Oil industry artificial lift well modelling

This comprehensive self-paced course will enable you to understand the concepts and practical applications of modelling naturally flowing and artificial lift wells with Prosper. The set of workshops and exercises will engage you to think about methods of collecting and validating proper data for well analysis as well as the design and diagnosis of artificial lift wells. Get started on your learning journey now with Baobab. IChemE accredited course (49 CPD hours).

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Who’s it for?

. . . anyone who is enthusiastic to learn about, or are involved in, the specification and diagnosis of artificial lift systems using commercial well modelling software.

Course Price

€ 625

Course length

7 days classroom equivalent.

Explain the principles of reservoir fluid composition, properties and modelling. Identify the limitations of using correlations and Equations of State
Evaluate the range of possible inflow and outflow performance relationships for wells. Understand how nodal analysis is used to predict well performance
Build, validate and match a naturally flowing oil well model. Apply and interpret more complex inflow modelling options (Prosper)
Run nodal analysis sensitivities, interpret the results and export lift curves (Prosper)
Appraise the selection and operation of key artificial lift techniques
Describe the main equipment components and operation of a gas lift and ESP systems. Identify and explain the key factors in gas lift and ESP design
Perform a gas lift design from concepts through to unloading, run sensitivities and export lift curves (Prosper). Diagnose and troubleshoot gas lift well performance using the "quicklook" utility (Prosper)
Perform a complete ESP design, run sensitivities and export lift curves (Prosper)
Diagnose and troubleshoot ESP well performance and operation using the "quicklook" utility (Prosper)

1. Production system concepts

Production System Concepts (Part 1)
QUIZ - Production system concepts (1)
Production System Concepts (Part 2)
QUIZ - Production system concepts (2)
Data measurement quality
QUIZ - Data measurement quality

2. Units and datums

Units - an introduction to oilfield units
Units - an exercise on conversion factors
Units - prefixes in common use
QUIZ - Units
Datums (measurement reference points)
QUIZ - Datums

3. Reservoir fluid properties overview

Reservoir fluid composition
Reservoir fluid properties
Reservoir fluid properties - plots
QUIZ - Reservoir fluid composition

4. PVT correlations and matching

Wellbore fluids sampling
Reservoir fluids measurements (PVT analysis)
Fluid property correlations
QUIZ - Reservoir fluid measurement, analysis and correlations
PRACTICAL - Reservoir fluid properties

5. Workshop: Building a well model (1)

Units and datums (Prosper)
Building a well model (options and preferences) (Prosper)
Building a well model (PVT data entry and matching) Part 1 (Prosper)
Building a well model (PVT data entry and matching) Part 2 (Prosper)

6. Inflow performance concepts

Inflow performance and Productivity Index (PI)
PI and Darcy's Law
How to increase PI
Pressure distribution in the reservoir
QUIZ - Inflow performance and PI

7. Radial flow IPR and skin

Radial inflow performance equation (oil)
Two phase inflow performance (PI and Vogel)
Skin components
QUIZ - Multiphase inflow performance
PRACTICAL - Inflow performance

8. Outflow performance concepts

Components of wellbore pressure loss (gravity and friction)
Friction in the wellbore - estimates and calculation
Velocity and slip in the wellbore

9. Holdup and slip

Effect of flow distribution (regime) on slip
Slip and holdup correlations and flow regime maps
More on slip and holdup and an overview of flow correlations
Pressure loss in the wellbore - a summary
QUIZ - Pressure loss in the wellbore

10. Flow correlations and VLPs

How does Pwf change with flowrate - an introduction to VLPs
Flow correlation comparisons (gradient traverse and VLPs)
Recommended variables when generating VLPs for simulators
QUIZ - Flow correlations and VLPs
PRACTICAL - Outflow performance

11. Workshop: Building a well model (2)

Building a well model (equipment data entry) (Prosper)
Building a well model (inflow data entry) (Prosper)

12. Pressure loss at surface

Components of surface pressure loss and rate of change of WHP
Choke performance overview
Surface flow correlation comparisons
QUIZ - Pressure loss at surface

13. Nodal analysis concepts

Introduction to nodal analysis
Running sensitivities (watercut and tubing size)
Running sensitivities (stimulation and WHP)

14. Nodal analysis plot interpretation

Running sensitivities (actual nodal analysis plots)
Nodal analysis plot interpretation (optimisation)
QUIZ - Well performance prediction
PRACTICAL - Well performance prediction

15. Workshop: Matching the well model

Matching the well model (production test data analysis) Part 1 (Prosper)
Matching the well model (production test data analysis) Part 2 (Prosper)
Running sensitivities Part 1 (Prosper)
Running sensitivities Part 2 (Prosper)
Exporting lift curves (VLPs) & IPR (Prosper)

16. Workshop: More complex IPR modelling

More complex inflow (IPR) modelling (Darcy and Skin) Part 1 (Prosper)
More complex inflow (IPR) modelling (Darcy and Skin) Part 2 (Prosper)

17. Workshop: Sensitivity analysis

Running gradient traverse (outflow) sensitivities (Prosper)
Running reservoir performance (inflow) sensitivities (Prosper)
Building a water injector and exporting lift curves (Prosper)
Naturally flowing well – workflow summary (Prosper)

18. Introduction to Artificial Lift Systems

Introduction to artificial lift
Origins and classification of artificial lift methods
Sucker rod pump (SRP) overview
Progressive cavity pump (PCP) overview
Electric submersible pump (ESP) overview
Hydraulic submersible pump (HSP) overview
Jet pump overview
Gas lift system overview
Artificial lift summary and selection criteria
QUIZ - Principles of Artificial Lift

19. Gas lift key concepts

Gas lift key concepts
Gas lift well performance curves
Introduction to gas lift design
QUIZ - Gas lift concepts

20. Gas lift design and VLPs

Gas lift unloading process (introduction)
Gas lift unloading process (detailed)
Gas-lift lift curves (VLPs)

21. Workshop: Gas lift design and sensitivities

Simple gas lift design (fixed depth of injection) (Prosper)
Simple gas lift design (fixed CHP) (Prosper)
Detailed gas lift design (well unloading) Part 1 (Prosper)
Detailed gas lift design (well unloading) Part 2 (Prosper)
Running gas lift sensitivities (gas lift performance curves) (Prosper)
Exporting gas-lift lift curves (Prosper)
Gas lift design workflow summary (Prosper)

22. Gas lift equipment and valve calculations

Gas lift equipment overview
Gas lift valve operation and equations
Gas lift valve equations (summary and typical values)
Gas lift valve calculations (dome pressure and TRO)
Gas lift valve calculations (example)
Gas lift valve performance
Gas lift valve running and pulling procedure

23. Gas lift diagnosis

Gas lift well diagnosis
QUIZ - Gas lift unloading, design and valve performance
PRACTICAL - Gas lift systems
Gas lift well diagnosis (Part 1) (Prosper)
Gas lift well diagnosis (Part 2) (Prosper)

24. ESP key concepts and performance curves

Electric submersible pumps (ESPs) - background and key concepts
ESP performance fundamentals - head and dP pump (part 1)
ESP performance fundamentals - head and dP pump (part 2)
ESP pump performance curves (part 1)
ESP pump performance curves (part 2)
ESP pump performance curves (part 3)
ESP pump naming conventions
QUIZ - ESP concepts and operation
ESP pump curve calculations (metric units)
ESP pump curve calculations (oilfield units)

25. ESP equipment overview

ESP system components
ESP impeller types
ESP equipment overview (pump section)
ESP equipment overview (seal, motor and cables)
ESP electrical system overview
ESP motor performance curves and affinity laws

26. ESP design and senstivities

ESP design overview
ESP design (alternative calculation method)
ESP design (equipment selection)
ESP design (limitations and effect of setting depth)
ESP design (well or system curve)
ESP lift curves (VLPs)
QUIZ - ESP equipment and design

27. Workshop: ESP design and senstivities

ESP design (part 1) – database and pump performance curves (Prosper)
ESP design (part 2) – input data and calculations (Prosper)
ESP design (part 3) – initial pump, motor and cable selection (Prosper)
ESP design (part 4) – optimising the pump design flowrate (Prosper)
ESP design (part 5) – effect of ESP setting depth (Prosper)
Exporting ESP lift curves (Prosper)
Running ESP sensitivities – Part 1 (Prosper)
Running ESP sensitivities – Part 2 (Prosper)
ESP design and sensitivities - workflow summary (Prosper)

28. ESP operations, control and optimisation

ESP operations (drawdown control on start up)
ESP operations (start up with high and low fluid levels)
ESP control (alarms and trips)
ESP runlife optimisation

29. ESP diagnosis

ESP diagnosis principles (introduction)
ESP diagnosis principles (monitored variables and key points)
ESP diagnosis (case history 1)
ESP diagnosis (case history 2)
ESP diagnosis (case history 3)
ESP diagnosis (case history 4)
ESP diagnosis (case history 5)
QUIZ - ESP operations and diagnosis
PRACTICAL - ESP systems

30. Workshop: ESP diagnosis and performance analysis

ESP performance analysis (Prosper)
Adding an ESP pump to the database (Prosper)
ESP well diagnosis (Prosper)

31. PCP key concepts and performance curves

Progressive cavity pumps (PCPs) - background and key concepts
PCP performance fundamentals
PCP pump performance curves
PCP pump naming conventions

32. PCP design and operation

PCP design overview
PCP operation

33. Workshop: PCP design and sensitivities

Adding a PCP pump to the database (Prosper)
PCP design and sensitivities (Prosper)

34. Course final examination

EXAM - Artificial lift well modelling with Prosper

- Courses:
  
  On completion of the final course exam you will receive a certificate of completion of your course. Recognised by major players in the industry across the world, these certificates will help to confirm your training record and your progress within the profession. Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) approved training course.
  
  Learn about certification
- Skills and competencies:
  
  Digital badges are awarded upon the successful completion of a set of skills (micro-credentials) that form a competency set for Production and Reservoir Engineers.
  
  Learn about badges
- Earn credits towards a Masters Degree in Petroleum Production Engineering.
  
  Upon successful completion of a module (set of courses), a certificate will be issued. This can be used as evidence for requesting module exemption under Robert Gordon University’s Recognition of Certified Prior Learning (RCPL) when applying for entry to the M.Sc. in Petroleum Production Engineering. Please note undertaking these Baobab courses does not guarantee RPCL.
  
  Learn about degree credits

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Ease of use

First of all it is fantastic! The setup is easy to understand and your introduction helps to clarify all open questions. The search function works well. I tested a key words and I always found what I wanted.

Asset Manager, OMV Petrom

Usefulness

I really think the bitesize videos are excellent. They are so easy to dip in and out. It allows me to go exactly to the part I am interested in. It is the perfect tool for on-the-job learning – the perfect virtual colleague who can answer all your quick questions.

Reservoir Engineer, Chevron

Knowledge

The videos are very didactic, short and with concise explanations. I have been using it to remind me of important concepts in the well performance theme and also to learn about some software applications. And definitely I can apply on my day-to-day job. I found it very useful and a fast way of learning, rather than being in a classroom.

Production Engineer, Total

Track your progress as you grow your skills, in your own time. Take interactive assessments to put your new knowledge to the test and prepare for that interview or evaluation, while refreshing your memory with our quick revision videos. Earn badges to demonstrate your new skills or those of your team – and watch your achievements mount up as you go. This is how to learn, in your time.