This course will equip students with basic knowledge of the oil & gas business cycle relevant to engineering, equipment, facilities and operations. The learning experience will consist of knowledge sharing, mini projects, online virtual field trips, real life, application experiences and understanding of oil and gas exploration and production.

This course will equip students with basic knowledge of the oil & gas business cycle relevant to engineering, equipment, facilities and operations. The learning experience will consist of knowledge sharing, mini projects, online virtual field trips, real life, application experiences and understanding of oil and gas exploration and production.

• Introduction to Hydrocarbons

  • Overview of hydrocarbons: composition, types, and significance
  • Introduction to the oil and gas industry and its global impact

• Life Cycle of Field Development

  • Stages of hydrocarbon field development: exploration, appraisal, development, production, and decommissioning
  • Key activities and objectives in each stage of the field lifecycle

• Hydrocarbon Form and Hydrocarbon Properties in Reservoirs

  • Physical and chemical properties of hydrocarbons: density, viscosity, and phase behavior
  • Hydrocarbon forms in reservoirs: oil, gas, and condensates

• Hydrocarbon Exploration: Geology, Geophysics, and Drilling

  • Geologic methods for identifying potential hydrocarbon reservoirs
  • Geophysical techniques: seismic surveys, logging, and mapping
  • Introduction to drilling operations for hydrocarbon exploration

• Field Appraisal

  • Methods for evaluating reservoir potential and estimating reserves
  • Techniques for assessing the economic and technical feasibility of field development

• Reservoir Development

  • Planning and strategies for developing a hydrocarbon reservoir
  • Enhanced oil recovery (EOR) techniques and reservoir management

• Drilling Development

  • Overview of drilling technologies and techniques for reservoir access
  • Directional and horizontal drilling methods for maximizing recovery

• Hydrocarbon Production

  • Production methods: primary, secondary, and tertiary recovery
  • Surface facilities and processes for separating and treating produced fluids

• Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE)

  • Importance of HSE in hydrocarbon exploration and production
  • Risk assessment, environmental impact mitigation, and safety practices

• Hydrocarbon Economy and Lease

  • Economic considerations in hydrocarbon projects: costs, pricing, and revenues
  • Legal and contractual aspects of hydrocarbon leases and agreements

• Coal and Hydrocarbon Unconventional Resources

  • Overview of unconventional hydrocarbon resources:
    • Coal Bed Methane (CBM): Extraction and applications
    • Shale Gas: Hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling
    • Hydrate Gas: Potential as a future energy source and extraction challenges

1. Frank Jahn, et al., Hydrocarbon Exploration and Production, Developments in Petroleum Science, 2nd ed., 2008.
2. Babusiaux, et al., Oil and Gas Exploration and Production: Reserves, Cost and Contracts, IFP-Technip, 2004.
3. M. Kelkar, Natural Gas Production Engineering, PennWell Publications, 2008.
4. Norman J. Hyne, Nontechnical Guide to Petroleum Geology, Exploration, Drilling and Production, 2nd ed., PennWell Books, 2001.