88306 - Offshore OIL&GAS Production Technologies and Operations

Learning outcomes

The aim of the course is to introduce the student to the processes and technologies for the production of offshore Oil&Gas resources. The student will gain knowledge on the offshore upstream operations and on sub-sea, top-side and floating production technologies. Knowledge of offshore maintenance and construction operations will also be provided.

Course contents

Requirements and Prior knowledge

A prior knowledge and understanding of Chemistry, Physics, Geology and Hydraulics is required to attend this course. In addition, students should master the typical mathematical methods for Engineers and Scientists (Calculus and Probability).

Fluent spoken and written English is a necessary pre-requisite: all lectures, tutorials, study materials and final exam are in English.

Course content

Part 1 (Prof. P. Macini, 3 credits)

Overview of the Oil & Gas industry and basics of petroleum economics. Industrial phases of oil and gas development projects. Introduction to Exploration, Drilling, Production and Reservoir engineering. Environmental issues of offshore drilling and production technologies. Basics of oil well drilling engineering. Rotary drilling rig configuration (offshore and onshore).

Part 2 (Prof. G.B. De Ghetto, 3 credits)

Overview of the Oil & Gas production system. Full system production performance. Gas field processing. Oil field processing. Production trouble shooting. On shore field development. Off shore field development. Oil& Gas project management, Field development strategy. Case studies of field developments.

Readings/Bibliography

Lecture notes and selected study materials.

Enciclopaedia of hydrocarbons: Volume 1, exploration, production and transport, Treccani 2005.

Bai, Yong, and Qiang Bai. Subsea Engineering Handbook, Elsevier Science & Technology, 2012. (Full text access through UniBo library).

Teaching methods

Classroom lectures, seminars and/or workshop by industry professionals or experts from research institutions. Possible field trips to industrial plants. The lectures will be supplemented with practical exercises and discussions on current topics in the energy industry, in order to develop the critical thinking of the students, to recognize and enhance the interdisciplinarity with other subjects, in order to carry out the most effective engineering solutions to the theoretical and management issues outlined during the lectures.

Assessment methods

Students must sit a final exam to assess their critical and methodological skills, comprising a series of questions to verify students’ understanding of the theory of the technological and design principles presented during the lectures, and the ability to solve practical problems similar to the ones dealt with during the practical exercises related to the course classes. The final exam consists in carrying out a written test (about 6 open questions + 1 or 2 exercises, and possobly a project work, to be carried out in about 2 hours without the aid of notes or books).

Due to the present worldwide health emergency (COVID 19 limitations), the exam modality could change, possibly turning the written test into an oral online exam (via Teams).

Passing the exam will be granted to students who demonstrate mastery and operational capacity in relation to the key concepts discussed during the classes. The achievement of an organic vision of the issues addressed during the classes and their critical use, which demonstrate ownership of a mastery of expression and specific language, will be assessed with marks of excellence. Mechanical and/or mnemonic knowledge of the course content, fair synthesis and analysis skills and/or correct language but not always appropriate will lead to discrete assessments; training gaps and/or inappropriate language - although in a context of minimal knowledge of the course content - will lead to marks that will not exceed the sufficiency. Training gaps, inappropriate language, lack of guidance within the reference and study materials offered during the course will lead to failed final exam.

Teaching tools

Slide presentation and blackboard. The study material is normally made available on-line before the lecture.

Office hours

See the website of Paolo Macini

See the website of Giambattista De Ghetto

See the website of Antonio Palermo