Fundamentals of Upstream Project Management

Duration: 5 Days
Target Audience: Project Engineers, Early-Career Project Managers, Planners, and Technical Professionals in Upstream Oil & Gas
Delivery Mode: Classroom / Virtual with Practical Workshops, Group Exercises, and Case Studies
Level: Intermediate
Price: USD 4,200

Course Overview

This course equips participants with essential knowledge of the upstream project management lifecycle. Covering concept selection through execution, it introduces key project planning tools, budgeting fundamentals, stakeholder management strategies, and early HSE considerations. The course provides a strong foundation for those looking to manage oil and gas exploration and field development projects.

Day-by-Day Outline

Day 1 – Project Management Fundamentals

- Project management principles in upstream projects
- Defining project objectives, scope, and deliverables
- Introduction to stage-gate project processes
- Exercise: Develop a scope statement for a sample field development

Day 2 – Work Breakdown Structures & Scheduling

- Creating effective WBS for exploration and drilling campaigns
- Basics of scheduling techniques (Gantt charts, milestones)
- Project sequencing and dependencies
- Workshop: Build a WBS and simple schedule in groups

Day 3 – Budgeting & Cost Estimation

- CAPEX and OPEX fundamentals for upstream projects
- Cost estimation methods and common pitfalls
- Budget management basics and cash flow forecasting
- Exercise: Develop a preliminary cost estimate

Day 4 – Stakeholder & Communication Management

- Identifying and analyzing key stakeholders
- Building stakeholder engagement plans
- Communication strategies across multi-disciplinary teams
- Workshop: Role-play stakeholder alignment meeting

Day 5 – HSE & Integration into Project Planning

- HSE principles in early project stages
- Integrating risk assessment into planning
- Developing project execution plans with HSE considerations
- Capstone Exercise: Prepare a simplified upstream project execution plan

Expected Learning Outcomes

Define upstream project objectives, scope, and structure
Develop WBS and basic project schedules
Understand CAPEX/OPEX fundamentals and build preliminary budgets
Manage stakeholders and communicate project plans effectively
Integrate HSE considerations into project planning from the outset

Training Methods

- Classroom instruction and interactive discussions
- Case studies and exercises with real-world data
- Excel-based economic models and production forecasts

Customization for Regional Needs

- Examples from regional onshore/offshore fields
- English delivery option available
- Integration with national regulatory framework

Trainer Profile

- Multidisciplinary instructors (reservoir, production, drilling)
- Regional NOC/IOC engineering advisors
- Guest speakers from petroleum economics and HSE backgrounds

Certification

Certificate of Completion and individual assessment report provided.