Introduction

The upstream oil and gas industry operates within a highly complex environment involving technical operations, commercial decision-making, regulatory oversight, and strategic national interests. Policy makers, regulators, and senior managers must therefore possess a broad understanding of industry structures, operational processes, and commercial frameworks in order to make informed decisions and provide effective oversight.

The Petroleum Industry Fundamentals training course provides participants with a practical and non-technical understanding of the upstream petroleum sector. The training course examines the roles, responsibilities, and technologies involved in exploration, development, production, and petroleum management while highlighting the commercial and strategic dimensions of the industry.

Designed for senior professionals from both technical and non-technical backgrounds, this training course enables participants to strengthen communication with specialist teams, improve regulatory and policy capability, and enhance organisational oversight of oil and gas projects and operations.

Key focus areas include:

Key Learning Outcomes

At the end of this Petroleum Industry Fundamentals training course, participants will be able to:

Training Methodology

This training course uses an interactive and executive-focused learning approach designed for senior professionals. Participants engage in guided discussions, practical workshops, case-based learning, and video-supported analysis to explore technical, commercial, and strategic aspects of the petroleum industry. The methodology encourages participant-led discussion and practical application of industry knowledge within policy, regulatory, and management contexts.

Petroleum Industry Fundamentals

Who Should Attend?

This Petroleum Industry Fundamentals training course is designed for:

  • Government Ministerial Teams and Policy Advisors
  • Senior Managers within Government Agencies
  • International Oil Company Managers
  • Government and Regional Oil & Gas Regulators
  • Energy Policy Professionals
  • Oil & Gas Oversight and Supervisory Personnel
  • Senior Non-Technical Managers involved in Petroleum Operations

Course Outline

Day 1

Overview of the Oil and Gas Industry

  • General overview of the petroleum Industry
  • Petroleum geoscience, and the role of geophysicists, geologists and petrophysicists
  • Petroleum engineering, and the role of subsurface reservoir analysis teams as they seek to optimize the recovery of oil or gas.
  • Well engineering, including well drilling, completion, workover and production engineering
  • Surface facilities engineering, and the role of the very wide range of engineers that ensure that oil and gas is produced and transported safely, efficiently and cost effectively
  • Petroleum refining
Day 2

Commercial Aspects of the Oil and Gas Industry

  • Field development planning and full lifecycle costing
  • Petroleum resources and reserves evaluation and reporting
  • Petroleum cash-flow & economics
  • Petroleum production licences and contracts
  • Health safety, security, environment and corporate social responsibility
Day 3

Strategic Aspects of the Oil and Gas Industry

  • Oil and gas industry players (IOCs, NOCs, OPEC, IEA, finance, contractors)
  • Future of the oil and gas industry
  • The key role of natural gas, and natural gas policy, in the future energy mix
  • Oil industry transition in response to climate change
  • Oil and gas industry issues
Day 4

Workshops

  • Practical interactive workshops
  • Reinforcing and extending the formal course content
  • Directed by the interests and training needs of participants
  • Based upon semi-realistic case studies and examples
Day 5

Workshops

  • Practical interactive workshops
  • Reinforcing and extending the formal course content
  • Directed by the interests and training needs of participants
  • Based upon semi-realistic case studies and examples

International Standards & Professional Alignment

Our training courses are aligned with internationally recognised professional standards and frameworks across leadership, strategy, finance, governance, risk, compliance, and audit. By integrating globally trusted models, we ensure learners develop practical, relevant, and industry-recognised capabilities.

Our trainings draw on leading international standards and professional frameworks, including ISO, ISACA, COSO, OECD, IIA, FATF, Basel, IFRS/ISSB, GRI, NIST, CPD, ILM and the OECD AI Principles. This alignment ensures consistency with global best practices across financial management, risk oversight, digital governance, sustainability, and strategic decision-making..

Designed in alignment with globally recognised professional bodies, our courses support continuous professional development, strengthen organisational capability, and provide clear pathways toward professional certifications valued worldwide.

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