Exploration and Production
for
Non-Geologists
Duration: 5 Days
Target Audience: Managers, Administrators, Finance Teams, Legal Advisors, HR Personnel, Government Officials, or any professionals in the oil & gas sector without a technical geoscience background
Delivery Mode: Classroom / Virtual (Instructor-led with Practical Examples and Case Studies)
Level: Introductory
Course Overview
This training program is designed to help non-geologists understand the fundamental processes, terminology, and decision-making considerations in oil & gas exploration and production (E&P). It demystifies technical concepts, explains key stages from exploration to abandonment, and connects technical operations to economic and regulatory frameworks.
Day-by-Day Outline
Day 1 – The Petroleum Industry and Exploration Basics
- Introduction to the oil & gas industry value chain
- Geological concepts simplified: source rocks, traps, seals
- Exploration methods: seismic surveys, gravity & magnetic surveys
- Licensing rounds and exploration rights
- Risk vs. reward in exploration
- Interactive Session: Reading simple maps & seismic sections
Day 2 – From Discovery to Appraisal
- Drilling fundamentals: rigs, well types, casing
- Well logging basics and interpreting key curves
- Reservoir evaluation: what defines a commercial discovery
- Appraisal well objectives and decisions
- Estimating reserves and uncertainties
- Case Study: How appraisal shapes field development decisions
Day 3 – Field Development Planning
- Field development stages and strategies
- Well placement and drilling programs
- Artificial lift methods and production facilities overview
- Surface processing: separators, treatment, storage
- Basics of project economics: capex, opex, breakeven
- Exercise: Build a simple field development plan scenario
Day 4 – Production Operations & Asset Management
- Production optimization and monitoring
- Enhanced oil recovery (EOR) simplified
- Facilities integrity and safety essentials
- Managing decline curves and extending field life
- Environmental management and sustainability in E&P
- Discussion: Real-world production challenges
Day 5 – Contracts, Economics & Key Decisions
- Overview of common petroleum agreements (PSA, concession, service contracts)
- Fiscal regimes and government take
- Basics of NPV, IRR, and project cash flow
- Key decision gates from exploration to abandonment
- Emerging trends: digitalization, energy transition, ESG
- Capstone Workshop: Teams review a hypothetical asset and make key decisions
Expected Learning Outcomes
- Grasp the end-to-end E&P process from exploration through production
- Understand key technical concepts without deep technical detail
- Recognize how decisions in exploration and production impact business, legal, and economic outcomes
- Communicate effectively with technical teams
- Evaluate risks, returns, and project timelines in E&P ventures
Customizable Add-ons
Tailored content for local geology (e.g. Nile Delta, Western Desert)
Lab visit or simulation hands-on demo
Integration with economics or production courses
Special Customization for Regional NOCs
- Includes legal and fiscal case examples from MENA (Egypt, Libya, Iraq, Algeria)
- Arabic-English bilingual delivery available
- Tailored licensing round simulation exercises
- Optional site visits to local oilfields or regulatory agencies
Trainer Profile
- Senior reservoir and exploration engineers from IOCs and NOCs
- Former advisors to government ministries
- Experts in petroleum contracts and economic modeling
Certification
Participants will receive a Certificate of Completion and a performance report including assessment outcomes and instructor feedback.
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