Course content

The fluid part of the course describes reservoir fluid properties, multi-component phase behavior, PVT lab tests, and use of PVT data in reservoir calculations. The flow part of the course treats single-well behavior for radial flow of wells in porous media, as well as reservoir material balance and well testing.

Learning outcome

Ingress:

Completion of the course gives the students knowledge of chemistry, thermodynamics, and flow in porous media for optimal and sustainable utilization of the reservoirs.

Knowledge:

By the end of the semester, the students understand the comprehensive use of fluid phase properties, the application of Darcy’s law, material balance and well testing. This knowledge can be used in hydrocarbon reservoir recovery or other applications such as carbon capture, storage, and utilization (CCUS), hydrogen storage, study of aquifers (groundwater systems), and geothermal reservoirs.

Skills:

By the end of the semester, the students will be able to perform phase equilibrium and flow calculations, and estimate fluid phase properties for reservoir and production engineering applications, and gas injection for enhanced recovery and storage, e.g., CO2 storage. The students also understand how to use or develop appropriate digital tools (e.g., Fluid Modeling software) to perform fluid and flow calculations.

General competence:

By the end of the semester, the students learn:

• to apply fluid and flow knowledge and skills gained in the course for sustainable utilization of the reservoirs.
• to use digital tools such as fluid modelling software and programming languages for problem solving, and will develop competences within data analysis.
• how to become autonomous and independent problem solvers relying on their own ability to check and cross-check their work with others, in addition to using the lectures to seek feedback.

During group work the students learn to cooperate and to take responsibility for their part of the tasks. Group project, presentation and peer feedback experience in the course helps develop engineering communications skills.

Learning methods and activities

Flipped classroom, lectures, coaching, group project, report writing, group presentation and peer feedback, self-study. Lectures are held in English.

Course evaluation is carried out by a reference group giving students' feedbacks to the course coordinator.

Recommended previous knowledge

Basic knowledge of chemistry, thermodynamics, and flow in porous media.

Required previous knowledge

None.

Course materials

Phase Behaviour SPE monograph (Whitson and Brule). Distributed notes and articles.

Credit reductions