Petroleum Engineering 410

Production Engineering
Credit 3: (3-0)
Required for Seniors

Catalog Description: Fundamental production engineering design, evaluation, and optimization of oil and gas
producing well. Well deliverability, formation damage and skin analysis. Well completion selection. Technologies
that improve oil and gas well performance, including artificial lift and well stimulation.

Prerequisites(s): 321, 323, 324, 325

Textbook Required: Economides, M.J., A.D. Hill, C.E. Ehlig-Economides and Zhu, D.: Petroleum Production
Systems. Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey (2013).
Additional Texts (Optional):
Beggs, H. Dale: Production Optimization Using Nodal Analysis. OGCI Publications, Tulsa (1991);
Economides, M et al. Petroleum Well Construction, Wiley, 1998;
Ely, John W.: Stimulation Engineering Handbook. PennWell Publishing Company, Tulsa, Oklahoma, (1994);
Holditch et al. Advances in hydraulic fracturing, SPE Monograph No 12 (1989);
Penberthy, W.L. Jr. and C.M. Williams, B.B., J.L. Gidley, and R.S. Schechter: Acidizing Fundamentals; and SPE
Monograph Volume 6, Society of Petroleum Engineers, Richardson, Texas (1979).

Topics Covered:
1. Overview of production system concepts, completion and stimulation
2. Inflow performance of oil, gas and two-phase wells
3. Inflow performance of horizontal wells
4. Formation damage and damage skin factor
5. Completion selection (openhole, cased and perforated, gravel packs and liners)
6. Completion design and performance
7. Flow in wellbore and its effect on well production
8. Well deliverability and nodal analysis
9. Hydraulic fracturing design
10. Hydraulic fracturing in horizontal wells for unconventional formations
11. Fractured well performance diagnosis for vertical and multiple-stage horizontal wells
12. Other stimulation options
13. Production related environmental problems

Class/Laboratory Schedule: 150-min (total) lecture per week

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Contributions to Meeting the Curriculum Requirements of Criterion 5:
Math and Science None
Provides students with practical skills most often required in everyday petroleum
Engineering production. Develops the ability to diagnose production problems, analyze and design
well completions and stimulation treatments.
General Education Equips students with design and problem solving skills, improves ability to work with
a team, and develops analysis and presentation skills.

Course Learning Outcomes and Relationship to Program Outcomes:

Program
At the end of the course, students will be able to
Outcome No.
Be able to estimate production performance for vertical and horizontal wells in oil, gas and
1,3, 5, 11
two-phase reservoirs including reservoir inflow and wellbore flow
Be able to evaluate near wellbore problems in oil and gas well production, identify the
problems cause by formation damage and well completion and estimate their effect on 1, 3, 4, 5, 11
production
Be able to provide justification for selecting a completion option including perforation, screen,
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slotted liners and gravel packs.
Be able to diagnose production problems, to identify the source of the problem in the
production system, and to select the correct method, stimulation or artificial lift, to solve the 3, 5, 11
problem.
Be able to design and optimize hydraulic fracture treatment for vertical and horizontal wells
1, 3, 5, 11
for conventional and unconventional resources
Be able to select correct stimulation methods for improving production performance in
1, 4, 5, 11
conventional and unconventional formation (hydraulic fracturing or acid stimulation)
Be able to recognize environmental sensitive issue in production engineering practice 6,8,10,11

Related Program Outcomes:

No. PETE graduates must have
1 An ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering.
An ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs within realistic constraints
3 such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability, and
sustainability.
4 An ability to function on multidisciplinary teams.
5 An ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems.
6 An understanding of professional and ethical responsibility.
The broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global, economic,
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environmental, and societal context.
10 A knowledge of contemporary issues
11 An ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice.

Prepared by: P. Valk, September 19, 2013. Approved by UGCC, September 19, 2013.

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