Frac design training program

RPS worked with Halliburton to define, design and deliver an 8-week training program in Frac Design to 10 engineers from a national oil company (NOC) in the Middle East. RPS led the development and management of this tailored “on the job” (OTJ) training program. The training included hydraulic fracturing, reservoir surveillance technologies and a field trip to West Texas to study fractured carbonate reservoirs.

Working together, the team identified specific course curriculum that would meet the 12 learning objectives set out by the NOC’s management. We were able to augment the proposed curriculum to include learning objectives that provided additional value to the NOC's engineers.

A last-minute challenge presented itself when the preceding four-week course covering the basics of frac design was cancelled at short notice. RPS was able to respond swiftly to modify the original course curriculum and incorporate the missing learning material on the basics of frac design without increasing the duration of the original eight-week training programme.

Halliburton had been given an extensive list of learning objectives from the NOC. The topics ranged widely from geomechanics, rock lab measurements, hydraulic fracturing fundamentals, pressure analysis, economics, reservoir surveillance technologies, artificial lift, and analysis of production data. The participants were required to demonstrate that these objectives were met

Leveraging our existing and extensive engineering portfolio of training courses we were able to identify the material that would meet the objectives and therefore approval of the NOC.

The RPS training team coordinated schedules, catering and travel of instructors and the NOC participants and HSE support.

To manage the complex technical and logistical requirements of this program, we kept in close communications with Halliburton in both Houston and in the Middle East. Despite the time-zone differences, this tight collaboration allowed the team to adjust quickly to changes and last-minute requests.

The NOC engineers successfully completed the training program, which concluded with a Capstone Project presentation on mature field redevelopment. Their feedback on the programme was very positive, and on April 5 a graduation ceremony was held.