Nontechnical Guide to Petroleum Geology, Exploration

Petroleum Engineering 410
Production Engineering
Credit 3: (3-0)
Required for Seniors
Catalog Description: Fundamental production engineering design, evaluation, and optimization for oil
and gas wells, including well deliverability, formation damage and skin analysis, completion performance,
and technologies that improve oil and gas well performance including artificial lift and well stimulation.
Prerequisites(s): PETE 321, 323, 324, 325, 403
Instructor: Ding Zhu, associate professor, Petroleum Engineering Department, RICH 401L, (979)
4584522. email: dingzhu@ tamu.edu.
Textbook Required: Economides, M.J., A.D. Hill, and C.E. Ehlig-Economides: Petroleum Production
Systems. Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey (1994)..
Suggested Textbooks: 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.
Shaughnessy: Sand Control. SPE Series on Special Topics Volume No. 1, Society of Petroleum
Engineers, Inc., Dallas (1992); 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, stimulation and artificial lift
2. Inflow performance of oil, gas and two-phase well
3. Formation damage and damage skin factor
4. Completion options
5. Completion performance and completion skin factor
6. Flow in wellbore for single phase and multi-phase
7. Well deliverability and nodal analysis
8. Hydraulic fracturing design
9. Fractured well performance diagnosis
10. Acid stimulation
11. Artificial lift, rod pump, ESP and gas lift
12. Production related environmental problems
Class/Laboratory Schedule: 2 75-min lecture sessions per week
Method of Evaluation:
Homework assignments 15%
Design Project 10%
Midterm Examinations (25% each, 2) 50%
Final Examination 25%
Total 100%
Contributions to Professional Component:
Math and Science None
Petroleum Engineering Provides students with practical skills most often required in everyday
petroleum production. Develops the ability to analyze and design well
completions, stimulation treatments and artificial lift systems.
General Education Equips students with design skills, improves ability to work with a team, and
develops analysis and presentation skills.
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