Once a field is on stream, the value of every exploration, drilling and development dollar depends on how well it is operated. Operations teams decide, every day, which wells flow, at what rate and with what chokes, how equipment is maintained, and how problems are handled when they occur. Production that is lost through unplanned shutdowns, poorly managed wells or slow response to problems is rarely recovered, and operating cost per barrel is largely set by how the field is run.

A producing field is an integrated system. Reservoir, wells, flowlines, separators, compressors, pumps, treatment plant and export systems are linked, and a constraint in one place limits the whole. A separator running at high pressure reduces well rates. A trip on a gas compressor can force wells to be shut in. A build-up of scale or wax in a flowline can take production down gradually before anyone notices. Operations staff need to understand these links to run the field well.

Operations is also where most of the industry's hazards are managed. Produced fluids are flammable, under pressure and often contain hydrogen sulphide. Equipment ages and corrodes. Safe operation depends on well barriers, relief and shutdown systems, permit-to-work and competent people who understand why these controls exist, not just how to follow them.

The common failings are well known: treating wells and facilities as separate responsibilities, reacting to failures rather than watching the trends that come before them, running maintenance on the calendar rather than on equipment condition and risk, and poor production data that hides where deferment is coming from. People new to operations, whether engineers, technicians or support staff, gain most from understanding how the pieces fit together before they specialise.

By the end of this training, participants will be able to:

• Describe the upstream value chain and the role and structure of a production operations team.
• Explain how wells flow and identify the main components of a production well and its well barriers.
• Describe well start-up, shut-in, choke management and well testing procedures.
• Trace the flow of produced fluids through gathering, separation, treatment, storage, metering and export.
• Explain the operating principles and routine monitoring of the main artificial lift methods.
• Identify common flow assurance and production chemistry problems and the methods used to control them.
• Use production data, surveillance and allocation to identify deferment and optimisation opportunities.
• Outline the maintenance strategies and integrity management practices used for production equipment.
• Describe the key HSE and process safety controls used in production operations.

Organisations sending participants to this training will:

• Have staff who understand how the whole production operation fits together, from well to export.
• Shorten the time it takes new engineers and technicians to become effective in operations roles.
• Improve communication between operations, production engineering, maintenance and HSE teams.
• Improve the quality and use of daily production data and deferment reporting.
• Strengthen awareness of well barriers, process safety controls and permit-to-work among operations staff.
• Build a base for more specialised training in facilities, artificial lift, flow assurance and integrity.

Participants will:

• Understand how a producing field is operated and where their own role fits.
• Be able to read a basic process flow schematic and follow produced fluids through the facility.
• Understand the purpose of the main pieces of well and surface equipment.
• Recognise the early signs of common production problems in field data.
• Understand why process safety controls and permit-to-work exist and how they protect people and plant.
• Have a clear foundation to move into more specialised operations or engineering roles.

• Graduate engineers starting in production or operations roles
• Engineers from reservoir, drilling or facilities disciplines moving into operations
• Production operators and technicians preparing for supervisory roles
• Field and shift supervisors
• Maintenance and integrity staff who want a wider view of operations
• HSE staff working with production facilities
• Non-technical staff in oil and gas companies, such as planning, finance, commercial and supply chain

Upon successful completion of this training course, delegates will be awarded an official Certificate of Completion issued by the Petroleum Engineers Association (PEA), an ISO 9001:2015 certified training organization. The certificate carries 10 Credits and formally records the total learning hours completed.

Each certificate is signed by the Course Facilitator and the CEO of the Petroleum Engineers Association, and serves as verifiable proof of professional training that delegates can present to employers and professional bodies worldwide.