Course content

Traditional education in petroleum engineering does not provide enough information on digitalization and automation technologies. Sufficient background in these disciplines can enable petroleum engineers and decision makers to recognize novel possibilities for digitalization in their responsibility areas, to communicate efficiently with developers/vendors of such technologies, to accept, use and get the most value out of these new technologies, to evaluate their business impact, and to identify and mitigate corresponding risks. This course aims at filling in this gap for (petroleum) engineers, researchers and decision makers. The following topics are covered in the course with the focus on digital/automation technologies in the oil and gas industry:

• Automation and digitalization in oil and gas industry.
• Elements of digital/automation technologies. Hierarchy of automation systems.
• Models in well construction and hydrocarbons production.
• Design and tuning of automatic control systems.
• Principles of advanced process control.
• Introduction to data analytics/decision support systems.
• Systems engineering for digital and automation systems.
• Risk evaluation and mitigation. Safety systems.
• Business case evaluation.

Learning outcome

The objective is to turn petroleum engineers and decision makers into educated and efficient users of digital and automation technologies, understanding their foundations, benefits and limitations. After completing the course, the participants should be able to identify areas for potential applications of automation and digital technologies in upstream oil and gas industry, suggest an appropriate type of digital/automation technology, critically review its implementation and operation plans, identify risks and risk mitigating actions and evaluate its business impact.

Learning methods and activities

The course is part of NTNU's Continuing Education courses and has a course fee. See NTNU Continuing Education. The course will be given under the condition of sufficient number of participants. The course is session-based, with two sessions per semester, of 3 days each, with self-study, exercises, and a project between the sessions. The course will be given in English.

Compulsory assignments

• Exercises

Specific conditions

Recommended previous knowledge

Experience in upstream petroleum technology.

Required previous knowledge

Engineer/Bachelor's/Master's degree in a technical discipline.

Course materials

Lecture notes, selected papers and publications.