Introduction

The upstream oil and gas industry combines technical expertise, commercial decision-making, and operational excellence to discover and produce the energy resources that support economic growth and industrial development. Understanding how exploration and production activities work together is essential for professionals seeking to contribute effectively within the sector.

Fundamentals of Exploration & Production training course provides a practical understanding of upstream operations, petroleum systems, production processes, and industry commercial drivers.

This training course offers a comprehensive overview of the upstream value chain, enabling participants to understand the lifecycle of oil and gas assets from exploration through production. It explores the geological foundations of hydrocarbon accumulation, drilling and production activities, reservoir behaviour, commercial frameworks, and the evolving challenges shaping the global energy landscape.

Key focus areas of this Fundamentals of Exploration & Production training course include:

Objectives

At the end of this Fundamentals of Exploration & Production training course, participants will be able to:

Training Methodology

This training course combines expert-led instruction, interactive learning, group discussions, practical exercises, applied scenarios, and real-world examples from the upstream oil and gas industry. Participants will strengthen their understanding through engaging discussions and structured activities designed to connect technical concepts with operational and commercial realities.

Fundamentals of Exploration & Production

Who should Attend?

This Fundamentals of Exploration & Production training course is designed for:

  • Graduate Engineers
  • New Engineers
  • Technical Support Professionals
  • Operations Professionals
  • Production Professionals
  • Maintenance Professionals
  • Business Development Professionals
  • Investment Professionals
  • Finance Professionals
  • Procurement Professionals
  • Human Resources Professionals
  • Legal Professionals
  • Administrative Professionals
  • Commercial Professionals
  • Non-Technical Managers

Course Outline

Day 1

Introduction - Oil Production Life Cycle

  • History of Oil and Gas
  • The Role of Oil and Gas in Society
  • International Oil & Gas Supply
  • Global Reserves, Production & Trade
  • The Nature and Formation of Fossil Fuels and Oil Reserves
  • Fundamentals of the Chemistry of Petroleum
Day 2

Petroleum Geology

  • Basic Petroleum Geology - Where we find fossil fuels?
  • Geological Time
  • Rock Types & Sedimentary Basins
  • Exploration Activities
  • Geophysical Methods: Gravity and Magnetic Surveying
  • 2D, 3D and 4D Seismic
Day 3

Understand Different Functions Related to Oil Operations

  • Reservoir Description & Type of Wells
  • Drilling Operations and Engineering
  • Reservoir Fluids and Produced Water
  • Oil Water Separation
  • Field Appraisal & Volumetric Estimation
  • Well Stimulation and Completion
Day 4

Reservoir and Well Dynamic Behavior

  • Reservoir Drive Mechanisms
  • Recovery and Production Estimation
  • Secondary and Enhanced Oil Recovery
  • Unconventional Petroleum Deposits
  • Tight Oil, Shale Oil and Shale Gas Tar Sands
  • Hydraulic Fracturing
Day 5

Geopolitics, Fiscal Regimes, IOC’s and NOC’s

  • Ownership of Hydrocarbons - Concessions, Contracts and Joint Ventures
  • World Energy Supply and Demand - Oil and Gas Pricing
  • International and National Oil Companies, OPEC, IEA and the Future
  • Peak Oil
  • Carbon Capture
  • Safety and the Environment

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FAQs

This training course provides a broad understanding of how the upstream oil and gas industry operates. Participants gain knowledge of petroleum formation, exploration activities, drilling operations, reservoir performance, production processes, and industry commercial structures. It serves as a strong foundation for professionals seeking a practical understanding of the sector.

The training is specifically designed to support both technical and non-technical professionals. Industry concepts are explained in a practical and accessible manner, allowing participants from finance, procurement, administration, legal, human resources, and commercial functions to develop a valuable understanding of upstream operations and terminology.

Participants will learn about petroleum geology, sedimentary basins, hydrocarbon formation, geophysical surveying methods, seismic exploration, and the activities involved in discovering and evaluating oil and gas resources. These subjects provide important insight into how exploration opportunities are identified and assessed.

The Fundamentals of Exploration & Production training course examines drilling operations, well completions, reservoir behaviour, production processes, recovery mechanisms, and enhanced recovery approaches. Participants gain an appreciation of how technical decisions influence production performance throughout the asset lifecycle.

Commercial and business considerations form an important part of the training. Participants will explore ownership structures, contracts, joint ventures, fiscal regimes, energy markets, pricing dynamics, and the roles of international and national oil companies within the global energy industry.

The Fundamentals of Exploration & Production training helps non-technical professionals communicate more effectively with technical teams, understand industry terminology, and appreciate the factors influencing operational and commercial decisions. This broader understanding supports better collaboration and more informed contributions across business functions.

GRC Academy training courses are delivered in leading international business destinations, including London, Amsterdam, and Dubai. Sessions are hosted in carefully selected four- and five-star business hotels with professional meeting facilities that support focused learning, interaction, comfort, and confidentiality.

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GRC Academy provides both online and in-person options for all our training courses. Participants may join interactive virtual sessions or attend scheduled courses in major international locations, allowing them to select the option that best suits their professional commitments and availability.

GRC Academy develops customised in-house training courses that address each organisation’s strategic priorities, operational environment, and workforce capability requirements. Our team works closely with clients to tailor the course content, learning outcomes, and practical emphasis.

These tailored courses are designed to strengthen organisational capability, improve team performance, and support measurable and sustainable outcomes. For customised in-house training enquiries, please contact the GRC Academy Customer Service team at [email protected]

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