Course Overview
This course provides oil and gas professionals with the tools and techniques to optimize production operations and resolve common field challenges. Covering surface and subsurface systems, the course emphasizes system-wide performance analysis, diagnostics, and improvement strategies. Participants will explore methods to enhance production, minimize downtime, and solve operational issues effectively through data interpretation, troubleshooting, and optimization practices.
Course Objectives
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
- Understand key concepts of production systems and their interdependencies.
- Diagnose and troubleshoot common production problems (mechanical, flow, reservoir-related).
- Apply optimization techniques to lift systems, flowlines, separators, and facilities.
- Use nodal analysis and performance modeling for decision-making.
- Develop cost-effective, practical solutions to improve production efficiency and reliability.
- Implement preventive strategies to minimize production disruptions.
Who Should Attend
- Production and operations engineers
- Field supervisors and production technologists
- Facilities engineers and surface production staff
- Petroleum engineers and asset development professionals
- Technical support and maintenance personnel
- Anyone involved in daily oil & gas production optimization and troubleshooting
Course Outline
Introduction to Production Systems and Optimization Concepts
- Overview of Production Systems: Reservoir to Surface
- Components and Interfaces: Wellbore, Artificial Lift, Surface Facilities
- Production Optimization Principles and System Thinking
- Identifying and Prioritizing Optimization Opportunities
Data Analysis and System Diagnostics
- Production Data Acquisition and Surveillance
- Nodal Analysis Fundamentals (Inflow & Outflow Performance)
- Using Well and Facility Performance Curves
- Bottleneck Identification Techniques
- Decline Curve Analysis and Well Performance Monitoring
Problem Identification and Troubleshooting Techniques
- Diagnosing Wellbore, Formation, and Equipment Issues
- Common Problems: Scaling, Wax, Sand, Emulsions, Gas Locking, Hydrates
- Mechanical Failures in Artificial Lift Systems
- Separator and Flowline Issues – Pressure Drops, Corrosion, Erosion
Production Enhancement and System Optimization
- Artificial Lift Optimization (ESP, Gas Lift, Rod Pumping)
- Surface Network Optimization – Flow Assurance, Line Sizing, Routing
- Separator and Facility Efficiency Improvements
- Debottlenecking and Production Simulation Tools
Sustainable and Cost-Effective Solutions
- Case Studies on Problem Solving and Optimization
- Economic Evaluation of Optimization Projects
- Integrating Maintenance and Reliability Programs
- Developing a Field Optimization and Troubleshooting Strategy
- Wrap-up Discussion and Action Plan for Field Application