Mechanical Earth Modeling
The Mechanical Earth Model, or MEM, is composed of formation strength and stress data over the entire geological section. Well Engineering applications such as mud weight selection for casing program design and bit selection and performance prediction, depend on the accurate assessment of rock strength and stress at the pre-drill location. This course will introduce the MEM approach to well design, and show how an accurate MEM can be built from open hole logs and surface geophysics linked to the geological model or structure. The course is not designed to make the student a practicing Mechanical Earth Model builder; rather the desired outcome of this introductory course is to create an appreciation for this new discipline that allows the Petroleum Engineer to more effectively utilize all the engineering and earth science technologies now available to optimize the oil & gas asset field development plan.
Course Objectives & Expectations
The course will review open hole log analytical techniques needed to determine the formation elastic moduli and rock strength. The fundamentals of stress and failure are reviewed and relevant applications such as Mohr Circles are considered. The rock mechanics of borehole failure will also be introduced. The first third of this effort will lead to the capability to build a 1D Mechanical Earth Model from offset open hole log information. Geomechanical applications in the field of Petroleum Engineering are discussed and practiced.
The course will then progress to the 2 & 3D environments, where the geological model is considered in order to more fully constrain the formation stress environment at pre-drill locations across the structure. The course will review the state of stress and pore pressure in sedimentary basins. The course will close with the introduction of simple numerical modeling examples to illustrate the impact of the overall geological structure on well placement and design. This 3D approach is proving useful in the new deepwater subsalt exploration & development trends in the Gulf of Mexico and offshore West Africa. Data sets from these areas will be utilized in the course.
Petroleum Reservoir Engineering 2
This course focuses on fluid properties, phase behavior, PVT (Pressure-Volume-Temperature) sampling, compositional analysis of reservoir fluids, PVT analysis, and properties of formation waters. By the end of the course, students will have a solid foundation in these areas, enabling them to accurately characterize reservoirs, predict fluid behavior, and make informed decisions for efficient reservoir management.
PE310: Geophysics for Petroleum Engineers
Welcome to PE301, Geophysics class.
during the semester we will have the chance to learn some basics about the geophysical methods and it's applications in various engineering projects with emphases on the petroleum engineering applications. these methods will include, but not limited to, seismic exploration, 3d seismic interpretation for oil and gas