Course content

Unconventional oil and gas resources like very viscous oil and gas from low-permeability rocks, coal bed, and hydrates, will assume greater roles in meeting world energy demands. This course will include classification of resources, geologic and geographic occurrences, recovery technology and economics of unconventional hydrocarbon resources. Methods for hydrocarbon recovery based on drilling of wells will be emphasized. Various methods for recovery of viscous oil; cold production, thermal recovery and more advanced methods for improved oil recovery will be presented in detail.

Learning outcome

Ingress:
The students should know and understand the methods for production of viscous oil and the methods for recovery of gas from rocks with very low permeability.

Knowledge:
The students should understand cold methods and thermal methods for production of viscous oil. The students should understand the methods for gas production from very tight rocks.

Skills:
The students should be capable of performing analytical and numerical calculations of initial oil in place and production versus time of viscous oil for various field developments cases. The students should also be able to calculate initial gas in place in tight gas reservoirs and calculate future production for various field development cases.

General competence:
The students should understand basic reservoir engineering theory and how this theory is applied in various types of reservoirs. They should also be trained to use self criticism, and to present scientific work to others.

Learning methods and activities

Lectures and exercises. The lectures will be given in English if International Master students attend the course. If the teaching is given in English, the examination papers will be given in English only. Students are free to choose Norwegian or English for written assessments. An eventual second exam (postponed exam/continuation exam) may be arranged as oral instead of written.

Compulsory assignments

• Exercises

Recommended previous knowledge

Basic knowledge in reservoir engineering.

Course materials

Publications and lecture notes.