Oil & Gas Plant Process And Equipment Troubleshooting & Problem Solving

This course will cover how to establish and apply a general troubleshooting methodology as well as how to conduct process/equipment specific troubleshooting. Definitions of good/normal performance will be discussed for each process/equipment type covered. Data gathering, validation and utilization procedures will be discussed. Criteria to use when evaluating possible problem solutions will also be covered. Real-world exercises will be utilized throughout the class to reinforce the learning objectives. Both onshore and offshore facilities will be discussed. It is assumed that course participants have a solid understanding of how typical oil and gas production and processing facilities work, including the commonly used processes and equipment involved.

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, the delegates will be able to know:

• The difference between troubleshooting, optimization, and debottlenecking
• How to recognize trouble when it is occurring
• How to develop a methodical approach to troubleshooting
• To recognize how different components of a facility interact with each other, and the significance of these interactions
• How to gather, validate, and utilize the data needed for troubleshooting
• The criteria to be considered for identifying the best solution when several feasible solutions are available
• Typical causes of problems, and their solutions, for the main types of processes and equipment used in the upstream-midstream oil and gas industry

Who Should Attend?

This course is intended for all Process/Facilities engineers with experience, facilities engineering team leaders/supervisors, and senior facilities operational personnel, junior engineers, operators and senior operators and supervisors who work in oil production facilities and oil refineries.

Course Outline

Day 1

• Natural gas properties
• Overview of gas processing industry
• Natural gas properties
• Understanding phase behavior
• Troubleshooting methodology fundamentals and data reconciliation
• Amine gas sweetening

Day 2

• Gas sweetening operation and troubleshooting
• Glycol dehydration units
• Glycol dehydration operation and troubleshooting
• Solid bed dehydration and troubleshooting
• Oil treating
• Produced water treating systems
• Water-hydrocarbon behavior

Day 3

• Meaning of absorption technology
• Adsorption principles and troubleshooting
• Molecular sieve dehydration units
• NGL recovery processes
• Refrigeration systems and troubleshooting
• Valve expansion: J-T plants

Day 4

• Cryogenic gas processing and troubleshooting
• Equipment troubleshooting
• 3-phase separators
• Centrifugal pumps
• Reciprocating compressors, reciprocating engines
• Shell and tube heat exchangers

Day 5

• Centrifugal compressors
• Gas - Liquid separators
• Reciprocating compressors
• Loss in centrifugal compressor capacity
• Gas turbine driven
• Plant pipelines hydrate, corrosion problems
• Case studies

Course Methodology

A variety of methodologies will be used during the course that includes:

• (30%) Based on Case Studies
• (30%) Techniques
• (30%) Role Play
• (10%) Concepts
• Pre-test and Post-test
• Variety of Learning Methods
• Lectures
• Case Studies and Self Questionaires
• Group Work
• Discussion
• Presentation

Course Fees

This rate includes participant’s manual, Hand-Outs, buffet lunch, coffee/tea on arrival, morning & afternoon of each day.

Course Timings

Daily Course Timings
08:00 - 08:20       Morning Coffee / Tea
08:20 - 10:00       First Session
10:00 - 10:20       Coffee / Tea / Snacks
10:20 - 12:20       Second Session
12:20 - 13:30       Lunch Break & Prayer Break
13:30 - 15:00       Last Session