define the primary drive mechanisms and determine a primary recovery factor. Use the computer as a tool for solving reservoir engineering problems, managing databases and enhancing job productivity. Review interdisciplinary resources for describing the reservoir. Modules:

1. Reservoir Rock and Fluid Properties
2. Rock Mechanics Fundamentals
3. Stability and Rock Deformation Models
4. Reservoir Drive Mechanisms
5. Reservoir Engineering Computer Applications
6. Multidisciplinary Reservoir Management

Learning Plan 2: Drilling, Workover and Well Servicing Fundamentals

Scenario:
Petros Corporation’s Drilling Department has asked you to work on several projects related to the Sucre discovery.

• First, you will develop a well plan and monitor drilling and completion operations for a new appraisal well.
• Next, you will plan a possible re-entry and sidetrack of Well 5C1-SW, which is currently suspended.
• Finally, you will perform an initial screening to help determine whether horizontal wells should be considered as part of the reservoir development project.
• Your assistance with these projects will be of great help to the Drilling Department, which is currently short of personnel due to increased rig activity worldwide.

Task Summary:
Establish basic drilling parameters (i.e., target depth, formation markers, directional drilling requirements, mud specifications and casing points). Generate a casing design. Monitor and optimize the drilling fluid and hydraulics programs. Plan and execute the casing and primary cement jobs. Calculate the target coordinates and trajectory for a possible sidetrack and re-drill of Well 5C1-SW. Compare the productivity of vertical and horizontal well completions to determine the feasibility of a horizontal drilling program.

Modules:

1. Drilling and Workover Proposals
2. Well Completion Design
3. Drilling and Workover Fluids
4. Drilling and Workover Hydraulics
5. Cementing
6. Directional, Horizontal and Multilateral Wells

Learning Plan 3: Production Fundamentals

Scenario:
One of your jobs in this Learning Plan is to select the subsurface production equipment configuration for Well 5A1-SW, which will soon be selectively perforated in the Upper and Middle sands, and to predict the well’s flowing performance. Other tasks will involve artificial lift screening, stimulation planning and production optimization, as well as developing general guidelines for testing new well in the Sucre field.

The team now feels that it has enough information to begin planning surface production facilities for the Sucre field. The other members want your input in determining the size and rough layout of these facilities.

Task Summary:
Select a general well configuration and specify requirements for subsurface production equipment. Describe the production system using nodal analysis, and predict flowing well performance. Evaluate potential artificial lift methods. Optimize well performance. Diagnose operating problems. Develop general well testing guidelines. Determine surface facility handling requirements, equipment needs and overall layout.

Modules:

1. Production Methods
2. Production Optimization
3. Production Facilities
4. Well Testing

Learning Plan 4: Integrated Studies I

Scenario:
The project team is compiling an information database for the Sucre field during this, the appraisal stage of its life. You need to give your ideas on how this database will contribute to the reservoir management task, and what information it should contain.

Meanwhile, drilling has begun at Well 2A5-NE. The team’s field geologist is at another location evaluating core material, and so you have been put in temporary charge of this well’s open hole logging program.

Task Summary:
Establish general data acquisition requirements for an integrated reservoir study. Select and apply the appropriate tools for an open hole logging survey. Define basic logging parameters, establish log scales, monitor tool responses, and confirm the validity of the acquired log data. Interpret the logs to obtain an initial evaluation of hydrocarbon potential.

Modules:

1. Interdisciplinary Data Acquisition
2. Wireline Well Logging
3. Well Log Quality Control
4. Well Log Interpretation

Learning Plan 5: Integrated Studies II

Scenario:
Based on a re-evaluation of seismic data, and with the information obtained from recently drilled wells in the Sucre field, your supervisor has asked you to review and, if necessary, revise the structure contour map for the top of the Upper Sand. You will also be doing some additional mapping of an older offset reservoir. Once you complete your mapping assignments—and after examining some issues involving compaction and subsidence in a nearby field—you will re-join the Sucre project team as it works on building a reservoir model.

Task Summary:
Review and, if necessary, revise the existing structure contour map of the Upper sand horizon. Develop supplemental maps of an offset reservoir, incorporating geological, petrophysical and geophysical data. Evaluate the impact of compaction, subsidence and settling on reservoir performance. Interpret pressure and production data—in particular, pressure transient test results—for incorporation into the reservoir model. Identify reservoir flow units. Apply analytical and numerical simulation techniques to the development, testing and refining of a reservoir model.

Modules:

1. Subsurface Mapping
2. Compaction and Subsidence
3. Pressure/Production Data Analysis
4. Flow Unit Determination
5. Reservoir Simulation

Learning Plan 6: Advanced Integrated Studies

Scenario:
As you develop a reservoir model for the Sucre project, you will find yourself working closely with geologists, geophysicists and other experts from a variety of backgrounds and disciplines. To maximize the effectiveness of your team effort, it will be helpful to gain a good basic understanding of what these experts do and what they have to offer.

Task Summary:
Define criteria for obtaining and processing geophysical information to cover interpretation objectives, including the application of such techniques as seismic inversion and depth migration. Work with the geologist and geophysicist to identify and interpret deformation styles and generate a model of tectonic evolution. Establish correlations of sedimentary sequences to contribute to the definition of the reservoir model. Identify and analyze the depositional environments that are characteristic of sedimentary formations. Define a paragenetic sequence based on an analysis of petrophysical data. Describe reservoir parameters in terms of their deterministic nature. Identify basic geostatistical techniques used in reservoir management.

Modules:

1. Geophysical Processing and Interpretation
2. Geological and Seismic Integration
3. Sedimentary Sequences
4. Depositional Environments
5. Paragenetic Sequences
6. Geostatistics

Learning Plan 7: Reservoir Surveillance

Scenario:
Your project team has generated geological and petrophysical models for the Sucre project and incorporated them into a reservoir model. Your next step is to obtain additional reservoir data, and use it to validate and, if necessary, refine your models to reflect actual reservoir behavior.

Task Summary:
Establish a plan for acquiring and optimizing information for reservoir surveillance. Employ multidimensional seismic information and geological data as reservoir management tools. Use production records, well logs, core analyses and other data. to update the geological and petrophysical models of the reservoir. Incorporate new data into the reservoir model, and refine the model by reconciling differences between predicted and actual behavior.

Modules:

1. Data Acquisition
2. Geologic/Seismic Integration
3. Geological Model Updating
4. Petrophysical Model Updating
5. Reservoir Model Updating

Learning Plan 8: Reservoir Management and Exploitation Strategies I

Scenario:
Based on its reservoir model, your project team has developed several exploitation strategies. In this Learning Plan, you will evaluate these strategies economically with the goal of finding out which one represents the most attractive investment opportunity. In addition to fiscal considerations, you will have to account for such details as work programs, budgets, permitting requirements, personnel matters and regulatory compliance issues. You will be looking beyond the reservoir’s primary production phase and developing plans for improved recovery. In each of the Learning Plan assignments, you will be asked to make management and control decisions to ensure project success.

Task Summary:
Use economic evaluation methods to select an investment opportunity and formulate a project budget. Prepare the required permission requests for drilling, workover/recompletion, stimulation, abandonment and well servicing operations to satisfy the established legal requirements of regulatory organizations. Properly apply health, safety and environmental regulations to the task of reservoir management. Optimize reservoir management/control decisions using surveillance techniques, information and technology systems, and technical and financial indicators. Develop an improved recovery scheme for a reservoir.

Modules:

1. Economic Evaluation
2. Permitting for Well Operations
3. Health, Safety and Environment
4. Reservoir Management and Control
5. Improved Recovery

Learning Plan 9: Reservoir Management and Exploitation Strategies II

Scenario:
In this Learning Plan, you will evaluate the Sucre Project in terms of how it affects Petros Corporation’s overall performance. You will need to consider the project in the context of the overall hydrocarbon value chain, and consider the role of contractual agreements, the application of new technologies, and the project’s contribution to the company’s knowledge base.

Task Summary:
Evaluate reservoir exploitation schemes through the use of corporate management indicators. Use reservoir studies to develop a resource base (drilling plans, future improved recovery, information acquisition, application of new technologies, facilities and production infrastructure). Research new technologies and determine their applicability to various aspects of reservoir management. Compare actual reservoir behavior to model predictions; account for differences and evaluate the effectiveness of the exploitation strategy. Analyze scenarios, make suitable contract models and study special projects in areas of the exploitation macroprocess, assuring business profitability and respecting the prevailing laws and norms of contracts.

Modules:

1. Strategic Business Planning
2. New Technologies
3. Reservoir Surveillance and Control
4. Contracts

Learning Plan 10: Drilling and Well Completion Practices

Scenario:
In this Learning Plan, you will take charge of well planning and drilling/completion operations at Adams 8, a new development well proposed for the Tremont field. Your goals throughout the Learning Module assignments will be to maintain a safe, environmentally friendly operation, minimize overall well costs, and provide a well completion that meets reservoir management objectives.

Task Summary:
Establish well objectives and define measures of drilling success. Identify critical well planning issues based on offset information and other available data. Document potential drilling hazards and HSE risks. Predict subsurface pressure and temperature environment. Outline directional drilling requirements and select casing points. Design casing/liner strings. Outline cementing procedures. Design mud program for each hole section. Establish well control precautions and procedures. Design drillstring and bottomhole assembly. Plan bit and hydraulics programs. Evaluate rig specifications and select drilling contractor. Monitor drilling operations. Optimize bit runs, mud system performance and directional control. Ensure HSE compliance. Anticipate drilling problems and work to minimize their impact. Research non-conventional drilling methods and/or emerging technologies, and evaluate their applicability to specific drilling situations. Prepare for logging and testing operations. Oversee well completion and stimulation procedures.

Modules:

1. Initial Well Planning
2. Well Design
3. Drilling Program Planning and Implementation
4. Drilling Operations
5. Well Completion Operations

Learning Plan 11: Production and Operating Practices

Scenario:
In this Learning Plan, you will oversee production engineering and operations at several fields within your business unit. Your work will involve a wide range of activities, including nodal analysis of flowing wells to artificial lift installations to remedial and workover planning to the design and operation of surface production facilities. In performing these tasks, you will gain an appreciation for the integrated nature of the overall production system.

Task Summary:
Establish Inflow Productivity Relationship and determine flowing well potential. Use nodal analysis techniques to design the production system. Determine the point at which artificial lift will be required to maintain a well's production at a desired rate. Evaluate potential artificial lift methods to decide which one is most appropriate for a particular set of operating conditions. Diagnose production problems related to formation damage and recommend appropriate solutions. Plan and execute a stimulation procedure in order to increase well production. Know and apply sand control techniques, tools and procedures according to the reservoir characteristics, with the goal of maximizing the well’s productivity and useful life. Identify workover or abandonment candidates, and outline procedures for accomplishing the necessary well objectives. Plan and safely execute workovers using the tools appropriate to the well completion and formation characteristics. Apply procedures and standards for controlling and abandoning wells, in compliance with official regulations and safe practices. Research non-conventional methods (slimhole, coiled tubing, etc.) and/or emerging technologies, and evaluate their applicability to specific well situations. Generate equipment requirements and layout for upstream surface facilities. Maintain safety and ensure regulatory compliance in production operations. Identify and address special issues involved in offshore operations.

Modules:

1. Flowing Well Performance and Nodal Analysis
2. Artificial Lift Methods
3. Well Stimulation and Sand Control
4. Workover Planning and Operations
5. Surface Production Operations