MOG501

Unit Description and General Aims

This course is designed to provide a comprehensive grounding in all aspects of the oil and gas industry. After a broad overview of the history and trends seen within the industry, it aims to familiarise students with the basics in petroleum geology before moving onto seismic and drilling fields of study.

Students are then introduced to the treatment and production of oil and gas covering various aspects of transportation, treatment and processing. This is followed by field development concepts and an introduction to subsea systems.

Students will be introduced to the basics of reservoir engineering practices and production technology. Lastly, risk management and petroleum economics with decommissioning topics are discussed. Students will be required to produce a variety of written technical reports and business proposals.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this Unit, students are expected to be able to:

1. Demonstrate theoretical knowledge and subject matter understanding in the field of oil and gas.
2. Have an understanding of the different facets of petroleum formation along with the geological and commercial factors necessary for successful exploration and appraisal.
3. Analysis of seismic surveys & the equipment and processes involved in drilling engineering.
4. Evaluate the concepts of reservoir engineering and the science behind production and treatment of hydrocarbons.
5. An acute awareness of the processes involved in new field development including the economics that govern field development.
6. Evaluate end of field life & asset decommissioning and the processes involved.

Student assessment

Prescribed and Recommended readings

Required textbook(s)

1. Ahmed, T. H. (2001). Reservoir engineering handbook (2nd ed.). Boston: Gulf Professional Pub. (ISBN 0-88415-770-9) – available on Knovel.
2. Bai, Y., & Bai, Q. (2012). Subsea engineering handbook. Burlington, MA: Gulf Professional Pub. (ISBN 978-0-12-397804-2)
3. Gorman, D. G., Neilson, J. (2012). Decommissioning offshore structures. S.l.: Springer. (ISBN 978144-71-15540)

Reference Materials

• Blyth, F. G., Freitas, M. H., & De, F. M. (1984). A geology for engineers. 7.ed. Victoria, Arnold, 1984. (ISBN 978-0-7131-2882-6)

• Kerlin, Thomas W.. (2013). Future Energy - Opportunities and Challenges. ISA. (ISBN 978-1- 937560-28-7)

• Speight, J. G. (2007). Natural gas: A basic handbook. Houston, TX: Gulf Pub. Co. (ISBN 1- 933762-14-4)

• Tiab, Djebbar Donaldson, Erle C.. (2004). Petrophysics - Theory and Practice of Measuring Reservoir Rock and Fluid Transport Properties (2nd Edition). Elsevier. (ISBN 978-0-0805- 9765-5)

• Number of journals and websites (advised during lectures)

• IDC / EIT notes and Reference texts as advised.

• Other material advised during the lectures

Unit Content

One topic is delivered per contact week, with the exception of part-time 24-week units, where one topic is delivered every two weeks.

Topic 1

History & Trends

History of the industry

1.  Economic growth, industrialisation and energy usage
2.  150 years of oil supply and demand
3.  The market control question, price and OPEC
4.  The current balance and impact factors

Industry trends

1.  Increasing reserves in producing fields - raising the recovery rate through Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR)
2.  Increasing reserves through frontier exploration – into the Arctic and deepwater in Brazil and Africa
3.  Increasing reserves thorough unconventional production – the shale revolution, coal bed methane, coal-to-liquid and gas-to-liquid conversion and other unconventionals
4.  The changing face of gas – from fixed pipelines to fluid LNG markets
5.  The "crew change" – the human resource challenge of baby boomer retirement and the outflow of expertise

World energy supply and demand

1. Oil and gas supply and demand
2. Classification of reserves
3. Oil pricing and market issues
4. Non-conventional oil, gas and renewables

Topic 2

Petroleum geology – the origins of hydrocarbons

1. Introduction to petroleum geology
2. The formation & types of hydrocarbons
3. Defining the size of the reserves
4. Oil and Gas reservoirs

Topic 3

1. Seismic and drilling
2. Exploration and appraisal
3. Geological and commercial factors necessary for successful exploration and appraisal
4. Seismic surveys
5. Drilling
   • Present drilling rigs
   • Equipment and processes involved in drilling a well
   • Well Completion and preparation for production
   • Blow out prevention
   • Well stimulation - fracturing, acidising and sand control

Topics 4,5 and 6

Extraction and processing

1. Production of reservoir fluids
2. Aspects of well and facilities design
3. Onshore and offshore production
   • Oil processing configuration 
   • Gas processing
     1. Sour Gas Processing
     2. Gas dehydration
   • Process Equipment
     1. Separators
     2. Water recovery

Topics 7 and 8

Field Development & Subsea Systems

1. Onshore/offshore developments
   • Land based developments
   • Shallow/deep water developments
2. Subsea Systems
3. Field life and Enhanced Oil Recovery Methods
4. Flow assurance and gathering

Topic 9

Production Technology

1. Key areas in Production Technology
2. Reservoir production concepts
3. Supplementing reservoir energy
4. Performance of flowing wells

Topic 10

1. Petroleum Economics
2. Field development decision-making Key economic indicators and their uses

Topic 11

Decommissioning

1. Possible decommissioning solutions
2. Scope of decommissioning obligations

Topic 12

Project and Revision

In the final week students will have an opportunity to review the contents covered so far. Opportunity will be provided for a review of student work and to clarify any outstanding issues. Instructors/facilitators may choose to cover a specialized topic if applicable to that cohort.

Software/Hardware Used

Software

• Software: N/A

• Version: N/A

• Instructions:  N/A

• Additional resources or files: N/A

Hardware

• N/A

Unit Changes Based on Student Feedback