Production Engineering Strategy

Production engineering is a crucial portion and one can comfortably expect over 15 marks from this
portion in GATE. The main textbook recommended is Heriott Watt (the total series). Since the chapter
order is a little confusing, I will just write the chapter name.

1. Performance of Flowing Wells: Since reservoir engineering is already covered, the reader is expected
to feel comfortable with well inflow performance (1.1 onwards). You can directly start from section 2
(2.1 onwards). Tubing performance and choke performance are very important. So read section 2 and 3
with utmost attention. For choke correlations only Gilbert’s correlation is important. In case you have to
read section 1, you can ignore 1.7.

2. Wellbore Completion Concepts: Read up to section 5. Figure 7 and figure 8 are important and should
be committed to memory. It is just better if the reader can familiarize himself with the simple working
mechanisms of the equipments given in the text. Watch some YouTube videos in consultation with the
diagrams provided while noting the different parts and their location and function.

3. Wireline Services: Advanced readers may even read the whole text. But, from GATE point of view
remembering and understanding figure 8 is sufficient.

4. Completion Equipment: Read up to section 4. For packers, read up from 4.1 to 4.3. Resume from 4.7
up to 4.9. In section 5, 5.3 is unimportant. For sub surface safety systems read up to 6.3. (Up to 6.3
means 6.3 is not included). Section 7 complete reading is advised.

5. Multiple Zone Completions: The chapter is short and complete reading is advised. Advantage and
disadvantage of different designs is important. In section 4, commercial names and equipment details
should be avoided. Learning the elementary types will suffice.

6. Perforating: Read full chapter. The class lecture notes (in word file) of ISM regarding perforation and
activation should be read as additional material.

7. Formation Damage: Very important chapter. Read the chapter cover to cover. Appendix A is
important. Make notes where necessary. A lot of graphs are given in this chapter. It is important that the
reader be able to explain the trends of these curves.

8. Acidizing and Other Matrix Treatments: Read the whole chapter. Section 8 is very very important.
Section 9, 11 and 12 can be ignored. Table A-1 and A-2 in Appendix A are highly informative and should
be committed to memory.

9. Hydraulic Fracturing: Section 9 and 13 are not important. Fracture models like KGD and PKN and the
related formulae are extremely important. All other formulae featuring in the text are also important.
Figure 16 is again highly important and has to be thoroughly understood. 6.2 can be ignored.
 Production Engineering Strategy

10. Unstable Formations and Sand Control: Whole chapter except 5.9 and 5.10. Only Frack and pack is
relevant in 5.11. In 5.12, operational procedures can be neglected; just remember the chemicals used.
Figure 33, 34, 36 and 37 are highly important for conceptual understanding.

11. Selection of Artificial Lift Techniques: Figure 1 (a), (b) and (c) are important and should be
understood clearly. Figure 3, table 2 and Table 3 should be committed to memory as questions can
directly be expected. Read the SRP section completely. For ESP, 7.5 and 7.6 can be ignored. For hydraulic
pumps, only the principle of operation and advantages & disadvantages are important. The same is also
to be followed for PCP. No need to study beyond 9.2. For GATE, the most important topics are SRP and
ESP and to some extent gas lift also. So be very thorough in the mathematics of these designs as
questions are likely. For Gas lift, section 5 and 7 can be selectively read. Complex gas lift design
optimizations will never be asked. I suggest some other concise sources for SRP, ESP and gas lift to cover
additional portions. Videos in YouTube will help you visualize things, which is key to appreciation of the
processes.

12. Surface Production Operations: Here, the only book to be followed is the one by Arnold. It has
already been uploaded topic wise by Abhishek Gupta Sir.

For topics like Perforation, Matrix acidization, Artificial lift and Surface production, (i.e the topics which
are not typically exhaustively covered in Heriott Watt) the reader is advised to use Petrowiki, Youtube
and Slideshare as much as possible for clearer understanding. Since these topics will have multiple
sources, bullet points will help in accruing the additional material. Keep an eye for new formulae in
these additional materials. As a general principle, any cause consequence type literature is important.