Course Overview

The oil and gas industry operates in a complex and evolving energy landscape, requiring professionals to understand both the technical and commercial aspects of exploration and production. A solid foundation in industry operations is essential for supporting safe, efficient, and sustainable energy development.

The Foundations of Oil & Gas Exploration and Production programme by Transformentors Academy provides participants with a practical overview of the oil and gas value chain, covering exploration, drilling, production, transportation, and decommissioning activities. The course introduces key technical concepts, operational processes, and industry best practices.

Through practical examples and industry case studies, participants will explore economic evaluation, risk management, digital transformation, and energy transition trends, developing a broad understanding of the oil and gas lifecycle and the skills needed to contribute effectively across the industry.

Agenda

Day — 1 Introduction to the Oil & Gas Industry and Global Energy Context

• Understanding the oil and gas value chain within global energy systems
• Exploring global energy supply and demand dynamics
• Introducing upstream terminology and core industry concepts
• Examining the role of LNG in international energy markets
• Reviewing petroleum fiscal systems and contractual frameworks
• Exercise: Analyse the oil and gas value chain and identify key market drivers and stakeholders

Day — 2 Petroleum Geoscience and Exploration Fundamentals

• Understanding petroleum systems and hydrocarbon generation processes
• Exploring basin formation and plate tectonics in resource development
• Reviewing geophysical methods used in oil and gas exploration
• Applying techniques for prospect evaluation and resource estimation
• Examining reserves classification and uncertainty management approaches
• Exercise: Evaluate an exploration prospect using geological and geophysical data

Day — 3 Drilling Engineering and Well Operations

• Understanding drilling systems and rig types used in oil and gas operations
• Exploring the role of drilling fluids in well performance
• Reviewing the planning and execution of drilling operations
• Understanding well control and pressure management practices
• Examining the fundamentals of casing, cementing, and well integrity
• Exercise: Develop a basic drilling programme and identify key well control measures

Day — 4 Reservoir Characterisation and Engineering

• Understanding reservoir rock properties and depositional environments
• Reviewing fluid flow and natural drive mechanisms in reservoirs
• Identifying methods for estimating reserves and resource volumes
• Examining well testing and reservoir monitoring techniques
• Introducing reservoir modelling and simulation approaches
• Exercise: Interpret reservoir data to assess reserves and production potential

Day — 5 Field Appraisal and Development Planning

• Understanding field appraisal processes and uncertainty reduction strategies
• Exploring concept selection and early field development planning
• Reviewing HSE requirements in field development activities
• Identifying well completion and artificial lift methods
• Examining facility design concepts and process integration
• Exercise: Develop a preliminary field development plan for a new hydrocarbon discovery

Day — 6 Production Engineering and Surface Facilities

• Understanding production systems used in oil and gas operations
• Exploring oil and gas processing and separation techniques
• Reviewing maintenance and reliability practices for surface facilities
• Identifying production optimisation and de-bottlenecking strategies
• Examining hydrocarbon transportation and storage systems
• Exercise: Evaluate a production system and recommend optimisation measures

Day — 7 Petroleum Economics and Risk Assessment

• Understanding financial evaluation methods for oil and gas projects
• Exploring discounting techniques and project valuation approaches
• Reviewing profitability indicators for project decision-making
• Balancing technical and commercial risks in project development
• Examining project screening strategies across different operating environments
• Exercise: Assess the economic viability and risk profile of an oil and gas project

Day — 8 Production Optimisation and Mature Field Management

• Exploring subsurface management strategies for production optimisation
• Reviewing infill drilling and well intervention techniques
• Identifying enhanced oil recovery (EOR) methods for mature fields
• Examining asset integrity management in ageing production systems
• Exploring incremental development opportunities in existing assets
• Exercise: Develop a production optimisation plan for a mature oil and gas field

Day — 9 Refining, Transportation and Decommissioning

• Understanding crude oil refining processes in downstream operations
• Exploring hydrocarbon transportation and energy marketing strategies
• Reviewing decommissioning requirements for oil and gas assets
• Identifying financial and risk considerations in decommissioning planning
• Examining site restoration and value recovery approaches
• Exercise: Develop a basic decommissioning and asset recovery plan for an ageing facility

Day — 10 Future Trends and Digital Transformation in Oil & Gas

• Exploring artificial intelligence applications in oil and gas operations
• Reviewing digital technologies used in exploration and production
• Identifying automation trends in drilling and production environments
• Examining energy transition strategies shaping the oil and gas industry
• Understanding the future skills required for digital energy workplaces
• Course Review: Key takeaways and programme evaluation

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the Foundations of Oil & Gas Exploration and Production course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the structure of the oil and gas value chain and its role in the global energy industry.
• Explain the fundamentals of exploration, including geoscience and resource evaluation.
• Identify the main stages of drilling and well operations in field development.
• Analyse reservoir behaviour and the factors affecting hydrocarbon production and recovery.
• Apply the basic principles of field development, production systems, and surface operations.
• Evaluate the economic considerations and risks associated with oil and gas projects.
• Assess strategies for production optimisation and mature field management.
• Recognise downstream operations, decommissioning practices, and emerging industry trends.

Who Should Attend

This programme is ideal for:

• New professionals entering the oil and gas industry
• Engineers from various disciplines
• Non-technical staff working in energy companies
• Business and support function professionals
• Anyone seeking a broad understanding of oil and gas exploration and production