Form C4
Version 4.0 (2010/2011)
Heriot-Watt University - Course Descriptor Template
Course Code
1. Course
Title
G10DP
2. SCQF
Level
Production Technology
5. Course
Co-ordinator
4. School
Engineering and Physical Sciences
6. Delivery:
Location &
Semester
Edin
SBC
Orkney
Dubai
IDL
Sem 2
Sem…….
Sem………..
Sem……..
Sem….
Collaborative Partner
Baku Higher Oil School, Azerbaijan
Sem 2
10
3. Credits
150
4th Year Director of Studies
Approved Learning Partner
Name …………………………………Sem………..
7. Pre-requisites
8. Linked Courses
(specify if synoptic)
9. Excluded Courses
10. Replacement Courses
Code:
11. Degrees for which
this is a core course
Date Of Replacement:
12. The course may be
delivered to:
UG only
PG only
UG & PG
BEng Petroleum Engineering
13. Available as an Elective?
Yes
No
14. Aims
The overall aim of this course is to:

identify the major components of the production system

consider the options available to efficiently complete a well

understand and apply the theory behind Reservoir – Well – Facility flow modelling

examine the techniques available to enhance production from both reservoir and well

design appropriate procedures to ensure optimal initial production
 understand the process of delivering and treating reservoir and injection fluid at the surface
15. Syllabus



Introduction: Role of production engineer; review of wellbore/reservoir connection and implications for fluid flow
Well performance: PI for oil and gas wells in steady state flow; concepts of flow in pipes and impact of pressure loss components; hydrostatic head and functional
pressure loss gradients for oil, gas, vertical and inclined wells; multi-phase flow patterns in vertical, inclined and horizontal pipes; physical property variation in flow up
the wellbore for single phase gas and oil flow and for multi-phase flow; slip and hold up and appreciate impact on flow efficiency and tubing sizing; gradient curves
concepts; flowing bottom hole pressure based on assumed tubing head pressures and the intake curve of flowing bottomhole pressure versus rate.
Well completions: Evaluate bottom hole completion options; geometrical configurations for drilled wellbores for both production and injection applications; generic
operating principles for major completion equipment components; Tubing for production / injection; Wellheads; Xmas trees; Packers; Seal assemblies; Subsurface
safety valves; Nipple profiles; Flow control and circulation devices; packer selection.
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Form C4
Heriot-Watt University - Course Descriptor Template
Version 4.0 (2010/2011)

Perforating: options and advantages/disadvantages for perforating oil and gas wells; over balance and under balanced perforating; charge design and factors that
influence performance; effect of completion and work over operations
 Advanced Wells: development of advanced wells; improvement in productivity; advantages compared to traditional wells; multilateral wells
 Artificial Lift: Explain the importance of Artificial Lift (AL) for world oil production; selection of AL based on ranking criteria; electric submersible pump; beam pump;
fluid driven hydraulic pumps (Explain the mode of operation of the(i) Jet pump;(ii) Weir Multiphase pump;(iii) Hydraulic pump); progressive cavity pump
 Gas Lift: Describe the gas lift process; Identification of application areas/advantages for gas lift; well unloading process; gas lift hardware components; gas lift
completion design; intermittent gas lift and plunger lift processes.
 Formation Damage: formation damage and poor well performance; major sources of formation damage; appropriate remedial treatments; production related
formation damage; scale, wax, asphaltene deposition; scale inhibitors; perforating damage
 Matrix Acidising: Types of matrix stimulation techniques; primary chemical reactions in sandstone and carbonate acidising. Acid selection; Additives; Acidising
treatment design
 Hydraulic Fracturing: Productivity Increase Factor (PIF) achievable by HF; role of Rock Mechanics in supplying basic design data for an HF treatment; Fracture
Propagation Pressure Record analysis to derive basic design data; Fracture Propagation Models; Hydraulic Fracture geometry (fracture shape and length); Hydraulic
Fracture Treatment Design Procedure; Hydraulic Fracturing Treatment operation
 Sand Control: Decision to install sand control during the original completion design; definition of sand problem in the field; Surface equipment/operations to cope with
sand production; sand control options; liner/screen design; gravel pack design;
 Field Development Concepts & Fluid Processing: design and operation of the production facilities; outline production process scheme; components and operation of
a 3 phase separator; fiscal measurement of produced cride oil; pipeline “pigging” operation; gas handling facility - NGL separation and stabilisation, gas dehydration
and sweetening, chemical composition of formation water; operational problems (scale, corrosion, etc); oily water treatment; disposal options; source of injection
water and surface preparation
16. Learning Outcomes (HWU Core Skills: Employability and Professional Career Readiness)
Subject Mastery
Understanding, Knowledge and Cognitive
Skills
Scholarship, Enquiry and Research (Research-Informed Learning)
On completion of the course, the student should be able to:
 understand and appreciate the production system from reservoir to surface
 design suitable bottomhole completions systems
 understand the design principles of different perforation systems
 design an artificial lift system based on pumping and gas lifting techniques
 assess the degree of formation damage present in a formation
 design acidising and hydraulic fracturing treatments
 understand and be able to select appropriate methods to enable sand control
 understand the processes and equipment used in produced water handling
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Form C4
Version 4.0 (2010/2011)
Heriot-Watt University - Course Descriptor Template
Personal Abilities
Industrial, Commercial & Professional Practice
Autonomy, Accountability & Working with Others
Communication, Numeracy & ICT
After completing this module, students will be able to:
 Appreciate the scale and complexity of the industry.

Be aware of the social responsibility in protecting the environment and personnel in oil and gas operations.

Understand the role of design codes.

Understand the role of empiricism and approximation in design calculations.

Develop appropriate skills in problem solving.

Appreciate the practical application of chemical engineering fundamentals to equipment design.
17. Assessment Methods
Method
18. Re-assessment Methods
Duration of Exam
Weighting (%)
Synoptic courses?
Method
(if applicable)
Examination
Coursework
2 hours
Duration of Exam
Diet(s)
(if applicable)
75%
25%
None – qualifying course
19. Date and Version
Date of Proposal
13-8-2012
Date of Approval by
School Committee
Date of
Implementation
Version
Number
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